Men’s Fitness UK – October 2019

Words

Isaac Williams |

Photography

Matthew Walder / Shutterstock

based runners can breathe easy, safe in the knowledge that

the Clean Air tool – and namesake club – are here to stay.

But the capital isn’t the only city facing growing pollution

concerns, so how long until runners across the UK can

bene t from the Clean Air concept?

“London is not the only place to su er from poor

air quality,” says Poole. “A report by Friends of the Earth

earlier this year highlighted toxic conditions in almost

2,000 locations, including Leeds, Brighton, Coventry and

Doncaster. While Londoners can use the Tenzing Clean Air

tool to plan their routes, runners in other cities can limit

their exposure to toxic air by simply staying away from high

motor tra c areas and heading to parks for faster runs. But

rumour has it the Clean Air tool may be elsewhere soon.”

Fortunately, van Bockel con rms just that: “London is

our trial city, but we are very keen to roll this out elsewhere –

and will do so in the near future.”

JOIN THE CLUB: THE TENZING CLEAN AIR RUN CLUB MEETS ONCE

A WEEK AND IS OPEN TO ALL. FIND OUT MORE AT

STRAVA.COM/CLUBS/TENZINGCLEANAIRCLUB

Clean Air Club

coach James Poole

Clean Up

YourAct

Howtoavoid

high-pollutionareas

AVOIDRUSHHOUR

“Alotofpeopleruntoworknow,

sothisisn’talwayspossible,”says

Grieve,“butifyoucan’tavoidpeak

traffictimesourresearchsuggests

runningjustoneblockbackfrom

mainroadscanreduceyourexposure

topollutionby 50 percent.”

GETOUTEARLY

“Inthesummertimewhenwetend

togetozoneepisodes[periods

withelevatedozonelevels]onhot

days,ozonelevelspeakinthelate

afternoon/earlyeve,”explainsGrieve,

“soifyouarerunningonahotday,do

itinthemorningwhenozonelevels

arelower.”

WATCHYOURSPEED

Toavoidsuckingintoomanyharmful

particles,Poolesays,“Thetrickisto

runslowlyinthepollution‘hotspots’

andthendointenseworkoutsinthe

greenspaceswheretheairismuch

betterquality.”