I’m a runner. I use CBD.
In particular, I use the Blue Harvest CBD comfort balm (as needed) and Caprylic CBD Oil – three sprays once every day. I wanted to write some of my thoughts about CBD use for runners specifically, athletes in general, because many of my peers STILL don’t understand the benefits.
The way I use the CBD comfort balm is I rub it into my ankles, toes, feet, between fingers, around my knee, elbows, shoulders, neck. Wherever there is inflammation, soreness or pain, I massage in a generous amount.
I’m a runner. Here’s how I discovered CBD
Quick story – I hurt my knee a couple of years ago in the springtime.
You see, here in Michigan where I live, Winters are LONG and brutal. It’s cold, super cold – for a long time. The days are short. It’s dark by 6 pm. Not ideal for us runners.
I say the same thing to myself and others every year – when will winter end? For athletes and runners like myself, this means we’re not outside running much. Yet, we’re committed to our fitness goals, especially if we’re looking to better our best. So, the main alternative to running outside is going to the gym.
Which means we have to pack a bag, dress in ALL of our winter clothes, and drive to the gym. We have to change, step onto a treadmill with 16 TVs pointing at us and a weird person flexing their biceps in the mirror. Then we run like Forrest Gump toward an imaginary finish line. Finally, a timer goes off, the treadmill slowly comes to a halt, and we’re sweaty. We go back to the locker room, shower, change, bundle up, walk out into 18 degree temps and blowing snow, scrape our windshields and wait 10 minutes before the car warms up.
What provides hope that this misery will end?! Daylight savings time. Spring ahead, baby! This is appropriate because we just set our clocks ahead last week (at the time of this writing).
When Spring has sprung, us runners rejoice, and we come sprinting out of the woodwork. After being cooped up for so long — or trying to run despite the elements — the hint of warmth, green and daylight are just a few of the reasons running in the spring is so great.
There’s something wonderful about the glow of sunlight hitting my face for the first time in months. I enjoy it. I savor it. A study found that air temperature is the most important factor influencing running performance: too cold and you slow down, too hot and you slow down. Spring temperatures are just right. Studies have shown the best temperature to set a marathon PR is around 43–44 F — and that’s a pretty common springtime temperature.
The thing is… if you’re like me, you might get a little TOO excited.
A couple of years ago, I was running 800s at the track, and I felt a sharp pain in my knee. I heard a popping sensation. Then came the swelling or stiffness. I was in pain, especially when twisting or rotating my knee. I even had difficulty fully straightening my knee.
Long story short, I pushed it too hard too early and as a result, suffered a knee injury.
Which lead to A LOT of research and testing all kinds of pain relief methods. I was injecting platelets, experimenting with HGH, trying acupuncture and giving my knee inspirational pep talks on the daily.
Eventually that research lead me back to what those runners were whispering about – CBD. To my embarrassment, I learned that CBD won’t get you high, but it does give you the health benefits portion of marijuana.
CBD is a great supplement for runners. Here’s why
First, let’s understand what is CBD oil?
Cannabidiol oil is extracted from the hemp plant.
In fact, our bodies produce certain cannabinoids already.
CB1 receptors: deal with mood, hunger, coordination and is affected by marijuana
CB2 receptors: deal with the immune system and pain.
CBD appears not to attach to either, but instead to encourage your body to use more of it’s own cannabinoids.
Athletes, especially us long distance runners, have to deal with their bodies constantly being inflamed. Ibuprofen can only do so much, and long term use risks damage of the liver. Nature’s perfect alternative is CBD oil.
Again, CBD is non-psychoactive. It won’t get you high. It comes from the hemp plant, which is the low THC version of the cannabis plant. How low? Like, it contains less than .3% THC, but still contains enormous amounts of medicinal and therapeutic benefits.
The biggest advantage of CBD for athletes is as an anti-inflammatory. CBD can help your muscles heal and recover faster. Additionally, CBD can also help you sleep better, which also leads to better rest and that means improved recovery times.
>The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has even removed CBD from it’s banned substance list. Therefore, CBD is recognized by a world governing entity, as an effective and safe anti-inflammatory aid for athletes of all skill levels, even the elites.
CBD helps reduce pain by interacting with serotonin and vanilloid receptors in the brain, which are responsible for the perception of pain. It’s worth repeating that CBD is safe to use in competition, such as the Boston Marathon which is April 15th. There are a couple of marathon runners who use the same Blue Harvest brand CBD that I do who are entered in the race.
I have used CBD oil to help reduce inflammation, reduce pain, and heal from the knee injury I suffered a couple of years ago. As a distance runner in my mid 40s, I’m constantly struggling with injury or aches and pains. CBD has helped me to keep doing what I love to do.
That’s a bit about my story and why I recommend CBD for runners and athletes. Like I mentioned earlier in this article, I have done a lot of research on this topic, and have a positive experience with CBD. In conclusion, I wanted to offer some quick common questions that I often answer about CBD for runners and athletes.
Is CBD good for athletes?/h2>
Yes! CBD oil is used by runners and athletes to help reduce inflammation, reduce pain, and promote healing from injury. Including musculoskeletal pain from exercise, as well as stiff joints. Bottom line: CBD does relieve pain effectively for many athletes.
Will CBD help with muscle recovery?
Yes! It doesn’t matter if you’re a weekend warrior or professional athlete because eventually you will suffer from some sort of soreness, tiredness and/or an injury. An athlete’s body is subjected to high impact, wear and tear, injury, and fatigue. At the end of a long event, or a full day of training, of course you will feel these side effects. If left unattended, even the slightest injury may impact your performance thereafter, and can eventually have long-term effects on the body. CBD may help speed up the body’s natural recovery time, improve recovery of tissues, nerves, and bones, reduce pain, and minimize any negative effects on the body after working out.
Does CBD help reduce inflammation?
Yes! One of its most powerful benefits of CBD for runners and athletes is reducing chronic inflammation, one of the biggest issues an athlete (and most everyone) faces on a daily basis. The anti-inflammatory properties also help to prevent joint injury, as well as reducing pain from swelling (like I had with my knee injury). CBD may also help with the stressors involved in high level training and competition. It can reduce anxiety, depression, and stress that comes along with starting a new workout routine, training for an event, or maintaining a regular regimen.
Is CBD good for working out?
Yes! Some top athletes are now working out with CBD. CBD oil can reduce the effects of anxiety and promote more restful sleep, all of which promote a better workout. Fun fact – at natural levels, cortisol is quite beneficial and CBD oil can help maintain a healthy cortisol balance.
If you’re an athlete or a runner that’s been waiting to try CBD, here’s your green light!
Due to its therapeutic properties, and laundry list of benefits, it is not uncommon for athletes and runners to use CBD pre-and post-workout. As I noted earlier in this article, I use the comfort balm and the spray. I am a runner. CBD is becoming more well-known for its ability to reduce stress, offer pain-relief and as an anti-inflammatory, that can support pre and post-workout recovery.