IS it possible to be a heavy cigarette smoker and compete in races?
#51
rebmeM roineS
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Just as our bloodstreams weren't meant to have viruses injected into them; our teeth weren't meant to have holes drilled in them and and then filled with mercury-based metal; nor our stomachs to absorb mold spores.....but ya call 'em "vaccinations"; "fillings"; and "penicillin pills" and the same people who tell ya smoking is so bad, will tell you that such poisons taken in moderation will be beneficial......
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#52
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For me, cigaretes and moderation were two words that could never be used in the same sentence. I bought a bike to help me quit and it has been over a year smoke/tobacco free. Coughing up a lung after a good climb is a great incentive to stay off the smokes but to initially quit, it was tough. To quote Mark Twain "Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I've done it thousands of times."
Along with the chemical addiction, the habit aspect was just as strong. I even tried to chew tobacco to give my lungs a break but still had the urge to light up. When I quit, I did use the e-cig for a month and a half starting with the high nicotine dose and tapering every 1.5 weeks to the zero nicotine cartridges - which I did not need much because by the time I was on the low dosage cartridges, it would be 5-6 hours between puffs. The e-cig experience did not match that of a smooth menthol cigarette, but it kept me from killing someone, getting a divorce, or being fired.
Along with the chemical addiction, the habit aspect was just as strong. I even tried to chew tobacco to give my lungs a break but still had the urge to light up. When I quit, I did use the e-cig for a month and a half starting with the high nicotine dose and tapering every 1.5 weeks to the zero nicotine cartridges - which I did not need much because by the time I was on the low dosage cartridges, it would be 5-6 hours between puffs. The e-cig experience did not match that of a smooth menthol cigarette, but it kept me from killing someone, getting a divorce, or being fired.
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#53
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You mean "science" as in 40 years of "studies" which said that butter; salt; and eggs are bad for you; and hydrogenated oils are good? And now someone just flipped a switch, and after 40 years of that mantra, it's now the diametric opposite? The same science that preached for decades that ulcers were caused by stress? The one which believed until very recently that petroleum was composed of decayed dinosaurs; which thought bats were blind; yada, yada.....
#54
Senior Member
I was a pack and a half a day smoker years ago. Tried to quit more than once but it wasn't until I started running in earnest that made any progress. I would go for a three mile run hack up a lung for ten minutes and stop to buy a pack on my way home. Now that's addiction. This was thirty years ago and there was no pills, gum or e cigs to fall back on. Cold Turkey was the order of the day. My GF's sister told me that she was hypnotized and it worked for her so I gave it a try. I don't know if was psychosomatic but I haven't smoked since. About a year later I ran my first of eight marathons and countless shorter races. I think replacing the smoking with running went a long way to staying smoke free. I was taking something out of my life, smoking, so replacing it with running went a long way to fill the empty space that quitting left.
Now when I see someone smoking it kind of repulses me. IMO there is no upside. It smells bad it's way too expensive and it's just about the worst thing you could do for your health let alone fitness.One other thing even after you quit it does not mean that you're not at risk of contracting lung cancer. My mother smoked for years but quit a few years after me. In her case it was too late. About five years after quitting she developed long cancer. So there is good reason to quit NOW. The longer you smoke the more damage you are doing.
Now when I see someone smoking it kind of repulses me. IMO there is no upside. It smells bad it's way too expensive and it's just about the worst thing you could do for your health let alone fitness.One other thing even after you quit it does not mean that you're not at risk of contracting lung cancer. My mother smoked for years but quit a few years after me. In her case it was too late. About five years after quitting she developed long cancer. So there is good reason to quit NOW. The longer you smoke the more damage you are doing.
#56
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You mean "science" as in 40 years of "studies" which said that butter; salt; and eggs are bad for you; and hydrogenated oils are good? And now someone just flipped a switch, and after 40 years of that mantra, it's now the diametric opposite? The same science that preached for decades that ulcers were caused by stress? The one which believed until very recently that petroleum was composed of decayed dinosaurs; which thought bats were blind; yada, yada.....
Last edited by Marcus_Ti; 05-20-15 at 03:54 PM.
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I should hope not. It really AMAZES me how some people can smoke 20 to 80 cigarettes per DAY...and live as long as they do. A testament to the hardiness of our lungs.....
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Not sure how you meant this but it is a good point, my wife has asthma, and anytime we see a person smoking she has to hold her breath until i can't smell the smoke anymore, the smallest bit of cigarette smoke will trigger her, a few weeks ago she was hospitalized from a person smoking in the park while we having a picnic she very nearly died that day.
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Everyone is different but it can't possibly be of any benefit. All you can do is try and see what happens. You will know quick enough whether you are competitive or not.
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Sorry took so long to reply..yeah I'm up to 35 per day now..I was just smoking 25 a month ago,.dont know why im smoking more..I've never coughed or hacked..I can climb around 30 grade hills in SF and have to stop 2 mins in not cuz my legs are tired its cuz I'm out of breath..someone said to work out..well I've been working out 3x a week for the past 4 months and bike everyday also but I still smoke ..I'll try the patches and gum ..tried em before but only worked for a few days cuz I wanted the real thing
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I smoked a half pack a day when I started and did well as a 4/5. Podiumed, always top ten, a won a few. But, for me I could only get so fast. Quitting was a struggle but getting repeatedly stomped as a 3 I knew I had to stop. And a year later I was much faster and could hold a high pace for much longer. You'll never reach your potential and you throw a lot of hard work out the window
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This fella won five Tours de France. He liked to drink and party too. Of course, he also died of cancer at the age of 53.
