Running while high: the ultimate workout?

While scientific evidence still remains scarce, anecdotal evidence is starting to pile up. Endurance runners in particular are beginning to tout cannabinoids as a running supplement. Scientific evidence suggests that THC infused body fat might be a major reason.

As cannabis medicine becomes more widespread, sports medicine has now entered the conversation. This starts as a pain reliever. Increasingly, however, it is being considered almost a “health supplement.” Either way, athletes both casual and more dedicated, are turning to cannabis as way to enhance athletic and mental performance.

That includes runners. Why? And does it really help?

CAN CANNABIS AID ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE?

In general, the answer to this question is still anecdotal. No major studies on cannabis and athletics have yet been funded. It is easy to understand why. As of now, most athletes are penalized for cannabis use in organized sports. That may, however, be starting to change, starting with the American National Football League. The use of cannabis as a pain reliever is a major draw. Particularly if compared with opioids.

So how does cannabis impact cardio-vascular performance during exercise? And beyond that, endurance, strength and mental focus?

One thirty year old study which has suddenly gotten a bit of attention, claimed that smoking pot before working out shortened endurance.[1]

Other studies more recently also seem to suggest that cannabis might have so-called ergolytic properties. That means negatively impacting aspects of athletic performance. Among other things, it might decrease work capacity and cardiac output. In other words, heart and lung muscles won’t perform at peak capacity if you are high.

Nonscientific evidence however is abounding that athletes feel they perform better with cannabinoids. These include high impact sports like skiing. They also include long distance or endurance runners. Many of these athletes claim that cannabis helps them “get into the groove”. This means overcoming anxiety, fear, pain or a combination.

When athletes are able to mentally focus, they are able to perform better.

It can also mean better rest and repair. This starts with a good night’s sleep.

Cannabis in fact, can help on every front.

HOW DOES CANNABIS ACTUALLY HELP RUNNERS?

Running long distance requires runners to prepare for an extended period of cardiac exertion beyond the normal. This is true even when the distance run is only a couple of kilometers. It requires that the body warm up. The blood begins to flow faster as the heart begins to ratchet up its beat. As the body begins to accelerate, breath, temperature and circulation all change tempo. It would seem logical that cannabis might also help the body to slow down at the end of exercise.

If cannabinoids are in fact, a metabolic regulator, this might, at least in the beginning, impede or slightly interfere with a new gear, as it were. Perhaps cannabinoids are part of the lube to transition the body to a higher performance level. Just like a clutch in a car.

However, as the body adjusts to a new “normal” as exercise commences, could cannabinoids then help the runner maintain that higher activity over time? Including distracting the mind and soothing body pain?

Could cannabis just extend or intensify the natural endorphin rush - aka the “runner’s high?”

That for now, is the unanswered question. One of many.

Mental focus, along with physical effort is required in any athletic undertaking. Cannabis can obviously do that for many people.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF RUNNING WHILE HIGH?

One fairly recent University of Sydney study sheds fascinating light on this area of research. Cannabis has a strong affinity for fat tissue.[2] Cannabis is rapidly transformed from the bloodstream into fat cells. Here it can accumulate where it can lie dormant for weeks or months.

The study looked at regular cannabis users who also exercised. These study participants worked out for 35 minutes on a stationary bike. Their intensity was high enough for fat to be metabolized as fuel. The users had also abstained from smoking overnight to ensure low blood levels of THC immediately prior to exercise.

After the exercise? Researchers found a substantial increase in blood THC levels in the users. In some cases this was even enough to make the difference between a failed and a successfully passed blood test.

What does this mean? Regular users, who burn THC infused fat, are essentially “smoking a joint” as they exercise. Or more scientifically, releasing about the same THC into their system as they would have if they had just smoked a few tokes.

Even better news? The higher BMI levels are, the more THC is released into the bloodstream during exercise.

This means that regular cannabis use, no matter when ingested, is released during fat-burning exercise. It also seems to mean that those with higher body fat release more of it with the same effort. Further the process of burning that energy in the first place comes with an extra "reward."

In terms of pain relief, for starters, it makes sense that cannabis might aid endurance. If not help runners overcome pain.

But it doesn’t stop there. After the workout is over, ongoing cannabis use in general reduces stress and improves the quality and quantity of sleep rest.[3]

HOW SHOULD I START EXPERIMENTING?

There are several ways to do this.

The first is research different kinds of strains that tend to be highly reviewed for sports use. In general, this includes both CBD and sativa dominant hybrids.

Then try to see what the effect is when you exercise.

Here are several tips to remember.

1. Be organized about this. You might find that you smoke as you get kitted out. This might help or hinder the overall process. Experiment with that. If you need to get dressed first and then smoke, it might get you out the door quicker. Be aware that your mind can wander with weed. These disassociated thoughts may help you push your body once you get going. Before that, however? You might meander a bit more than you want to.
2. Try experimenting with how you ingest your cannabis. For example, you could smoke before you start. You could also eat an edible. If you are super organized, you might consider a canna-infused sports drink infusion to take with you. These are all options to consider. They will all affect not only your workout, but also how your body uses cannabinoids throughout the workout.
3. Start slow. Do not, in other words, break out your first canna experiment on a virgin Iron Man Trek.
4. Experiment how marijuana use affects your gait, balance and awareness slowly and in a safe space. Try experimenting with cannabis and running on a track or other off-road and relatively public but enclosed space. If you get dizzy, you do not want to fall into traffic. Or collapse on a wilderness run in the middle of nowhere.
5. Try running (at first) only during the day. For safety reasons.
6. Be a “regular” cannabis user. You might even smoke a bowl or two daily. It does not seem to matter when you do it. If THC is stored in your body fat, you will get an extra buzz no matter when you exercise.

Cool runnings!