Rather than breathe the filtered air during my cardio workout today at the gym I decided to get some of that good 'ol LA smog deep into my lungs and run up the canyon.
It's a lot of fun and there are usually some spectacular views but today it was just too smoggy. Today was the first day I've been during the day on a weekday and the absence of lots of people and lots of dogs was nice. I was able to run without stopping for walkers holding up the road or an interested dog blocking my path. I'm waiting to see if the 2.95 mile run in the smog has any adverse effects on my lungs. It seems like the last time I ran like that outdoors my lungs hurt for a couple days but I was told there's an acclimation period here in LA that takes about a year. After that you're supposed to be able to breathe the smog problem free. I'll be the judge of that.
See below the route Nicole and I take up and down Runyon (we double back on a couple of the trails as they don't loop like you want them too). The point at which I turn around has a drinking fountain and it becomes the light at the end of my tunnel on the way up. Without it I would give up much sooner.
And a view of the lovely smog:
