Smoking & Its Effects

[[old] VespoliRower]

Despite the legal aspect of smoking marijuana, has anyone had experience with effects of smoking on physical performance, especially with limited use?<br /><br />A few months ago, my school had a few day break from training and we were to have an 5k erg test when we came back. During that time, I believe I smoked pot a total of three times. During the 5k test, I could definitely tell a difference in my performance and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. My 5k time increased from a month previous.<br /><br />It's very difficult to say No to doing this stuff, but I just want to know if you all have any input on tihs subject. If I smoke once more, do you think I'll notice the effects in, for example, running 7 miles or doing a 2x6k on the erg (just 2 of our workouts next week)?

[[old] Citroen]

<!--QuoteBegin-VespoliRower+Dec 22 2005, 11:45 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(VespoliRower @ Dec 22 2005, 11:45 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Despite the legal aspect of smoking marijuana, has anyone had experience with effects of smoking on physical performance, especially with limited use? <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I doubt it. Cannabis is on the <b>W</b>orld <b>A</b>nti-<b>D</b>oping <b>A</b>gency list. <br /><a href='http://www.wada-ama.org/rtecontent/docu ... 6_LIST.pdf' target='_blank'>http://www.wada-ama.org/rtecontent/docu ... pdf</a><br /><br />

[[old] Byron Drachman]

I agree that you probably won't find many, if any at all, at this forum who have tested the effects. <br /><br />My suggestion is to do a Google search on marijuana+effects+athletic+performance and if you don't find enough to read there, use some other similar search words. Of course we all agree that you have to decide for yourself which articles you believe and which you don't. For example, you might find this one interesting:<br /><br /><a href='http://www.hhp.ufl.edu/keepingfit/ARTICLE/POTSPORT.HTM' target='_blank'>http://www.hhp.ufl.edu/keepingfit/ARTIC ... HTM</a><br /><br />Good luck in making the right decision.<br /><br />Byron

[[old] VespoliRower]

Thank you for the website.

[[old] Rowingrunner]

don't smoke it once more, don't let anyone pressure you to make bad decisions

[[old] Hal Morgan]

Smoking drugs - are drugs. Recreational drugs are - drugs. Drugs have destroyed a whole vast generation. We were right about civil rights, we were right about equal rights, we were right about big government coruptions, we were right about the war in southeast asis, we were right about so many things But we were without a doubt wrong about drugs. Drugs are drugs. If you use them they will bind you and eventually you will do nothing without them and then you will do nothing but them. Choose to be something besides a user. <br /><br />Need help. Get help. <a href='http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org/' target='_blank'>http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org/</a><br /><br />"Marijuana Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share our experience, strength, and hope with each other that we may solve our common problem and help others to recover from marijuana addiction. <br />The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using marijuana. There are no dues or fees for membership. We are self-supporting through our own contributions. MA is not affiliated with any religious or secular institution or organization and has no opinion on any outside controversies or causes. Our primary purpose is to stay free of marijuana and to help the marijuana addict who still suffers achieve the same freedom. We can do this by practicing our suggested twelve steps of recovery and by being guided as a group by our twelve traditions.<br /><br />Marijuana Anonymous uses the basic 12 Steps of Recovery founded by Alcoholics Anonymous, because it has been proven that the 12 Step Recovery program works!"<br /><br />william and smith universtiy<br />since 1987,<br />Hal Morgan<br />futile rower at best.<br /><br />

[[old] Steelhead]

<!--QuoteBegin-VespoliRower+Dec 22 2005, 04:45 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(VespoliRower @ Dec 22 2005, 04:45 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Despite the legal aspect of smoking marijuana, has anyone had experience with effects of smoking on physical performance, especially with limited use?<br /><br />A few months ago, my school had a few day break from training and we were to have an 5k erg test when we came back. During that time, I believe I smoked pot a total of three times. During the 5k test, I could definitely tell a difference in my performance and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. My 5k time increased from a month previous.<br /><br />It's very difficult to say No to doing this stuff, but I just want to know if you all have any input on tihs subject. If I smoke once more, do you think I'll notice the effects in, for example, running 7 miles or doing a 2x6k on the erg (just 2 of our workouts next week)? <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><a href='http://www.gmu.edu/student/hwc/saps/pdf ... rdrugs.pdf' target='_blank'>http://www.gmu.edu/student/hwc/saps/pdf ... ugs.pdf</a> <br />

[[old] NightRower]

Just a note. Alcohol is a drug as well, mostly ignored as a drug per se as it is "legal" but is one of the most destructive drugs we have. <br /><br />Darren

[[old] Porkchop]

