As hazy skies continue to blanket the Erie region, local runners are changing their routines to stay safe while training.
The Erie High School cross country team modified its practice Wednesday evening at Frontier Park in response to ongoing air quality concerns. Instead of completing a planned high-intensity workout, athletes took a lighter approach with slower paces and additional breaks while preparing for the upcoming season.
Coach Bobby Danielson said the poor air quality was noticeable, even for him, prompting the decision to scale back practice and closely monitor how the athletes responded.
“I definitely was struggling a little bit more than I usually have been,” Danielson said. “We’re out here for practice, so we’ll see how the kids kind of react to it, but we’re definitely gonna keep workouts lighter, for sure. We were supposed to have a hard workout today. We’re not gonna do that today, obviously. I just don’t think that’s gonna be in the cards.”
With air quality advisories remaining in effect, coaches and athletes are taking extra precautions to reduce prolonged exposure while still maintaining preseason conditioning.
Health officials continue to recommend limiting time outdoors when air quality reaches unhealthy levels, especially for children, older adults, and people with asthma or other respiratory conditions. They also advise reducing strenuous outdoor activity, taking frequent breaks, and moving workouts indoors when possible until conditions improve.
Air quality advisories are expected to continue into Thursday, and residents are encouraged to monitor local forecasts and adjust outdoor plans as needed.