Since 2003 I have looked at the Beijing Marathon as the personal challenge of the year and to show the spirit of the Olympics.
Well, 21 October was the last one. Frustration and disappointment. Morale at a low. Now looking at other cities. Maybe I still try the half marathon next year.
Why? Simple. Running in Beijing is for suicidal people who want to ruin their health forever. My Chinese doctor told me, with 5 bronchitis this year only: don’t run outside in Beijing anymore. My bronchi are busted, loaded with the Beijing pollution (dust particles). See earlier entries in this blog.
When I see people jogging in this city I feel pity for them. One day they will realize their foolish enthusiasm has ruined their lungs.
The ANA Marathon was a disaster despite improvements in the organization. There was water at all stations, emergency services were all fine. Printing of the individual results was reasonably quick despite the long queue. The departure and arrival area however were a nightmare. Of course the “leaders” who just come to show their face on TV won’t notice that. After arriving (exhausted at least) you need to walk several Km before you ever manage to reach the exit and your pick-up car or taxi (good luck). Pathetic.
The sky looked “blue” for those ignorant people (e.g. in That’s Beijing) who cannot see the pollution. Official API figures were at 100 – the WHO limit is 50. For me, it looked even worse.
The new itinerary was awful. Each year the race is held at the same time – when the Party Congress takes place. But this time, no more departure from Tiananmen (by the way the most polluted spot in Beijing). The 42 Km were mostly through city roads, clogged with traffic, including the 4th and 5th ring roads, alongside thousands of cars stuck in a huge traffic jam and with running engines. Foreign athletes complained about the “dirty air”.
I had done a successful training run in Shunyi on 1 October – over 32 Km in 3H 18m, in very clean air. I was tired but no major problems and went to two weddings the same day. I felt good.
On 21 October after Km 26 my hip muscles gave up, with excruciating pain. I finished the last 15 Km walking, finishing in 5h 1m 1s – over 30 minutes more than last year. My friend John who had gone through rigorous training should have finished in 4 hours. He too got busted at Km 30 and finished in 4h 34. Leah did great, half Marathon in 1h 55m 58s.
Reason: pollution seriously affects the oxygen intake by the blood, the muscles don’t get the needed oxygen and get busted by lactic acid. Can also be “the heavily polluted tunnel run” (carbon monoxide attaches to the haemoglobin 10 times more readily than oxygen).
Hein Verbruggen (IOC) told me running the New York Marathon was probably worse. Poor guy, got his figures a bit wrong (maybe the Chinese ganbei?). NYC is better on its worst day than Beijing is on its best day. Why doesn’t he run the Beijing marathon?
Well, he got some taste of the pollution anyway. During the IOC Conference in Beijing the API pollution level shot to over 200 in many locations. Qianmen, as usual, scored highest at 299.
Don’t worry, during the Olympics NO pollution. But every other day – stay inside, close the windows, install air purifiers. Smoking is optional. But no running.
Click on the following link to get the picture gallery:
http://homepage.mac.com/bjprc/PhotoAlbum10.html