Whether the smog-monster serpent of the year, Delhi, will pose any serious risk to the lungs of the 34,000 participants of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon will be seen on Sunday, 20 November.

Though the visibility and particulate matter have improved from the alarming levels of 400-500 of last fortnight, at the time of writing the story, the air quality index still reads at a hazardous 285. The safe limit set by the World Health Organisation is 50.

A scary reminder: 6 runners and a race official suffered heart attacks in Beijing’s 2015 annual marathon, all before the finish line – it was held when the air quality index was 175.

Should the Delhi smogathon have been cancelled or pushed to another date when the weather forecast doesn’t include a lung-percolating, acrid hue? Perhaps. But that’s not happening, so what should you do? Scroll below to know the expert advice on who should duck, bob or weave through Sunday’s much-anticipated event.

Delhi’s Smogathon: Should You Be Deterred By the Foul Air?

Last year, after Beijing’s 34th International Marathon, the World Health Organisation’s China head, Dr Bernhard Schwartlander said he regretted not warning runners before the event: “Don’t run. The WHO cannot recommend anyone run in that air.”

Also Read: Gasping Yet? Skip Your Morning Jogs If You Want to Keep Breathing

Here’s What Happens When You Run In a Smog-Filled City

1. Your throat begins to feel sticky.

2. Breathing the toxic PM 2.5 laced smog will shorten your life.

When you’re running, you breathe air much deeper – research suggests that during a marathon you will breathe as much air as a sedentary person would over two days. Imagine the amount of pollutants percolating your lungs.

Also Read: Breathing in Delhi's Pollution = Smoking 20 Cigarettes a Day

3. Smg can cause heart-attack-like conditions.

The fine particulate matter can go past the nasal hair, your body’s first line of defense, and settle in the lungs. These highly dangerous, toxic particles can cause inflammation and irritation – some even bypass the lungs to get absorbed into the blood.

So the risk from one marathon could be little but the cumulative risk of living and breathing through this metallic haze would not be.

4. Carbon monoxide is a real blood sucker, so wear a filter... but it’s not easy to run in a mask either.

Scientists have found that in Beijing and Los Angeles, the two cities notorious for noxious air, up to 10% of marathoners have blood cells overwhelmed by carbon monoxide – this can alter muscle co-ordination.

The medical advice is to wear a mask but it’s not easy to wear heavy-duty equipment and run. Masks aren’t designed for running and breathing at the same time.

Related Read: Your 8-Point Guide to Surviving Delhi's Deadly Pollution

The final word then?

Thank your stars Delhi peeps, the airpocalypse advice is only to mask up. If there was an Ebola scare, you’d have to rent out a full Hazmat suit.

Also Read: Airpocalypse: What Delhi Can Learn From Beijing’s War On Pollution