A lot of us enjoy running because it gives us a natural high. Can a marijuana high, however, intensify the effects of a runner’s high? Anecdotal evidence indicates that a lot of cannabis users like vaping or smoking flowers to get ready for a run. A recent survey found that 20–29% of cannabis users preferred to take their hits right before long, mid-distance, or sprint runs. Obtaining a medical marijuana card is essential if you’re a runner who wants to use marijuana to improve your performance. You can apply for one by contacting a medical marijuana doctor online via a telemedicine platform.
Smoking cannabis before or after a run may have certain advantages, according to research, but it won’t always increase your speed or distance. Additionally, keep in mind that THC use and running can both raise heart rates. If you already have a heart condition, such as atrial flutter or arrhythmia, you should exercise caution when combining the two.
How Does Smoking Weed Impact Running Performance?
Numerous studies look into the effects of smoking or vaping marijuana on aerobic exercise in general, but none specifically address the effects of cannabis use on running. The research’s findings can be extrapolated to offer some understanding of the potential effects of marijuana use on running performance.
For example, studies examining how cannabis is smoked or vaporized affects breathing and ability to exercise, and the findings are intriguing. Before undergoing cardiopulmonary exercise testing, individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) inhaled whole cannabis flowers containing 6.4 mg of THC. According to the study, cannabis had no effect on exercise duration for cardiorespiratory responses, either positive or negative. Most notably, the fitness levels of this group of individuals were about 10% below what one would anticipate from a healthy group of people with advanced COPD.
On the other hand, according to a different review, smoking marijuana lowered the time to fatigue by 48%. The effect could have been caused by an increase in myocardial oxygen demand, according to the authors’ hypothesis.
A similar result was found in another study involving healthy individuals that was mentioned in the same review. On a cycle ergometer, participants’ submaximal work capacity dropped after consuming a moderate to high dose of THC (18.2 mg). An increase in submaximal heart rate was associated with this decrease.
However, the reviewers were careful to contextualize the findings, noting that while cannabis can raise heart rate, this does not always mean that endurance or athletic performance is compromised. Further research indicates that the physiological effects of smoking cannabis are similar to those of a placebo as exercise intensity increases toward a maximum workload.
Researchers generally stress that more research is necessary because the current findings regarding the effects of marijuana use on exercise are still not entirely clear.
Cannabis’s Impact on Running
Running can be affected emotionally, mentally, and physically by cannabis use.
Many well-known triathletes and runners, including Clifford Drusinsky, Jenn Shelton, and Avery Collins, have acknowledged publicly that they use cannabis to help with their training. Movements such as Rage and Release honor and promote the combination of running, cannabis use, and overall well-being.
Supporters of smoking cannabis before a run point to advantages like a stronger connection between the mind and body, sharper focus, higher motivation, a more profound awareness of one’s breath, a stronger sense of rhythm, better recovery, and reduced inflammation following the run.
Similar conclusions are supported by recent research on cannabis and exercise, which emphasizes that most cannabis users use the drug because of how great it feels during physical activity.
According to survey results, only a small percentage of respondents (37.5%) believe cannabis improves running performance. 69% of respondents were neutral, and 16% strongly disagreed with the claim that cannabis improves performance. This view is generally supported by emerging scientific evidence, with studies indicating that cannabis appears to have no effect or a negative effect on exercise performance, though more research is required.
It’s also important to remember that THC and CBD can have different effects both during and after physical activity. Once more, the majority of current research focuses on how these cannabinoids affect exercise in general, but runners can still benefit from the findings.
A medical cannabis recommendation that allows the user to legally purchase, possess, and consume marijuana in New York is required in order to use marijuana while residing in the state.
The Effects of THC on Running Performance
Because THC is illegal on a federal level, there is a dearth of research examining the physiological effects of the cannabinoid on exercise or running. Nonetheless, we can piece together a basic comprehension using the fragmented data that is at our disposal. THC has been demonstrated to reduce inflammation and pain, which may be advantageous for recuperating from a run.
Additional observational studies indicate that there is no significant difference in workout duration, heart rate, or blood pressure when smoking cannabis with 1-2% THC (extremely low levels). But in a more recent study, where participants were asked about the negative effects of THC and exercise, 25% of respondents mentioned unfavorable or undesirable psychoactive side effects, like anxiety, lightheadedness, elevated heart rate, and feeling too high to continue exercising.
It’s also crucial to remember that THC is prohibited from use in competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) when its urine concentration surpasses a 150 ng/mL threshold.
The Effects of CBD on Running
Running enthusiasts may benefit from the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anxiolytic, and neuroprotective properties of cannabidiol (CBD). According to research, CBD may help with recuperation by reducing pain via a variety of possible mechanisms, including inflammation brought on by exercise.
Evidence suggests that the cannabinoid is unlikely to hinder exercise performance and may even enhance feelings of pleasure during exercise.
Additionally, other studies show that CBD has not been connected to any detrimental effects on sports performance. In contrast to THC, CBD is not banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency for competitive elite athletes.
The Conclusion: Is Smoking Weed Beneficial for Runners?
Numerous cannabis users appear to enjoy the feeling of being high, as evidenced by surveys and anecdotal evidence. Users report benefits like increased motivation, focus, and body awareness. But as of right now, there isn’t any solid proof that smoking marijuana improves performance.
