One of the more common careers that Navy SEAL veterans normally proceed to is one in the fitness industry, and understandably so. The Navy SEAL has always been equated to being fit, and that gives them a lot of credibility.

One such veteran is Stew Smith; after his stint with the SEALs, he is now a military fitness trainer and author. Among the U.S. Naval Academy graduate’s self defense and fitness books are The Complete Guide to Navy SEAL fitness and Maximum Fitness. He has by far been able to assist in the training of Navy SEAL, Special Forces, Air Force PJ and Ranger hopefuls.

Smith wrote a rather informative feature on Military.com regarding air pollution and running outdoors. This is, after all, the season where people find it more comfortable to do their cardio workout by running outdoors. This, however, may not be ideal for some people who live in certain locations. Smith mentioned receiving e-mails seeking advice for running in the rather arid environs of Iraq and the hot and humid cities in the South Eastern coast of the United States.

If you live, for instance, in Washington D.C. or Atlanta, you may want to hold off on the running during the hottest part of the day. It will be to your advantage if you were to keep abreast of Weather Ozone alerts and the area’s air quality. Breathing in the hot, wet air that may be filled with fine particulate may lead to conditions such as the reduction of lung functions and damaged lung linings.

In the more arid environments, the humid air is replaced by dry air, which can carry sand, dust and chemicals that may get lodged into the lungs. This result in the same lung issues mentioned previously. When faced with this environment, refrain from taking off on a run during or immediately after a wind storm.