Juan Villa / The Collegian
Unlike many people in the Valley, some Fresno State student-athletes and coaches do not have the luxury of stepping inside air-conditioned rooms when they go to work.
Air quality is notoriously bad in the Valley, and brutal for the athletes, something the coaches are aware of during practices, meets and games.
Softball
Fresno State softball coach Margie Wright backs off cardio-heavy workouts, especially during the fall.
“We absolutely break more often because we don’t want someone going down,â€Â Wright said. “We have several kids who have asthma and it makes it tough on them.â€Â
However, during the season Wright said that even though she pays attention to air quality, her athletes have to train, even when the air is poor.
File photo by Joseph Edgecomb / The Collegian
During the season Wright does not see the air quality affecting the players, unlike the fall.
“In the fall I see [the air] affecting them,â€Â Wright said. “They get lethargic and it’s hard for them to breathe and do what they do.â€Â
It helps the team that some games are played in the evening when the air quality is less harmful.
Wright said that when her team travels to Southern California, the humidity also affects the players.
“I know when we go down to Los Angeles, sometimes the air quality is pretty bad down there,â€Â Wright said. “It does affect a lot of people on the team, mostly because they’re not used to it.â€Â
Track
Track coach Bob Fraley definitely pays attention to air quality, especially since all of his athletes train outside.
“We don’t make an issue out of it because most of these athletes train all year round,â€Â Fraley said. “It’s a matter of adapting to the conditions.â€Â
Fraley notices a difference when he recruits an athlete from a healthier climate.
Fraley said that people from the Valley and other parts of California are better at dealing with the poor quality because they are “immune or adapted to it.â€Â
Fraley doesn̢۪t make changes to his practice schedules for the runners.
“Unless it was so bad and it was an emergency and they said don’t do anything, then I’d have to do something,â€Â Fraley said. “I really haven’t changed a practice for air quality, unless it was a really hot day.â€Â
Fraley compared his athletes to Kenyans, who he said have no problems with their feet because they run around barefoot when they are kids.
Fraley doesn̢۪t want to plant a seed in his runners̢۪ minds that their performance might be linked to the air quality.
“If performance is bad, they’ll blame it on something that really didn’t have anything to do with their performance,â€Â Fraley said. “No excuses.â€Â
Fraley tries to set practice later in the day when he thinks the air quality improves.
“What we’ve found in the Central Valley is that somewhere around 1 or 2 p.m. you’re going to get a breeze coming in, and you’re going to get a layer that’s a lot less polluted.â€Â
Fraley worries mostly how the heat affects his athletes.
“If the heat is really bad, then the air is really bad, so you have to take a look at it,â€Â Fraley said.
Runners
Sophomore distance runner Frank Sanders uses the bad air to his advantage, as something that runners from other schools can̢۪t use.
“It’s definitely harder to run [in the Valley],â€Â Sanders said. “In a sense it’s good to train here because there’s no other place that has it. When we get to other schools, it’s clean air. We feel stronger.â€Â
Still, Sanders doesn̢۪t enjoy the bad air all the time.
“We might tell each other that it’s a bad day, or that hey, ‘the air sucks today,’ Sanders said. “But we have to go do 12 miles, let’s go.â€Â
Sanders never changes his practice schedule to adjust to poor air quality.
He said that what he has written down on his schedule is what he does, regardless of the conditions.
“I have to come out here anyway and run in it,â€Â Sanders said. “It’s harder to run sometimes.â€Â
Sanders does notice differences in his times when the Valley air is bad.
“When we get back from a long, hard run our times might be slower,â€Â Sanders said. “We sometimes might feel a little dizzy.â€Â
Miguel • Apr 28, 2008 at 11:52 pm
I to am native born to the central valley and have adapted to the environment. However, if I was to take a moral perspective, I’d have to consider Fresno County’s Economic growth, laws, as well at its diverse culture.
I must be honest; I am tired of the Environmental movements that only impose a strain on me as well. Stress can lead to various neurological conditions – namely burn out.
I’ve often wanted to scream out, “Go back to the UK where the grass is greener!” However, this doesn’t benefit anyone.
Morality is relative to the various sub-cultures we see here at Fresno State. There is no right or wrong as long as the laws aren’t being broken – everything is cool. Nevertheless, a transfer student from Canada that allows it citizens to drink before the age of 21 must be considered and not left out. Surely you can imagine the strain a student like that must go through trying to adapt to our system.
