I've heard in the past that running along busy roads like Avent Ferry, Gorman, etc. is bad for you due to vehicle emissions. Is this something I should actually be worried about or is that the unfounded paranoia of someone who doesn't know what they're talking about?

I live off Avent Ferry and I don't like running on treadmills or having to drive to lake Johnson or somewhere every time I want to run...if I make a circuit on these roads, am I really posing any serious threat to my respiratory health?

Thanks Dr. TWW

7/11/2007 1:58:09 PM

maybe if you are running during stop and go slammed traffic, but otherwise it's not going to make any difference in comparison to anywhere else in the city.

there probably is a difference between that and going to run out at umstead though

7/11/2007 2:02:38 PM

you could run over at centennial or on the trail that runs parallel to Avent Ferry from Trailwood to Lake Johnson if you were worried about getting hit by cars. I wouldn't worry about vehicle emissions that much though.

7/11/2007 2:07:06 PM

why not jog around neighborhoods etc rather than on busy roads?

7/11/2007 2:16:14 PM

when i go run i like to run in the forest or wooded areas if possible

all the trees make for better O2

7/11/2007 2:18:46 PM

i'd avoid the code orange days where there is a lot of pollutants in the air. it might be a concern if you have respiratory problems.

7/11/2007 2:23:13 PM

nope, no respiratory or health problems...the idea is that I can just run out of my front door (I live in Champion Ct. on Avent Ferry) and run any circuit around without having to drive, use a treadmill, or worry about messing up my lungs. Just checking here on the off-chance someone is aware of some study done showing significant adverse effects...otherwise I'll just avoid rush hours.

7/11/2007 2:31:57 PM

i can't remember the names of the roads around there anymore, but i used to run straight up that road coming out of champion ct. and hung a left on one of those side streets past the credit union (nazareth rd., maybe?). it takes you up a hill and around this empty field (at least, it was a field years ago); if you keep going, you end up running through dorthea dix. from dix, you can get on the greenway running parallel to western and once that runs out, (iirc) you can run up a hill that leads into a paved trail through the woods. that trail will lead you back to a path up to the side of the road which the credit union's on ... repeat as many times as necessary.

almost no cars drive on those roads and most of the time you're running through trees anyway. it was my favorite running trail when i lived in champion court.

7/11/2007 2:54:00 PM

Quote :

"I've heard in the past that running along busy roads like Avent Ferry, Gorman, etc. is bad for you due to vehicle emissions."

Having respiratory problems running down Avent Ferry and Gorman are the least of my worries... Try not getting hit by the drivers...

Sheesh even when I do obey the traffic signs I still manage to get rammed into by some dumb bitch on a cell phone or some hot head douchebag in his gay ass 6 cyclinder mustang ( prolly not even a manual either )

7/11/2007 2:57:07 PM

hey now, nothing wrong with driving an automatic, i much prefer it.

however you may have been referring to one of those 'im cool because i have a mustang' guys

7/11/2007 3:00:24 PM

I'm cool because I have a Saturn. 5-speed even!

[Edited on July 12, 2007 at 10:01 AM. Reason : ^^^ thanks for the tip, I'll see if I can find that loop]

7/12/2007 9:56:49 AM

ah, I look forward to running that loop again soon...

On a seperate but related note:

what is "a well trained athelete"... I say this b/c my chest hurt today (but from massive massive stress from a very heated argument)... anyways, I've checked my pulse a couple of times and I get 47-50bpm... I run regularly 3miles close to every other day, but I wouldn't call myself "in shape"... and by no stretch of the imagination would I consider myself a "well trained athelete"...

so is it a typical heartrate for an average runner?

7/12/2007 3:00:29 PM

Quote :

"hey now, nothing wrong with driving an automatic, i much prefer it. however you may have been referring to one of those 'im cool because i have a mustang' guys"

Ha ha I don't care if someone drives an automatic.. But I think its gay if anyone buys a car thats meant to be a muscle/sports car and they buy it less than a V8 and is automatic

Ugh just buy a damn Honda for that... I know that was a little off topic much more made for the garage but this is not news to them

But I really need a new running route and something that isn't lame and take me three miles... I wanna run from my house and then like 5 to 6 miles more... and the whole running on the street thing is boring and stressful while tryin to cross the streets...

7/12/2007 3:44:09 PM

if your around campus, you can run downtown and back for ~9miles depending on your route... 11 if you go down hillsborough, make a loop downtown by rum runners, back up western(no sidewalks on parts though...) and back to campus is 9, if you loop down avent and back up gorman it becomes >11

7/12/2007 3:56:15 PM

I can feel the air start to suck as I approach the stoplight at the top of the hill on Western Blvd. The combination of the heat off the asphalt and the emissions is enough to make me light headed.

7/12/2007 5:40:23 PM

Yes, that HR is very typical for someone who runs reguarly. I run between 20-25 miles a week and my resting HR is 48 bpm. Its called bradycardia, which is when your HR is below 60 bpm. Nothing to be concerned about. Just stay very hydrated if you are going to drink alcohol, b/c it can constrict your blood vessels and cause you to faint due to low bpm. Know from experience.

7/13/2007 10:38:20 AM

Yeah western sucks.

7/13/2007 10:39:21 AM

I don't run a whole lot on Western... I just started to the past few days... SOmetimes when I run to HIllsoboro then get on Gorman to Western and run to Kent, I'll pass that crazy black dude with the dreads... I love passing him cause he's always like "Get it girl!" (and not in a creepy way either) Kinda makes me wanna run another 5 miles LOL

7/13/2007 12:37:46 PM

Quote :

"I've heard in the past that running along busy roads like Avent Ferry, Gorman, etc. is bad for you due to vehicle emissions."

LOL. You realize that 98% of what is emitted by automobile tailpipes is C02, which is perfectly natural and not a problem.

You're fine.

7/13/2007 1:15:35 PM

With all that Creed on your iPod, you'll never notice!

7/13/2007 2:26:49 PM

good one!

7/14/2007 11:45:02 AM

[Edited on July 14, 2007 at 6:05 PM. Reason : fucking redex, it's a pic of scott stapp in a similar pose...right click/view image

[Edited on July 14, 2007 at 6:17 PM. Reason : asdfadsf]

7/14/2007 6:05:29 PM

At least Omar didn't edit my post for once!

7/14/2007 6:11:12 PM

I mean don't get me wrong, I definitely see the resemblance. As unfortunate as it is, I take solace in the fact that I'm thrice the Hot and a quarter the Douche.

7/14/2007 6:14:50 PM