Run Run Run

In the pursuit to give our China experience just the right kick, we decided to add running a marathon to our to-do list while in the middle kingdom. After setting up a nice google spreadsheet to plan our daily runs, we got started. Aided by online services to figure out running distances, we have been trying our best to run daily, besides the rest days, of course. 3 miles, 5 miles and 11 miles, our preparation is moving forward.
But living in Beijing also carries some side effects, namely some of the worst pollution on Earth. Pollution levels fluctuate, but for an entire week levels were around 500. Anything above 300 is considered hazardous and everyone is advised not to go outside and avoid all strenuous activity. We had days where the pollution went over 700. That means that it is dark and hard to see during mid-day, because of the pollution.

This pollution was trying to get in the way of our running plans, but we did not let ourselves be discouraged. After some online searching and reading multiple reviews on amazon (including looking for the negative ones, those sometimes get filtered out), we decided on two masks manufactured by a British company. They had an outlet somewhere in Beijing, so on a saturday afternoon, we went there and bought ourselves some exercise anti-pollution masks. These masks fit tightly over ones face and filter out all the pollutants but are also fitted with a certain valve system that allows to expel air easier. An added plus is that the masks make us look rather intimidating.

So there we are, running through the polluted streets of Beijing looking like Bane from Batman. And might I add, talking like him too.