Is running outside on poor air quality days REALLY that bad for our health?

Let's clear up some confusion around whether it's safe to train outside when air quality is poor.

If you live in the U.S., many of us are facing wildfire smoke. Poor air quality days often impact myself here in Ohio, dear clients in Michigan, Canada, South Africa & the mountains of Utah... unfortunately, some preparing their ranches & homes for the worst.

You may be wondering, "Is it really THAT bad to train outside or run just a FEW miles when EPA data is showing a "red" air quality alert day?"

The science-based answer is "Yes, it is absolutely terrible for our health."

If you have asthma, long COVID, or other health challenges, you will likely immediately feel the impact by simply stepping outside.

However, even those of us who are in great health still carry extreme risks to our health with even just one run or walk outside.

My research done at U.S. Army Public Health Center showed running & training outside, even for a short period of time, on "red" air quality days can be equal to smoking multiple packages of cigarettes. Soldiers stationed near poor air quality locations had long-term impacts on their health, from performance decline to cancer & chronic diseases.

I share this because I deeply care about your health & I have personally been impacted by the impacts of poor air quality.  As an example, my husband appears to be a badass ultrarunner in "perfect" health. He eats exceptionally well, protects his sleep & is a fellow health nut who does everything in his power to be a strong athlete for life.

As you may have heard on my podcast, it turns out, running outside in Iraq & Afghanistan in poor air quality + flying his helicopter over burn pits while at war left him with unexpected aneurysms in his heart & on multiple organs.

The problem is, this is completely silent & was only discovered because I ran proactive functional labs on him, which came back abnormal. I encouraged him to seek follow up care & advocate for health scans, which resulted in unexpected, life threatening findings.

As you can imagine, this is devastating & terrifying.

It is my deepest hope that no other person who loves to run or train outside EVER has to face this horrifying reality.

Now you know - it is preventable. Spread the word & tell your friends.

If you have to train inside, I'm sending you the biggest hug & well wishes for happy treadmill miles during poor air quality. Turn on a movie & pat yourself on the back for protecting your health & ability to do what you love for life.

You can check your local air quality day-to-day here. Also, phones typically have this in our weather app, which is too easy not to check before heading out on your next run. Stay smart & well, my badass runner friends!

Yours in running strong & happy for life, 

Louise