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'My eyes are burning': Delhi holds half marathon despite pollution warning 'My eyes are burning': Delhi holds half marathon despite pollution warning
(about 5 hours later)
Tens of thousands of runners have braved smoggy conditions for the Delhi half marathon despite dire health warnings from doctors who wanted the race postponed in the heavily-polluted capital. Tens of thousands of runners Sunday choked through smog for the Delhi half marathon, ignoring dire health warnings from doctors who fought for the controversial race in the heavily polluted capital to be postponed.
Around 35,000 people registered for the race in the Indian city after more than a week of hazardous pollution levels that forced schools to shut for several days. More than 30,000 people, some sporting pollution masks, braved a hazy morning to run through the Indian capital despite almost two weeks of hazardous smog that forced schools shut for several days.
The US embassy website on Sunday showed levels of the smallest and most harmful airborne pollutants reached 189 – nearly eight times the World Health Organisation’s safe maximum. The US embassy website on Sunday showed levels of the smallest and most harmful airborne pollutants hovered near 200 - eight times the World Health Organization’s safe maximum - for the duration of the 13.1 mile (21 km) race.
Some runners wore face masks as they jogged through the visible morning haze and complained of side effects from the polluted conditions. Some athletes complained of side effects from the polluted conditions which worsened as amateur runners - the bulk of Sunday’s competitors - huffed and puffed around Delhi’s smoggy streets later in the morning.
“My eyes are burning, my throat is dry. I have a running nose,” said Rohit Mohan, a 30-year-old runner from the southern city of Bangalore who was among those donning a mask. “My eyes are burning, my throat is dry. I have a running nose,” said running enthusiast Rohit Mohan, a 30-year-old from the southern city of Bangalore who was among the minority donning a mask. “It’s been terrible since I landed here yesterday.”
“It’s been terrible since I landed here yesterday.” Others expressed frustration at being forced to take precautions unnecessary elsewhere, like wearing masks that filter pollutants but also restrict breathing.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) had asked the Delhi High Court to postpone the event after a spike in pollution levels that it described as a public health emergency. “It’s obviously much harder to breathe, so you’re not doing your best here, and you can’t take it off,” Abhay Sen, 30, told AFP. “Makes you think whether you want to do this again or not.”
However, on Thursday the court said it was satisfied by the organisers’ reassurances that they were doing everything they could to mitigate concerns, and the race was given the green light. But the overwhelming majority ran without masks and expressed relief Delhi’s atrocious air - recently so bad doctors declared a public health emergency - had lowered to levels considered merely “unhealthy”.
The medical association says running in severe pollution can trigger asthma attacks, worsen lung conditions and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. “It’s bright and pleasant. We are simply loving it,” said 28-year-old runner Saikat Banerjee, despite the high level of airborne pollutants.
Most participants – the large majority of whom were local, amateur runners – seemed unfazed and ran without masks, ignoring the warnings. Race organisers declared the event an unequivocal success that “lived up to its legacy of being the world’s most prestigious half marathon”.
“I know pollution is bad and it can affect my health but I am still participating,” said Sitam, who like many Indians goes by one name. Birhanu Legese of Ethiopia, who won the men’s race Sunday, said elite competitors “were scared” before the race but the pollution was “not that bad. I would say it was perfect to run,” he said.
“I want to send a message to the government to do something for fitness enthusiasts and ensure a pollution free environment for them.” Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana won the women’s event.
Last week telecoms giant Airtel threatened to pull its sponsorship of the event if authorities in Delhi failed to act to improve the city’s air quality. Other sporting events in the capital - such as a top-level state cricket match Sunday and a recent international golf tournament - have attracted less attention despite the hazardous levels of pollution.
Organisers sprayed the course with water to keep dust levels down. Doctors warn running in severe pollution can trigger asthma attacks, worsen lung conditions and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
A 2014 World Health Organization survey found Delhi was the world’s most polluted capital, with air quality even worse than Beijing. A satirical video widely shared on social media in recent days showed a runner chain smoking cigarettes and inhaling exhaust fumes to prepare for the race.
The Indian Medical Association had asked the Delhi High Court to postpone the event, but were told organisers had taken proper precautions.
The course was sprayed with salted water to keep dust levels down. Light drizzle in the capital early Saturday also eased the toxic highs of last week.
But as the race progressed pollution readings climbed above 200 - levels at which active people “should avoid all outdoor exertion”, the US embassy warns.
“But here we are running a marathon,” said Ashish Shakya, 31, who for his part decided not to race because of the unhealthy air and watched from the sidelines in a mask.
“Whatever health benefits we get from running are negated because of the smog. I chose not to run because of the health risks.”
Pollution regularly spikes across north India and Pakistan at this time of year as farmers burn post-harvest crop stubble and cooler temperatures prevent pollutants from dispersing.
Delhi is often ranked one of the world’s most polluted capitals, and local authorities have been blasted for failing to offset this annual scourge.
Some runners saw their participation Sunday as an act of defiance. “I know pollution is bad and it can affect my health but I am still participating,” said Sitam, who like many Indians goes by one name.