I knew it was bad, but I didn’t realize how bad it was. Today the NYTimes featured an article detailing just how unhealthy regular outdoor exercise is for people. This certainly isn’t a shock, in fact it was confirmation that I may indeed need to cut back on my riding. The sad and undeniable truth is that jogging, cycling, roller blading and most other outdoor related exercises – in urban areas – are doing more harm than good (long term).

Athletes typically take in 10 to 20 times as much air…and thus pollutants, with every breath as sedentary people do.

While the article didn’t go as far as to say never do outdoor activities, many of the health professionals cited advised against doing said activities near high traffic areas. That is well and good, but when you live in a city like NY, it’s rather difficult to not avoid traffic. The west side greenway runs directly next to the west side highway. Avoiding city streets is easy, but you can never really escape the fumes. Even Central Park during the day is clogged with pollutionmobiles.

Much like the woman featured, I suffer the same asthmatic problems. Since being more active outdoors – and in NYC no less – I have developed serious asthma and lung problems. A nasty hacking cough and constant phlem are my reward for trying to be a fit, economical and ecologically conscious individual.

More information about our current air pollution problem can be found at the American Lung Association’s website. You can also view the State of the Air: 2007 report card and see how your state/county faired.

My wife said that I should add that I too am black. So don’t assume I’m being racist or prejudice with this post.

If you ever want to hide something from Black people, put it in a book.

This was something I was always told growing up (and it is partially true…). My parents were adamant that their child would not succumb to the ignorance of “hood culture”. Being black isn’t being ghetto or speaking slang; it just so happens to be my racial make up. Furthermore, don’t call me African-American. I wasn’t, nor was my family, born in Africa. I’m a Californian with roots in Germany and Puerto Rico. My wife is Floridian and my children will be New York…ian. Feel free to call me black - brown or hazel are ideal as that is more my skin tone.

You may be seated now.

A few nice shirts/hoodies over at Mishka. I’m diggin’ the striped shorts too, but sadly they are little too hipster for me - pants legs are too skinny. Not all of us are ultra thin coke heads! Sheesh.