Ex-smokers who became runners...

SweetP88

I have to sheepishly admit that I still smoke.....and run!! I have smoked for 18 years but it does not seem to hinder my running or breathing while I run. I have just completed my personal best time for a half marathon in 1:55:21. Sometimes I wonder if I would be faster without smoking but I realize that for me I have to conquer one demon at a time....smoking is next on my list!!

DiabeticAlien

To all the people on this thread that has quit smoking....MORE POWER TO YOU AND CONGRATS. For those that haven't....THERE'S NO BETTER TIME THAN NOW. I watched my father and one of my uncles literally smoke themselves to death. My dad, 13 strokes, 4 heart attacks in 5 years....and would walk outside while a patient in the hospital for those events, to have a smoke. My uncle would TURN OFF HIS OXYGEN that he had to use 24/7, to light up a smoke. His excuse? I'm already gonna die from them, might as well enjoy them until I do.
Quit now, so your friends and loved ones don't have to watch you smoke yourself to death.

Nolynoelia20

U def can.. I quit almost 5 months ago! (after smoking for at least 5-6 yrs)
Good luck im on week 8 of C25K now

gavini

i am 37, smoked half a pack a day for most of the last 23 years, i have finished 11 marathons, a couple of them under three & a half hours and done dozens of other races.

go to a doctor and make sure there is nothing wrong that is constricting your breathing and also to remove the doubt from your mind since that doubt is much harder to overcome than being out of shape.

try to find a running club or a meet up group to run with, that will do wonders for your mental state of mind and push you to go farther and farther.

jernigan51

I finished C25K a few weeks ago and my first 5k this past weekend, and I still smoke. I've cut back, but I know I'd be better off if I quit completely. But yes, it can be done! Good luck!

kennethmgreen

Is it possible? I'm coming up on my two year anniversary of quitting and I still can't run 5 mph for longer than two minutes without feeling like my lungs are going to explode. And that's not even running...it's jogging. I've tried C25K (a couple times), but I'll go for a week or two, and not see much progress -- or see a squirrel and get sidetracked -- and stop.

My inner voice is very negative...telling I can't, I never have and never will, blah, blah, blah, but I'm not sure if it's truth or bullsh*t.

So all you ex-smokers who now run...will you chime in and tell me it's possible? Can you please tell me that the only thing stopping me is me, and not the almost 20 years of smoking? Maybe then I'll believe it.

Firstly, I already like you because you get sidetracked by squirrels. It's nice to see kindred spirits.

Did you really quit C25K because of distractions? Or because you got winded? Because as someone stated, you can repeat weeks. My knees got really sore during week 3, so I skipped my 3rd run day for that week, then started over the following week (repeated week 3). It's been much easier on me.

I was a long-time smoker. I put lots of crap in my body (smoked, snorted, huffed, dissolved, shot, drank, etc.) but don't much anymore. I got really winded during runs, but can tell it's getting easier. C25K is great because of how is steadily ramps you up, building endurance, stamina, muscle and joint strength.

C25K isn't the only program, either. There are others out there, just that this one is popular. Have you tried the C25K podcasts? They have downloadable (free) podcasts that are great for the first few weeks - the interval stuff - because they tell you when to walk, when to run on the podcast. You don't have to monitor your watch. It also seems to go by faster.

Anyway, you can do it.

It is possible. The only thing stopping you is you.

CountryDevil

As cheesy as this sounds, anything is possible if you set your mind to it. I smoked 2 packs AND chewed tobacco. So I had a constant stream of nicotine for almost 26 year. I will be a miracle if I don't get cancer. On Jan 1st 2012, I will have been nicotine free for 2 years. I was a hiker during and after that time but shortly after quitting I ended up having open hear surgery to fix a mitral valve in my heart. I spent the next year and a half getting myself back on track.

My full story can be read here:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/CountryDevil/view/my-challenge-154436

So, yes, anything can be done no matter what the challenge is. You may not be able to do it as fast as you want it to happen, but you can do it if you stick to it and never give up on yourself or your goals.

Cait_Sidhe

I quit smoking on July 28. I started running (c25k) BECAUSE I quit smoking in an attempt to kickstart my metabolism and not gain or plateau. I've kinda failed on the not plateauing part. Yes, my lungs do hurt. But I just keep trying and I'm getting stronger and stronger.

Cait_Sidhe

Editing posts doesn't work so well on my phone.

I wanted to add that I smoked for 26 years. Like Kenneth, I contaminated my body will all sorts of ellicit substances. I'm now on week 7 (second time on this week) of c25k. It most certainly can be done. If you need to repeat, do so. It's not a race. Squirrel!

JamesBurkes

20 a day smoker for 22 years and still smoking.

I went for my first 6k run in 20 years a month ago and ran (well, jogged) 2 miles and then jogged/walked the rest. A month later I'm doing 6k on a hilly route with no problems.

So I'd say it's definitely possible. While smoking is undoubtedly bad for your HEALTH (cancers, heart disease etc) I think its effect on FITNESS is exaggerated - when I cycle I can keep up with my non-smoking friends no problem and you'd be amazed at how many pro-athletes smoke (at least 4 of the current England football team, that I know of - quite possibly more). While all people are different (I've never had a smoker's cough, for example - ever), I think someone who is 50lbs overweight and doesn't smoke will have a far tougher time trying to start a fitness regime than someone who is 20lbs overweight and smokes.

That's my experience, anyway. That said, the health dangers of smoking are obviously greater than being a bit tubby, but you shouldn't think that you can't do a run just because you smoked. Especially if you quit a fair while ago!

JamesBurkes

Then again, that's the other good thing about exercise. It not only keeps you fit, but as you get fitter it can act as a strong motivation to give up. I love smoking - actively enjoy it; every aspect of it. But despite it not really interfering in my life in any way (apart from the expense....) I think I'm getting to the point where while I'm fitter than most of my (non-smoking) friends, I would probably take a quantum leap forward, if I gave up. I did give up for 6 months about a year ago and I was an absolute machine - when I built an extension on my house during that time I was carrying 3 or 4 heavy concrete blocks up and down 30 steps for 8 hours a day, without a rest (the extension was in an awkward place). I couldn't do that now. I think smoking may have put a "ceiling" on my fitness. But it's a pretty high ceiling! If you gave up years ago, you should be fine. But everyone is different -- a trip to the Doctor could put your mind at ease.

bonjour24

i quit smoking 1 1/2 years ago. this time is the longest i've ever stopped since i started smoking when i was 13 (20 years ago now)! i quit each time i got pregnant, but started up pretty soon after.

i started doing c25k when my last baby was 2 months old (9 months ago now). what i found was that i would run out of breath really quickly, and felt a bit like i was gasping for air. i remember not being able to suck enough air in. but stick with it- it does pass. for me, that was due to my poor level of fitness and the fact i hadn't ran since i was a kid. i kept going with it, and pretty soon it got so that my legs would hurt before i ran out of breath (i think that was about week 4 of c25k).

now, 9 months later, i have ran a half marathon (in 2hrs 44mins, but it's still done), a couple of 10ks, and a few trail runs. i run at least 4 times a week, and do core and strength training and different cardio too.

you can do it- the key is to stick with it. when you feel like you're going to die, keep going and work through it- it does get easier, i promise!

CoraGregoryCPA

I quit 4 years ago. I used to smoke a pack a day-easily!.. now.. finally... I can run and workout with no lung problem.s

I remember between years 2-3 after quiting were still tough.

Now, I can smoke ONE cig, if I'm out with friends, and wake up the next day and run 7 miles with no problems. I'm shocked!

It takes time and you gotta work your lungs, but they'll come back.