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How to safely run outside amid the coronavirus pandemic

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There are several measures runners can take to lower the risk to themselves and others.
In a time when due to stay-at-home orders, running is one of the most convenient exercises to do on your own. And while exposure to the coronavirus is a risk, experts say that exercise can be beneficial for fighting the virus, and that there are many measures a runner can take to protect themselves and others.
In one study, a researcher from Appalachian State University found that moderate-intensity physical activity can improve one’s ability to fight viruses and “reduces morbidity and mortality from viral infection and respiratory illnesses including the common cold, pneumonia, and influenza.”
Therefore, a “primary” strategy to prevent the risk posed by COVID-19 would be to adopt “lifestyle practices consistent with good immune health,” including exercise, said David C. Neiman, the study’s author.
While Neiman’s data says regular moderate-intensity physical activity could be beneficial, Neiman warned against over training the body, which can have an adverse affect when it comes to fighting viruses.
“Taken together, existing data support the viewpoints that (1) overtraining is not recommended in areas of the world where risk of COVID-19 transmission is high and (2) intense exercise should be avoided when the person is infected with COVID-19 or other systemic viruses,” Neiman wrote in the report, which was published in the Journal of Health and Sport Science.
Professor Erin Bromage, Comparative Immunologist and Professor of Biology at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, agreed that there are health benefits to exercising during the pandemic.

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