The Mask: Unmasking the perils while running

Today began my routine 'wogging' after a hiatus of over 3 months. Things looked the same, crowds the same. People were greeting each other like long lost friends. The grass was overgrown and heads shaved. But there was an extra piece of apparel donned by all, which in most cases covered the mouth and nose, in some only the mouth and the rest, it lay resting around the neck. That was the MASK. They seemed to have different forms and numbers - a surgical 2/3 ply,

Surgical mask

Wildcraft mask

N95 mask

a reusable Wildkraft, a hanky or an N95. People wore them either out of compulsion or just for caution. But I need to caution you about the perils of wearing these MASKS while walking or running and the risks of unmasking certain health conditions by an overzealous training effort. 

While doing moderate to high intensity exercises or running, the breathing rate increases and so does the air requirement. A face mask is going to decrease your airflow, making it a little harder to breathe. It won’t decrease your oxygen or retain carbon dioxide. But it will definitely impact your performance or pace.
In such a situation a tight fit N95 is a strict no-no. A regular mask may also be uncomfortable with such exercises. So a practical solution to this could be wearing the mask around the chin or neck while running and maintaining a strict 6 feet distance with others and when you are about to cross a person, you could just lift up the mask to cover the mouth and nose. 

The masks also tend to become damp due to sweat and our breath. To overcome this, try breathing through your nose. That reduces the vapours and also allows air to get filtered through the nasal passageways. 

Watch for symptoms like lightheadedness, dizziness, numbness or shortness of breath. Abandon the day's workout if you experience any of the above and consult your doctor.

Here is the silver lining - even though the mask may diminish your performance for the first few times you wear it, your body will ultimately adapt. Once the mask is removed after few weeks or months of training, the lungs will have the ability to intake and absorb more oxygen, which would most likely result in a performance increase. 

The risk of transmission of the virus outdoors is much less as compared to a closed room. Hence open air jogging, running or cycling should be preferred to gym activities. 

A low intensity workout is preferable initially to adjust to breathing through a mask.

People suffering from chronic respiratory ailments like asthma, COPD, etc should prefer indoor exercises at home without a mask to ensure safety for themselves and others.

Also, after an almost sedentary period of 3 months, a sudden burst of exercise can unmask underlying health problems and precipitate a heart or asthma attack. 

Don't push your limit: Do not go overboard when exercising. If you start feeling tired, then stop.