So New York Times had an article yesterday about how athletes should be training themselves for the upcoming conditions in Beijing Olympics this August. The pollution is so bad there that the athletes are not sure how to train themselves and whether they should run in highway traffic or behind vehicles that are shooting exhaust into their lungs just to adjust themselves to the change in environment in China.
Should I run behind a bus and breathe in the exhaust? Should I train on the highway during rush hour? Is there any way to acclimate myself to pollution?
Mr. Wilber answers those questions with a steadfast, “No.”
“We have to be extremely careful and steer them in the right direction because the mind-set of the elite athlete is to do anything it takes to get that advantage,” he said. “If they thought locking themselves in the garage with the car running would help them win a gold medal, I’m sure they would do it. Our job, obviously, is to prevent that.”
Everyone sort of knows that athletes will pretty much try anything to try to get a competitive advantage and this is probably one of the most bizarre things you will see… but I guess it is this or shooting yourself up with HGH or something like that.