Bangkok Smog? Does it affect Muay Thai training and runs?

[MuayThaiPanda]

Hey @Kevin von Duuglas-Ittuand @Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu,

I got a random question but seeing as you guys have been living there for awhile now but how bad is the Bangkok smog?  I only spent a few days in Bangkok a few years ago on my first trip and noticed it was pretty congested and was wondering if it affects you at all while training and living there? I've heard some guys mention before the combination of heat, humidity and smog in Bangkok wasn't too pleasant. 

I did notice for me the more I motorbiked around Hua Hin without a n95 mask, the more it affected my lungs on runs and workouts, but I do suffer from some minor asthma here and there.  I'm possibly planning on heading to Thailand again for a few months in early 2022 possibly so I'm doing research for Muay Thai camps.  I'm thinking of just heading to Phuket and staying by the beach for cleaner air but I feel like I may be missing out on the great BKK gyms like Attachai and Yodwicha's gym.  Decisions decisions!

Appreciate any input from anyone else too.

Thanks!

[Kevin von Duuglas-Ittu]

  On 10/27/2021 at 4:45 AM, MuayThaiPanda said:

I got a random question but seeing as you guys have been living there for awhile now but how bad is the Bangkok smog?

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We live in Pattaya which has a pretty different weather pattern than Bangkok, despite being only 2 hrs away. It's on the sea. Maybe someone living or experienced in training Bangkok can answer?

[emma]

Hi @MuayThaiPanda,

 

I've been living and training in Bangkok for around 10 years and to be honest, I haven't found that the pollution bothers me when I'm running/training. Maybe I'm just used to it! It might also be because of the gym's I've been at. For the last few years, I've been at Attachai Gym (so if you're thinking of coming and need any info, feel free to ask).This gym has a particularly good location if you want to be in Bangkok without dealing with the smog. It's tucked away in a big green area with lots of banana trees, backed onto a lake.

The humidity is the main thing, definitely something that you have to adapt to. But I think that goes for Thailand in general.

 

[MuayThaiPanda]

  On 10/27/2021 at 7:09 AM, Kevin von Duuglas-Ittu said:

We live in Pattaya which has a pretty different weather pattern than Bangkok, despite being only 2 hrs away. It's on the sea. Maybe someone living or experienced in training Bangkok can answer?

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Oh right, I totally forgot you guys are based in Pattaya. 

  On 10/27/2021 at 11:02 AM, emma said:

Hi @MuayThaiPanda,

 

I've been living and training in Bangkok for around 10 years and to be honest, I haven't found that the pollution bothers me when I'm running/training. Maybe I'm just used to it! It might also be because of the gym's I've been at. For the last few years, I've been at Attachai Gym (so if you're thinking of coming and need any info, feel free to ask).This gym has a particularly good location if you want to be in Bangkok without dealing with the smog. It's tucked away in a big green area with lots of banana trees, backed onto a lake.

The humidity is the main thing, definitely something that you have to adapt to. But I think that goes for Thailand in general.

 

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Well that's awesome to hear and thanks for you input Emma!  Attachai gym seems quite appealing to me at the moment.  We'll see how the stars align but I'm pretty hopeful I can go at the beginning of 2022. 

I wholeheartedly agree, the humidity is no joke and takes time to get used to.  When I was last in Thailand about 4 years ago, I think it took me about a month or so to get used to it while training in Hua Hin.  But Hua Hin is a beach city and seemed a bit cooler.

Thanks for you input Emma, if you haven't noticed it really for the past 10 years that's quite something.