How Cannabis Affects Your Running Performance

When consuming weed, running performance can improve in several ways. It may not affect you in the way you think, though. You need to use it at specific times during your training to experience the benefits.

As more countries worldwide acknowledge the benefits of cannabis, athletes are also chipping in with how it affects their performance. From easing pain to improving focus, marijuana has a wide array of positive applications in the world of running.

Sativa weedseeds grow into the perfect companion for running. Sativas help to calm, uplift, and increase your focus. Start growing them now; you’ll soon have enough stock to keep you going through your exercise highs and lows.

How does smoking weed affect running performance?

Keep reading to find out.

Relieves Pain

As a runner, you know that the activity comes with the potential for pain, inflammation, and injuries. Even a new pair of fantastic running shoes may result in some blisters on your feet while you run them in. That’s where cannabis comes in handy. 

Cannabidiol has many healing properties, so a topical CBD cream or oil might benefit your recovery. It’s been known to aid with bruises, muscle cramps, spasms, and inflammation. Smoking a joint of your favorite strain may also help relieve tension and reduce pain.

Many doctors recommend consuming cannabis in other ways than smoking weed and running. As a runner, smoking affects the lungs. Although it won’t immediately affect you negatively, constantly smoking isn’t a good idea.

There are other ways to consume cannabis:

• Edibles
• Tinctures
• CBD oils
• Capsules or tablets
• THC powder
• Vaporizing

Consuming cannabis after a lengthy and strenuous run may help to soothe muscles and ease any pain you may have. This is hugely beneficial if you’ve got an upcoming competitive run, as other athletes report that using marijuana helps you recover faster in preparation.

Increases Focus

Staying focused during an intense run helps you perform better and avoid external or internal distractions. Consuming cannabis before a run could help you remain focused and clear your mind of negative or distracting thoughts.

Marijuana and running have been known to complement each other to help you reach your training goals.

Many athletes use weed at the gym to build strength or do extra cardio between runs. It allows them to hone in on the areas they need to work on to perform better.

Boosts Moods and Increases Motivation

We already know that running increases dopamine levels, and so does weed. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) attaches to various cannabinoid receptors in the brain to produce good feelings. Paired with running, it’s likely to be a great mood enhancer.

Many marijuana cultivars have varying positive effects, from feeling elated to euphoric to creative. If you’re having a bad day and those dark clouds won’t leave you, consuming cannabis may chase them away.

Does weed make you faster?

No, weed won’t directly impact your running speed, but it could inspire you to run faster. We all need a little more motivation at times. Awakening those cannabinoid receptors in your brain gives you the extra push you may need to break your records.

Read through the effects of the cannabis strain you’re using, as many have a sedative effect. Instead, go for one that provides energy and boosts motivation. The last thing you want is to experience couch-lock when you’re due for a long run.

Improves Sleep and Stamina

Does smoking weed affect stamina?

Not directly, but we all know that a good night’s rest and a regular sleep schedule are essential. If you’re not getting enough sleep, you’re not going to perform as well as you usually would. Irregular sleeping patterns also harm your overall performance.

If you have trouble sleeping, an insomnia-relieving strain will help you. Smoking an indica strain before bed coaxes you into a deep, peaceful slumber. After you’ve rested properly, you’ll wake up full of renewed energy to go for an early run.

Once you start sleeping better, your stamina increases too. You’ll also feel an increase in focus, happiness, and energy. Avoid smoking these sedative strains before you run—you don’t want to feel sleepy halfway to the finish!

Save the indica strains for bedtime and use sativas before your run or during training.

Improves Appetite

One of the cannabinoid receptors that weed affects is the one responsible for hunger. You’ve probably heard of “the munchies.” This is slang for the improved appetite you experience with many cannabis strains.

As a runner, you’re constantly burning what you eat. You need to feed your body; otherwise, you’ll experience negative consequences if you’re not eating enough. 

Sometimes you may not have the motivation or appetite to eat. Using cannabis can help. You’ll reach for your favorite foods at the peak of your high. Make sure you eat healthily and don’t pig out on junk food—though no one will blame you if you spoil yourself once in a while!

A new kind of runner’s high

Weed and running may seem like a strange combination, and understandably so. Many people don’t associate marijuana with exercise. It has a reputation as a plant you smoke when you want to relax or have fun with your friends.

As an athlete, you know the “runner’s high” you experience after a good sprint. Those endorphins pumping through your body, that sense of achievement, that sweat pooling down your legs. Add cannabis to your exercise routine, and you get a new kind of runner’s high.

Marijuana won’t directly affect your running, but several benefits will improve your performance overall. Whether you want to speed up your recovery, alleviate pain, or improve your sleep patterns, weed can help.

Just remember that as a runner, it’s better to consume your cannabis in other ways than smoking. You can do this in many ways, from making edibles to making oils or purchasing creams.

Purchase your seeds online today and start growing your own crop. In a few weeks, you’ll have what you need to affect your running performance positively.

Douglas Kester

Douglas Kester, a cannabis growing expert at I49 Seed Bank. He has been working in the weed industry for more than 10 years. During that period, he built up a vast experience and depth of expertise in this field. Douglas has a detailed understanding of every aspect of marijuana, from its cultivation and species to the effects it brings. He's also up to date on all the cannabis-related legislation nuances.