Ep. 187: SportsLegs & Air Quality: The Canary in the Coal Mine of Climate Change?

In this episode:Welcome back to another episode!Leslie Keener, the mastermind behind the Running Up for Air series, joins us to discuss how her initiative is turning endurance sports into a battleground for air quality awareness. Picture this: runners scaling mountains, huffing and puffing not just from the effort, but also from the smog. It’s a wild concept that started when one guy realized he was training for a race in a polluted valley while breathing in what could only be described as a toxic miasma. Talk about a wake-up call!Leslie takes us through the evolution of this project, which has grown from a one-man show to a series of races across multiple states, all aimed at raising funds and awareness for air quality issues. We discuss how air quality is the canary in the coal mine for larger environmental crises, making it a topic that transcends politics and unites people from all walks of life. It’s fascinating and a bit terrifying to think that the air we breathe can serve as a harbinger for climate change. But there’s hope! Leslie shares success stories of how these races have not only raised funds but also educated participants about the importance of clean air—because let’s face it, nobody wants to run in a cloud of smog.Of course, we can't skip our beloved medical mailbag segment, where we tackle the latest in supplement nonsense—this time, a product called Sport Legs. It claims to reduce lactic acid so you can run longer, faster, and without the burn. Sounds like a dream, right? We dig into the science (or lack thereof) behind it, and let’s just say, the results might not exactly make you want to whip out your credit card. This episode is a blend of passion, advocacy, and a healthy dose of skepticism, all wrapped up in a conversation that’s both enlightening and entertaining. So if you’re ready to tackle some serious issues while having a laugh, you’re in the right place!Segments:[07:54]- Medical Mailbag: Sportslegs[28:04]- Interview: Leslie KeenerLinks@runningupforair on InstagramLeslie's Website