Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Smoking Weed While Running: Dude, Check Out These Pros & Cons

I have a friend training for her first marathon. It seems she is allergic to running. She has every ache and pain imaginable. If that isn’t enough, diarrhea has become her friend (enemy?), as well as nausea. This friend is determined as hell to keep training, but she is not stupid. She has found a remedy to help with her symptoms.

Marijuanaimage

While she doesn’t take pot on her runs, she takes a small hit or two from a vaporizer when she gets home. This helps tremendously with her symptoms, especially her nausea. Studies have shown that marijuana can indeed improve running performance and decrease pain/nausea.

As you potheads know, marijuana is now legal in Colorado. And, not just the medical kind. If you have cash and an I.D. proving you are over 21, you can walk into any pot shop and buy up to one ounce of marijuana.  While I prefer not to get into the debate about whether this is a good idea for our state, our people, our kids – I would like to get into another pot debate.

Let me start by saying – I am not a pot smoker. I have tried it about three times in my life (well, not including that time in Amsterdam. That might have been hash, but I had been at the Heineken brewery all day and can’t remember clearly. That’s another story). It’s just not for me. I prefer a good glass (or 5) of chardonnay.

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I read an article in the Wall Street Journal the other day about ultra runners who smoke marijuana while racing. The question: Is this ethical? While research has unequivocally shown that marijuana use can block pain and reduce nausea, should it be allowed? Is it fair? How is smoking pot different than taking a crap load of NSAIDs?

image

The Pros:

  • Has the potential to improve performance due to pain blockage and nausea reduction.
  • Some report that the long miles tick off faster if one is running high.
  • If you suffer from not being able to sleep after a very long race, marijuana can help.
  • Hey bro, this run is, like, awesome!” can be repeated endlessly.
  • Some would argue that THC is completely natural, unlike NSAIDs or other enhancing drugs.
  • If you are doing your event in a state where marijuana is legal, it’s an even playing field. Anyone can get and use it.
  • Helps one stay calm in the midst of competition. Decreases anxiety.
  • Promotes feelings of invincibility (this can be a con as well – Hey dude let’s jump off this cliff).
  • Marijuana can have an anti-inflammatory effect.

The Cons:

  • Should runners be blocking pain? Isn’t this a precursor to injury?
  • Some view using marijuana as pure drug abuse.
  • Even if it is banned, ultra races don’t typically test for drugs because it is cost prohibitive.
  • If you can’t smoke pot and drive, why should you be able to smoke and run? Isn’t that dangerous to yourself and others?
  • Over time marijuana use can cause changes in the brain that lead to addiction.
  • Aid stations on ultra runs would have to triple the amount of junk food they serve (hello Ding Dongs!).
  • According to the World Anti Doping Agency, some say marijuana should be on the prohibited substance list (1. potential to enhance performance 2. risk for athlete’s health 3. violation of the sprit of the spirit).
  • Is smoking anything good for athletes and breathing?
  • As far as consuming marijuana during the race – it is technically illegal (at least in CO) to do this in public.
  • Potential decrease in motor skills.

The debate rages on. Part of me couldn’t care less what ultra runners do (and I will likely be one someday myself). If it helps to take a couple of hits to cover 150 miles in one day, go for it. And, if you know that you are masking pain and you don’t care because this is what you love to do, then what’s it hurting? Your body, your choices.

But, the other side of me sees it as a slippery slope – if we start permitting this, what is next? Will weed now become legit to use in marathons and half marathons? How much do we want to encourage drug use and what could potentially turn into an unhealthy habit?

I’d love to know your thoughts.

Should pot be permitted in races?

Have you ever smoked and ran? (no one is reading this blog so don’t be afraid to smoke and tell)

 

SUAR

45 comments:

  1. I don't think that the race itself should provide the substance but....to each his own. I seriously doubt that marijuana is going to prove to be that much of an unfair advantage. Arguably, it could even be a disadvantage. I am not a smoker but I've had enough to know that I'm not exactly super motivated. Granted, different strains have different effects. I would not smoke during a race but a nibble of a laced brownie? hhhhmmm....

