Smoking Runners

Saw a guy today, a fellow runner in a race, having a fag before the race.

I dont know but for me it just didnt look/seem quite right.

I used to be a smoker myself for 10 years or so but gave up after I started taking running and fitness more seriously and havent had one since 2007 and I cant see myself ever going there again.

Are there any runner smokers in the forum? Does it not affect performance?

Heard on here somewhere about a triathlete who leaves cigarettes and a lighter in the transition area because he can't go for more than 4 hours without a smoke!

I've just given up smoking again, and am seeing the difference already even though it's only been two weeks! The old routes that I used to blast around are a distant memory and a target for the future.

That'll be Bouncing Barlist!

I only smoke occasionally after a stressful day at work ( 2 or 3 max a week). Even that I feel makes a difference the next day. Can't imagine what it must be like if you do it every day.

Former Olympic hurdler, Shirley Strong, smoked 20 a day throughout her athletics career.  Wonder what she could have done had she not succumbed

 http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/results.asp?image=10458013 

This is interesting....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/sep/16/healthandwellbeing.fitness 

I dont know... When I still smoked and was a beginner runner, I always felt wrong after having a cig before or after a run. Not only mentally wrong but physically too. A guilty feeling. I wanted to give up so badly but just did it because it was a habit.

I remember the mornings waking up and having dry mouth and throat...ewww!!!

Running gave me courage to have all or nothing approach. I remember when I put down my last cigarette I felt relief knowing it was the last one.

There has been only one occasion since when I nearly had one. I was a bit intoxicated with alchol and my friend was smoking and offered me one.

I thought about it for 10 seconds or so and just realised that I know what it tastes like. Nothing new there. Nothing exciting. Done it for 10 years. I dont want it anymore. I am a runner and I love being healthy.

And I knew that was my last test.

What comes to my performance... Well I've ran a marathon. I'm still not a fast runner but... I'd rather run a marathon than TRY to run a marathon with tar in my lungs!

Giraffe,

As a runner/light smoker (2-3 a day) I've often wondered if smoking after exercise is even worse for the lungs than just having a smoke.

For f##k sake if i only smoke 2 a day why can't I smoke none!! Loser. grrr

I gave up six months ago - I look at smokers huddled in doorways to shelter from the rain and top up their levels and think 'what a very strange habit that is'

There is a coralled (sp) area outside Paddington station in London for smokers - it looks like a cattle pen at an agricultural show

My husband still smokes and I must admit - it is one of the worst smells ever, even hours after smoking.

I became unwell a few weeks after giving up which stopped me running completley for a few months, ironic as I gave up smoking in order to give myself a chance to become as fit as I possibly could. I'm very gradually recovering and can now run to some extent. Its been a tough six months for lots of reasons but I'v not been tempted by fags, not even once. I'v yet to experience the full benefits of being a non smoker in terms of feeling really well and fit - I still have that to look forward to.

I cant help thinking that folk who smoke and run (or whatever sport) are taking their bodies for granted and will end up paying a price for being complacent.

Soap box now put away

Do whatever you can to pack 'em in.

Took me 20 years and several failed attempts to finally kick it - and it was a combination of an appaling family illness, (and me nipping out of the hospital ward for a cig when on bedside vigil), and using running as extra motivation that finally did it for me.

Dont want to be a holier than thou reformed smoker but its an evil, debilitating adiction that saps your pocket, health and dignity.... and it will kill you in a most unpleasant manner. Yeah ok - we all know that but it still took me 20 years to be free of the shackles of nicotine

2 or 3 a day?

Then you dont need it at all.

If I can finally kick a 30 a day habit then anyone can - packing in actually wasnt as difficult as the anticipation of packing in: running my first 10k was more of a challenge in the end!

Smoking causes lung cancer.

The best way to stop smoking is to stop smoking.