<!--QuoteBegin-Steelhead+Dec 23 2005, 12:05 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Steelhead @ Dec 23 2005, 12:05 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-VespoliRower+Dec 22 2005, 04:45 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(VespoliRower @ Dec 22 2005, 04:45 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Despite the legal aspect of smoking marijuana, has anyone had experience with effects of smoking on physical performance, especially with limited use?<br /><br />A few months ago, my school had a few day break from training and we were to have an 5k erg test when we came back. During that time, I believe I smoked pot a total of three times. During the 5k test, I could definitely tell a difference in my performance and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. My 5k time increased from a month previous.<br /><br />It's very difficult to say No to doing this stuff, but I just want to know if you all have any input on tihs subject. If I smoke once more, do you think I'll notice the effects in, for example, running 7 miles or doing a 2x6k on the erg (just 2 of our workouts next week)? <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><a href='http://www.gmu.edu/student/hwc/saps/pdf ... rdrugs.pdf' target='_blank'>http://www.gmu.edu/student/hwc/saps/pdf ... ugs.pdf</a> <br /> </td></tr></table><br />"Chronic marijuana use has been associated with decreased motivation to perform and to give a maximum effort."<br /><br />It's hard to give a maximum effort when your mind is busy marvelling at the way the numbers change on the monitor or trying to fathom that it is <i>your</i> heartbeat that those numbers are tracking. It's also difficult to eat Doritos and row at the same time.<br /><br /> <br /><br />All that aside, if you are going to put crap in your lungs, expect your lungs to go to crap. It doesn't matter what the substance is, smoke is harmful to the lungs, period. You have to make a choice -- performance or fun. It's that simple.

[[old] afolpe]

Well, I'm just setting myself up to be the recipient of a firestorm of outrage, but here goes:<br /><br />I (and quite a few others I have trained with over the years in cycling and kayaking/surfski) have on occasion found pot to be a useful training aid, particularly for long, vaguely painful, distance efforts. It is of course preferable to ingest it, saving your lungs, but most of what is out there these days is so damn strong that you really don't need to fry your lungs too much. It can function as a very useful hypnotic, allowing you to be quite relentlessly focused on the task at hand, and in fact improving your overall sense of being "dialed in" (try surfing waves with a fast surfski or kayak, and you will see what I mean) or to ignore your overall discomfort (an example that comes to mind is 12 hour days canoeing down the Hudson River one winter, with the air temps far below freezing and seriously suffering fingers and toes). Or for allowing you to just concentrate on the scenery, while riding up and over the Rockies, with loaded bikes. It used to be pretty epidemic among hardcore mountain bikers and snowboarders, Olympic level people- I don't know now with the increased testing. And I must say it greatly reduced the boredom of doing a HM on the erg...<br /><br />Anyway, it's been a few years since I indulged, what with kids and job, but it's at least worth knowing that there is another side to this story.<br /><br />Fire away,<br /><br />Andrew

[[old] Byron Drachman]

<!--QuoteBegin--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->allowing you to be quite relentlessly focused on the task at hand </td></tr></table><br /><br />Do a Google search on marijuana+ability+concentrate and you'll find plenty who disagree with this notion. <br /><br /><!--QuoteBegin--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->it greatly reduced the boredom of doing a HM on the erg... </td></tr></table><br /><br />Of course, according to the previous source I quoted, it might be less boring to you but it could also give you a slower time. <br /><br />Vespolirower, since you are a student, by any chance are you good at math? Do you know about exponential decay and how the body rids itself of drugs such as THC? <br /><br />added later: For example, depending on the type or potency of marijuana, the half-life can be from 9 hours to 10 days. After one week of use, 25 to 30% is what typically remains. Be sure to read about the metabolites formed by THC in the liver. If you have 25 percent remaining after one week, then you expect to have 12.5 percent remaining after two weeks, and on it goes. <br /><br />As I said before, good luck in making the right decision. Best regards,<br /><br />Byron

[[old] H_2O]

Although I have no experience with it myself I can report that some of the harder big walls in Yosemite did not have a drug free ascent for quite some time.<br /><br />Now either it helps in concentration or it reduces the abject fear when your life depends on flimsy protection over long stretches.<br /><br />Personally I can attest to effect of sleep deprivation as an aid in concentration (also contrary to prevailing wisdom). It reduces the range of attention and allows me to focus more on the single tasks.

[[old] eyespliced]

I haven't smoked in a while, however after hanging out with friends the night before i had a 2k erg test i smoked *some* weed, on that erg test I made a new PR, that aside, i don't plan to smoke anything again. the other forms of consumption(i.e. vaporizer/in food ect.) seem to be fine if I ever feel the need(which i doubt I will)<br />i think that alcohol is as bad, if not worse than marijuana(both of my grandfathers were alcoholics)<br />and it seems to lead to more permanent health issues(death being one of them)<br />thats just my 2c

[[old] rspenger]

Has there been some censorship here? There was a message that said something about being fascinated, staring at the numbers changing on the monitor. I don't see it available any more. Maybe I have been ingesting to much peanut butter lately and imagined the whole thing. At any rate I was going to respond that it happens to me all the time and I've never tried marijuana. I figure that it is a good thing that I am a numbers freak or I would be much to bored to ever use an erg.<br /><br />Bob S.

[[old] TomR/the elder]

Are you referring to Pork Chop's post? #9 above.<br /><br />I'm now heading to the *** DELETE - SPAM *** in search of a peanut butter high.