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  2. Let's separate out racers into pro and amateur. For the latter, I don't really care what they smoke or ingest during training. If they think being on steroids or anything else gets them an advantage in a race that pays nothing, is worth the damage to their bodies, well fill your boots. I don't like it much, but neither am I going to get too excited about it. There are bigger fish to fry.
    Those fish are the pros. I am disgusted at the drug use in pro sports. Any pro sport. If there is a reward, then both the competitors and athletes should know it's a level playing field. The sport itself should be testing the athletes, all of them, regularly. If you're a pro, your door should be open to a knock from the drug testers any time of day. Here, pee in the bottle and provide a drop of blood, right now please. Get a positive test on two separate occasions and your pro career is over. Done like dinner.

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  3. Is it fair to compare it to alcohol usage? Is it okay to smoke weed after a race if you drink wine after a race? Would it be okay to drink before or during a race? Would weed have the same effect as the wine? I have absolutely no idea if those are even fair comparisons. I tried it in college over 30 years ago and decided smoking anything wasn't a good idea.

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  4. If weed were a performance enhancing drug, all elite athletes would be stoned. And they are not. But they do all live in Colorado. Hmmm.

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  5. As far as your friend using it after runs to help with nausea symptoms, or hell, even if you just want to go and party and that's your thing, I have no issue with. But if there are performance enhancing effects, then using it just before or during a race should not be allowed. Unlike some people above, I disagree that it matters whether the person is professional or not. It would be like saying it's ok for mid-pack runners to cut corners or take a taxi to get to the finish - it means they broke rules, as well as the spirit of the sport. I can't agree with that at any level. Compete hard, but within the rules. Once the race is over and there is no performance enhancement, then go ahead and do what you wish.

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  6. Is this an April Fools post?

    Yeah, I know it's not. So let me get to the point. The pros of pot far outweigh the cons. Always have. Always will. A hit or two before an easy workout can sometimes (but not always) lead to a wonderful experience. A hit or two after a hard workout or long run can often (but not always) be one of the best ingredients in your recipe for recovery. Try it. You might be surprised. And don't smoke it. Vaporize it.



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  7. I used to think pot was no big deal. Heck, I smoked it when I was a teen. Now that I have a teen who is struggling with substance abuse, I've changed my tune. I don't know how I feel about athletes using it. I guess if you are a responsible adult, and you're a dedicated athlete, chances are you aren't going to abuse it. But I hate to say it's ok, because it sends the wrong message to those who don't know better. Sigh.

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    Replies
    1. Wendy, I am right there with you. Seven years now of teen/young adult substance abuse struggles and it all started with pot. So for me personally, it is hard to say pot is OK. However, I fully get that those that using pot as a stepping stone to other drugs is in the minority. Casual usage by responsible adults shouldn't be something I care about. And those that use pot for medical uses, I say go for it, the risks are far less than the medical issues at hand. But for me, pot only equals heartache and hell.

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    2. Wendy...as the parent of teens myself, I couldn't agree more. Especially in CO this is becoming a huge issue because it's so easy to get and somehow teens think it's permissible because it's "legal." (not for them, but you know what I mean).

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  8. Hm. You DO bring up an interesting point about more junk food at aid stations. Although I wouldn't choose to smoke pre-run myself, I WOULD enjoy the advantage of a spare ding-dong or ho-ho mid course. :-D

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  9. I think Papa young smoked all the pot!! :)

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  10. I have two thoughts on this. One, I liken pot to alcohol. Actually, it is way less dangerous than alcohol. So I have no problem if an adult smokes a little pot. I don't smoke myself, but I do imbibe in alcohol- although not when running! I would feel really crappy. But there are beer runs and bar crawl runs and things like that and I guess a lot of people do that. To each their own.

