NOXIOUS
GASES
NOXIOUS
GASESOne of the best things about runners is that none of them smoke. Well, that's probably a slight overstatement. A 10K on Mira Mesa about 10 years ago comes to mind. After we got sorted out in the first mile, I fell in behind a wiry little guy wearing a light blue T-shirt with "40-year-old smoker" boldly printed across the back. I figured this jerk wasn't going to last long, but after the four-mile mark he was still in front and showed no signs of fading.
Getting somewhat annoyed, I began to bear down and savor the idea of finishing ahead of him. But he must have read my mind and the gap between us began to increase not decrease and I was left gasping and panting and well behind his 41-minute finish. Afterwards, as the runners were enjoying their yogurt and fresh fruit, this guy stood alone over on the side and smoked cigarettes. Oh well, so much for that set of preconceived notions, but one couldn't help but wonder what this fellow could do without his self-administered handicap.
But this incident certainly was an exception. Smoking runners (or running smokers) are exceedingly rare. How great it is to go to a big running event and be among thousands of runners in a festive party-like environment and not have a solitary one smoking. At one Balboa Park run, the awards announcer even got after a spectator for smoking (outdoors, no less) and you could see the nods and hear the murmurs of approval spread throughout the assembled runners. And that's just the way I like it!
All of this comes to mind because I notice The Great American Smokeout 10K is coming up again on November 16. Here's a nifty event. It has an interesting location (Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado), a flat, fast course, plenty of amenities and a health clinic for getting checked for skin cancer, blood pressure, fat content and so forth. It features Navy parachutists and other forms of entertainment and is altogether a good time. Plus, of course, it's part of a national campaign to eliminate smoking. Now this is one charity race where I genuinely support the cause!
A part of the event is an Adopt-a-Smoker 8K/2K relay teaming up a runner with a smoker. Guess who runs the 2K leg? Of course, many of the adopted smokers don't take it seriously and you can see them after the race laughing, acting wise and smoking. But, who knows, perhaps some may quit. Maybe in the future they'll come to their senses and break their life-threatening addiction. Perhaps this event will be a turning point in their lives. Maybe some will find it so inspirational, they'll eventually join the running community, hopefully after quitting smoking.
Almost all runners have very negative feelings toward smoking, but mine are particularly strong. Regretfully, I smoked for 23 years. Some authorities now say quitting smoking is as difficult as getting off heroin. That's difficult to judge for I've never been on heroin, but permanently giving up smoking was a real genuine struggle.
When I'm in the late stages of a race my breathing becomes labored, I gasp for more air and all the damage those years of smoking must have done to my lungs comes to mind. But on the more positive side, how wonderful it is to race. What a glorious feeling to travel over hill and dale as fast as can be managed. How neat to find so many like-minded people and to match my training and expertise against theirs. Winning is irrelevant. We all win just by doing it. But then, how especially sweet it is to have an excellent performance and go up for an award.
Perhaps running is such a pleasure because I smoked. Maybe if there hadn't been such a struggle, I wouldn't appreciate the sport so much. Who knows? In any case, check out The Great American Smokeout 10K. And take a smoker along.
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