McAlpine Creek Park, Charlotte – May 5
For most Endurance Magazine readers, exercising outdoors comes as naturally as breathing. But what if the air we’re breathing does more to harm us than exercise does to help us? The American Lung Association has ranked Charlotte the 10th-smoggiest city in the country for the last two years. Urban sprawl, aging coal plants used to generate electricity and geography all play a role in our unhealthy air. Ozone levels are worse during the hot summer months when pollution interacts with heat and sunlight to cause what doctors call “sunburn on the lungs.” You may have noticed that burning feeling or shortness of breath when exercising on Code Orange days. The Charlotte region endured 24 bad-air days last summer. Studies show that ozone pollution creates both short- and long-term health problems, especially for children, seniors and those working and exercising outdoors.
Clean Air Carolina is leading the call for healthier air by working for smarter transportation choices, cleaner energy and clean construction practices by engaging medical and health professionals in their Medical Advocates for Healthy Air initiative and educating children and schools about the importance of knowing the daily air quality code. Clean Air Carolina is working hard to clear the air for kids, especially the 53,000 children in the region with asthma, whose lives depend on clean, healthy air.
The race is the only one in the Carolinas verified by Athletes for a Fit Planet as an eco-friendly event. If you want to run for a good cause, running for clean, healthy air helps all of us, including you. Sign up today and be part of the solution.
