Running, biking, swimming in Beijing

[amandagmu]

I'm a triathlete and I train a lot during the week (6-7 days, sometimes twice a day). I'm going to be visiting and studying in Beijing at BLCU literally in the middle of my training season (!). I have a triathlon (1 mile swim/ 25 miles bike/ 10k run) two weeks after I get back to the U.S. followed by a marathon a month and a half later.

Someone lay it on me, can I train in Beijing or not? Should I run in the mornings only? If so, will anyone be around to train WITH me? Are there decent gyms for spin classes, or decent shops and bikes to ride around the city?

Please please PLEASE don't tell me I have to run on a treadmill for 6 weeks!!!!!

Thanks, any advice on any of this + gyms would be most appreciated

Amanda

[Lu]

There's a big & good swimming pool right in BLCU, so the swimming is no problem. But maybe you already knew that.

Above the pool is a gym, but I've never been there so can't say anything about the quality of it. But if it isn't good, there are other gyms in Beijing, you can probably find a good one.

As to running, as far as I know you can do that anywhere, so also in Beijing. The smog is a bit of a problem, but should be less if you run in the morning.

I hope that helped.

[Claudinorunning]

I too am a triathlete, and have been in Beijing for a couple of days now, I have realized that for now, my compulsiveness to train will have to be deiminished, I have only been able to run, but I feel that my lungs are on fire only after like 8 miles due to the smog, even though I get up at 5. to do it. I'm still searching for a swimming pool, but biking seems like an impossible idea here, maybe doing some spinning classes will have to do. I am a certified spinning instructor, but I do not speak Chinese and I do not know if there are any gyms looking for a English speaking instructors:), let me know if y'all here anything about it:)

[cdn_in_bj]

It is true, the air is very bad here and it's hot outside. Especially at this time of year. You also have to consider the traffic/driving habits. Like Lu said, you should do your exercising in the morning when the air is better and cooler, and the traffic lighter. And by morning, I mean before 7:00.

[cdn_in_bj]

I have only been able to run, but I feel that my lungs are on fire only after like 8 miles due to the smog, even though I get up at 5. to do it.

I highly suggest you take it easy during your first little while here to let your body adjust to the pollution. After your first few weeks here, you may start to develop a light cough/hack. Fortunately, once you go home it seems to go away after a few days. And if you stay here longer-term, it should also go away but I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.

[geprig]

I've been following this discussion with interest. I'm due to spend two weeks in Beijing and Shenyang in September, right in the middle of my marathon training. I should be doing about 40 miles a week but I don't want to pick up any chest problems.

Does anyone have any experience of using a face mask? Do they help or do they just make it harder to run?

Also can anyone suggest any good places to run in the centre of the Beijing? Parks, rivers? I've tried looking on mapmyrun.com but there does't seem to be much there.

Finally, so you guys have any essential survival tips? For example, dealing with traffic, or how not to get lost.

Thanks

[gato]

For just a two-week stay, I would just use a treadmill in a gym. The air is even more insufferable in the summer. Sorry.

[nuthatce]

It depends on the season. I was in Beijing in early August and the air quality was incredibly bad. You could barely make out the silhouettes of buildings across the street. The sun, when visible, was a dim white disk, smaller than the moon. Walking outside for more than 15 minutes made you feel like you were coming down with a cold. Running outside was pretty much out of the question, although the weather did clear up the last day I was there (too late.)

The second time I visited recently was the first week in September. What a difference a month makes. I jogged early Saturday morning up Chang'an Avenue from Jianguomen past Tienanmen Square and back. I was pleasantly surprised to discover Chang'an is a broad tree-lined avenue and most of the way was shaded early in the morning (about 6:30 or so.) You can hop between the sidewalk and the bicycle lanes to avoid crowds, and you are are pretty sheltered from most automobile traffic. Unlike Chicago and New York the lights are timed pretty well on Chang'an and there are underground crossing tunnels, so I only had to stop and wait for traffic a couple of times on a 90 minute run.

I had figured if things got bad I could take the subway back. Or a taxi. Bring some cash and the name of the place you are staying written in Chinese. Depending on where you are roads and sidewalks can be better or worse. I didn't have any problem breathing--although the air did taste a bit funny. There are some public restrooms but I didn't notice many water fountains or convenience stores. And unlike Japan there aren't refrigerated vending machines. Anywhere. Drivers are very aggressive. I shadowed bicyclists when crossing streets just in case.

I spent the rest of my time running on a treadmill. I had almost forgotten how painfully boring that is. Bring some decent music and don't be scared to try running outside. Google Maps is useless for China, but the Google Earth application has plenty of detail to help you map out routes and locate nearby parks, canal paths, etc. Something you may want to do before you go behind the Great Firewall.

[adrianlondon]

Although it costs to get in, could you jog around one of the larger parks, such as the summer palace?

[Scoobyqueen]

A triathlete I am also looking for a place to train, specifically or ideally an olympic sized pool (50m). Are there any public ones? additionally are there any do's and dont's such as clothing, lane swimming and also are they crowded?