Never judge a human being I guess, leave that up to jurisprudence or law enforcement (I̢۪m sure their consciences tear into them).
I have a problem with the I am Fresno State which could kindle periods of chaos, that positively could lead to the development of sub-groups where each individual provide the others support and so forth (that’s a good thing). Still, the heavily supported green movements don’t benefit me as long as it continues to be in my face. I hope green understands where I am coming from.
Growth is where it’s at. Inviting others to come into Fresno County could boost Fresno’s housing surplus, but to do that Fresno has to make its environment livable for it residents and others that may want to live here and are not from the central valley.
It’s difficult however when the majority here are like me and comfortable with their environment. I associate myself with Chicano Latinos, and we are surely not to blame for the sluggish reaction of the markets still purchasing vehicles that don’t benefit the environmentally (forgive me) challenged…to laugh about.
Breath easy, and have a great summer.
Miguel • Apr 29, 2008 at 6:52 am
I to am native born to the central valley and have adapted to the environment. However, if I was to take a moral perspective, I’d have to consider Fresno County’s Economic growth, laws, as well at its diverse culture.
I must be honest; I am tired of the Environmental movements that only impose a strain on me as well. Stress can lead to various neurological conditions – namely burn out.
I’ve often wanted to scream out, “Go back to the UK where the grass is greener!” However, this doesn’t benefit anyone.
Morality is relative to the various sub-cultures we see here at Fresno State. There is no right or wrong as long as the laws aren’t being broken ”“ everything is cool. Nevertheless, a transfer student from Canada that allows it citizens to drink before the age of 21 must be considered and not left out. Surely you can imagine the strain a student like that must go through trying to adapt to our system.
Never judge a human being I guess, leave that up to jurisprudence or law enforcement (I’m sure their consciences tear into them).
I have a problem with the I am Fresno State which could kindle periods of chaos, that positively could lead to the development of sub-groups where each individual provide the others support and so forth (that’s a good thing). Still, the heavily supported green movements don’t benefit me as long as it continues to be in my face. I hope green understands where I am coming from.
Growth is where it’s at. Inviting others to come into Fresno County could boost Fresno’s housing surplus, but to do that Fresno has to make its environment livable for it residents and others that may want to live here and are not from the central valley.
It’s difficult however when the majority here are like me and comfortable with their environment. I associate myself with Chicano Latinos, and we are surely not to blame for the sluggish reaction of the markets still purchasing vehicles that don’t benefit the environmentally (forgive me) challenged…to laugh about.
Breath easy, and have a great summer.
Miguel • Apr 29, 2008 at 6:52 am
I to am native born to the central valley and have adapted to the environment. However, if I was to take a moral perspective, I’d have to consider Fresno County’s Economic growth, laws, as well at its diverse culture.
I must be honest; I am tired of the Environmental movements that only impose a strain on me as well. Stress can lead to various neurological conditions – namely burn out.
I’ve often wanted to scream out, “Go back to the UK where the grass is greener!” However, this doesn’t benefit anyone.
Morality is relative to the various sub-cultures we see here at Fresno State. There is no right or wrong as long as the laws aren’t being broken ”“ everything is cool. Nevertheless, a transfer student from Canada that allows it citizens to drink before the age of 21 must be considered and not left out. Surely you can imagine the strain a student like that must go through trying to adapt to our system.
Never judge a human being I guess, leave that up to jurisprudence or law enforcement (I’m sure their consciences tear into them).
I have a problem with the I am Fresno State which could kindle periods of chaos, that positively could lead to the development of sub-groups where each individual provide the others support and so forth (that’s a good thing). Still, the heavily supported green movements don’t benefit me as long as it continues to be in my face. I hope green understands where I am coming from.
Growth is where it’s at. Inviting others to come into Fresno County could boost Fresno’s housing surplus, but to do that Fresno has to make its environment livable for it residents and others that may want to live here and are not from the central valley.
It’s difficult however when the majority here are like me and comfortable with their environment. I associate myself with Chicano Latinos, and we are surely not to blame for the sluggish reaction of the markets still purchasing vehicles that don’t benefit the environmentally (forgive me) challenged…to laugh about.
Breath easy, and have a great summer.
No name • Apr 24, 2008 at 11:33 pm
I am 4th generation in the central valley, but even I, now, feel the strain.
No name • Apr 25, 2008 at 6:33 am
I am 4th generation in the central valley, but even I, now, feel the strain.
No name • Apr 25, 2008 at 6:33 am
I am 4th generation in the central valley, but even I, now, feel the strain.