    I also have another view. Cannabis is a medicine and my husband uses it medicinally. He has a brain tumor which causes epilepsy and he found so much relief from his seizures using marijuana. He has other meds as well but there is a thresh hold with those... So since it is a medicine for some, you can't stop people from racing and using their meds!

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  11. I think it comes down to a question of semantics: where do you draw the line? A couple of ibuprofen taken pre-race can help reduce pain and minimize swelling during and after the run. A cup or two of coffee taken pre-workout, or pre-race, has been proven to increase performance. Gels and Gu's containing caffeine are regularly ingested during an event. I competed in a 12 hour Adventure Race, and one of my teammates was a doctor who popped ibuprofen during the entire race like they were Chiclets. I regularly would pop half an Imodium prior to a distance event in order to minimize diarrhea issues.
    These are all examples (and there are many more similar ones) of readily available supplements, so to speak, that athletes of various disciplines use all the time to help them perform (either through increased energy or minimizing pain ).
    Bottom line, somebody, somewhere, will have to determine if using pot as a supplement provides an unfair advantage. Otherwise, I think it's simply a matter of legality. If it's legal, and it provides you a benefit, then go for it.

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  12. I have never really thought about what runners (especially us middle of the packers) may be using to enhance performance or for pain control. I guess my focus has always been that I have enough carbs and glycogen stores to not hit the wall. I want to know that what I accomplished in a race was based on my training and diet choices and not through performance enhancing substances. At the same time, if there is a medical need for THC, it's completely acceptable. I sometimes have to use an inhaler (for asthma) which some may argue can also enhance performance. I think it just gets me on an even playing field as everybody else...it allows me to breathe!

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  13. I have never in a million years thought about running while high. But I am intrigued. I'm a former daily user who VERY occasionally smokes now (I prefer a glass of wine) and I may try a puff before a long run.

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  14. First off I cannot believe its legal in Colorado. Second if you smoke anything it wrecks your lungs and your running eventually. Three wouldnt you be more inclined to get the munchies and head to McDonalds rather than run the race - I mean like ' wow man 26 miles yeh way cool or Maccas for burgers - and man we can take the car - Yeh cool'

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  15. I live in a state where pot is not legal for any reason, so it is a moot point for me. BUT..... I guess I can see the appeal. I take Ibuprofen prior to a long run sometimes, and it helps significantly with the little aches and pains. I also find myself suffering from GI issues after my very long runs- not diarrhea but the opposite actually, as well as terrible bloating for the rest of the day. If pot helped with that- heck I'd probably be on board with using a little!!

    I also admit that I have gone for a run under the influence of alcohol a time or two. We spend most of our summer weekends at the lake, and it's not uncommon for supper to be a group effort with all our neighbors grilling out together and sharing drinks. Add that to the fact that I love nothing better than a sunset run, and yeah-- I have run buzzed a few times. And ya know what? It's fun!!!!! Don't knock it til you try it :-)

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  17. I can see the appeal. I use my running time to meditate--I love nothing more than running along the path that follows the shore of the lake, where I stare out at the water and step out of my mind. The only other things I've tried that get me to a similar state of reverie are yoga and pot. In fact, yoga is one of my favorite activities when I've hit the pipe--I feel it puts me in a state of concentration where I can really understand how to perfectly align my muscles & skeleton. I can tell you that under the influence I can achieve some mad arm balances, much more easily than I can when sober. I can see how a high run could be blissfully meditative. I've never tried, because running is its own category of bliss, but I just might sometime.

    I would not, however, do it for performance-enhancing reasons. It would be for a peaceful meditation where I could care less how fast my splits were, whether they were crazy fast or pleasantly slow, or both by turns. I am sure that it wouldn't fit with my typical race mindset where I am super-focused on performance and competition.

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  18. Taking a few tokes after a long run to rid nausea or soreness isn't a bad idea. I actually prefer that over taking ibprophon or Aleve, only because taking those pills make me very constipated.
    I'd like to know how anyone could ever smoke it before a run, though! That's weird. If I did that, I'd want to take a nap on someone's front lawn.

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