Last edited by Scarbo; 06-10-17 at 05:36 PM.
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I smoked a half pack a day when I started and did well as a 4/5. Podiumed, always top ten, a won a few. But, for me I could only get so fast. Quitting was a struggle but getting repeatedly stomped as a 3 I knew I had to stop. And a year later I was much faster and could hold a high pace for much longer. You'll never reach your potential and you throw a lot of hard work out the window
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I am now 36 and quit smoking 5 years ago. My performance improved after I quit. That's not to say you cannot compete and smoke. My fastest 5 run was done as a smoker. Today as a father of two with years of smoking behind me I wish I had stopped sooner.
#70
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Shaking my head at some of these posts...
No matter how you slice it, halves, thirds or quarters ...smoking is definitely BAD for you. Very bad.
Also, I suppose some people handle things differently, but I smoked for years, then simply threw them in the trash and didn't ever look back. I missed them all for a day at the most. That was 40 years ago.
No matter how you slice it, halves, thirds or quarters ...smoking is definitely BAD for you. Very bad.
Also, I suppose some people handle things differently, but I smoked for years, then simply threw them in the trash and didn't ever look back. I missed them all for a day at the most. That was 40 years ago.
#71
Senior Member
Shaking my head at some of these posts...
No matter how you slice it, halves, thirds or quarters ...smoking is definitely BAD for you. Very bad.
Also, I suppose some people handle things differently, but I smoked for years, then simply threw them in the trash and didn't ever look back. I missed them all for a day at the most. That was 40 years ago.
No matter how you slice it, halves, thirds or quarters ...smoking is definitely BAD for you. Very bad.
Also, I suppose some people handle things differently, but I smoked for years, then simply threw them in the trash and didn't ever look back. I missed them all for a day at the most. That was 40 years ago.
Yes you CAN.
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I did a 1 year stint as a LPN going thru their nursing program. During my time on the hospital floor a guy was in there that was a heavy smoker for years. He was in his 50's to 60's He had a tumor/spot on his lung the size of a small lemon. Hate to say this but we did a biopsy but he died within 3 weeks. Here is the kicker back then you could still smoke on hospital grounds and his wife was still smoking. I don't get it. Quit will you can and your lungs can still recover some.
Wow read a couple of threads and see this was posted 2 years ago I surely hope he has quit by now.
Good luck
Zman
Wow read a couple of threads and see this was posted 2 years ago I surely hope he has quit by now.
Good luck
Zman
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I mean - some people are naturally faster than others.
If Chris Froome were a smoker, he could win local races for sure.
Regarding the comment of "smoking in moderation ... could even be good for you" - let's not kid ourselves. All the chemicals and carcinogens aside, breathing in the byproduct of incomplete combustion is just never going to be good for you. Period.
If Chris Froome were a smoker, he could win local races for sure.
Regarding the comment of "smoking in moderation ... could even be good for you" - let's not kid ourselves. All the chemicals and carcinogens aside, breathing in the byproduct of incomplete combustion is just never going to be good for you. Period.
#75
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1970s middleweight boxing champion Carlos Monzon was a heavy smoker. His idea of sacrificing for training was to cut back to around one pack a day. During an era of 15 round title bouts he still had incredible stamina in his early 30s.
And he'd have been even better without the butts. He slowed down toward the end of his championship reign, often relying on controlling the tempo of a bout with a long jab rather than the relentless pressure of his younger days. It made for some unexciting fights that he usually dominated but occasionally came close to losing, including his rematch against the great Emile Griffith, another ageless wonder who fought like a much younger man in his comparative dotage (by boxing standards).
But some folks are gifted with natural superhuman endurance and resistance to stuff that would disable us mere mortals. I love the smell of good tobacco but a whiff of second hand smoke makes my throat swell up. I do miss a good cigar.
Eventually fate caught up with Monzon. He was shot by one woman he'd abused, but he survived. He went to prison for murdering his girlfriend. Then he died in a car wreck heading back to prison after a weekend furlough.
Cigarettes may not always kill but living a smoking fast lifestyle often does.
Former welterweight champ and notorious loudmouthed bully Ricardo Mayorga is another successful athlete who smoked, including lighting up in the ring after a fight.
And he'd have been even better without the butts. He slowed down toward the end of his championship reign, often relying on controlling the tempo of a bout with a long jab rather than the relentless pressure of his younger days. It made for some unexciting fights that he usually dominated but occasionally came close to losing, including his rematch against the great Emile Griffith, another ageless wonder who fought like a much younger man in his comparative dotage (by boxing standards).
But some folks are gifted with natural superhuman endurance and resistance to stuff that would disable us mere mortals. I love the smell of good tobacco but a whiff of second hand smoke makes my throat swell up. I do miss a good cigar.
Eventually fate caught up with Monzon. He was shot by one woman he'd abused, but he survived. He went to prison for murdering his girlfriend. Then he died in a car wreck heading back to prison after a weekend furlough.
Cigarettes may not always kill but living a smoking fast lifestyle often does.
Former welterweight champ and notorious loudmouthed bully Ricardo Mayorga is another successful athlete who smoked, including lighting up in the ring after a fight.