Runners are always looking for a competitive edge. From joggers to marathoners, an increasing number of runners use CBD to address muscle soreness, recovery, rest, and focus.
So, what exactly is CBD, and how can it help a runner?
CBD (or cannabidiol, if you want the hard-to-pronounce version) is the second-most plentiful cannabinoid molecule in the hemp plant. A cannabinoid is a kind of chemical compound found in cannabis and also produced by the body.
When it comes to THC content, hemp-derived products contain less than 0.3%, while marijuana-derived products can go up to 30% — and this is an important distinction.
THC is the psychoactive chemical that induces a “high.” CBD doesn’t have this effect. So, you don’t have to worry about psychoactive effects while you strive to hit your daily one-mile mark.
Rather, CBD has the ability to bind with receptors and encourage our body to produce its own cannabinoids in our Endocannabinoid System, which is closely integrated with our central nervous system.
Because of the many benefits of this process, CBD has become one of the most popular wellness products around today.
Why Do Runners Use CBD?
There are a lot of reasons why runners look to CBD to supplement their fitness regimen.
CBD’s calming and muscle-soothing characteristics are perhaps the biggest appeal to runners. It’s also non-toxic and non-intoxicating, and it can be ingested or applied to the skin.
CBD is popular with runners across the fitness spectrum, including everyday fitness enthusiasts, trail runners, and ultra-marathoners. It’s available in creams, balms, capsules, tinctures, and more.
Athletes find CBD to have calming effects, which contribute to better focus and make it a valuable tool in post-workout recovery.
Let’s take a closer look.
1. Soothing Sore Muscles and Joints
After long runs and intense training sessions, runners look to the soothing power of CBD to calm distressed muscles and joints.
Creams and balms are the popular go-tos for this application. These topicals calm overworked muscles and aching joints, and formulas often feature familiar healthful supplements, like menthol and willow bark for additional soothing, cooling benefits.
The benefits of massage on worn muscles are abundant. That’s why every sports team has a squad of expert sports massage therapists, why trainers are always rubbing down boxers in between rounds, and why runners massage sore legs.
Kinesiology, trigger-point therapy, and orthopedic massage are athletic industry standards.
Using a healthful topical like a cream or balm to rub down aching quads, hamstrings, calves, and the IT band keeps muscles and joints happy and helps them recover.
2. Assisting Recovery
Post-run recovery is as important to runners as training itself. A good cool-down exercise and restoring your body’s carbohydrates and electrolytes through good nutrition are the best ways to begin the recovery process.
When it comes to soft tissue recovery and healthful massage, CBD is a valuable addition to your recovery toolkit. Sure, it produces relaxing properties, but it does more than soothe sore muscles and joints.
Many athletes believe CBD helps them recover faster from workouts. Runners often look to CBD to not only to reduce muscle discomfort, but to relax tension, address bothersome issues, and improve their sleep.
The range of formulas that runners rely on is even broader when it comes to recovery. Cooling and calming balms are a popular topical choice. Athletes also find capsules, tinctures, and even edibles with protein very helpful.
What’s the most essential ingredient to successful muscle recovery? Sleep.
3. Getting Good Rest
Rest and sleep are essential to any runner’s performance and overall well-being. They guard it as closely as their favorite running shoes.
Did you know runners can be prone to insomnia? Elite athletes like Olympians can be especially prone to this, both because of overtraining syndrome and their incredibly intense routines. But it doesn’t apply to Olympians alone. We’re all susceptible to sleeplessness.
CBN, or cannabinol, is the cannabinoid that promotes relaxation, and it’s the ingredient you want to look for when you need rest.
When it’s time to wind down and give your body that vital recharge time, there’s no need to adjust your lifestyle to incorporate CBD into your relaxation routine. Improving sleep is an area with the perhaps the most abundant CBD options, including face masks, bath bombs, gummies, capsules, and tinctures.
A lot of these restful formulations also feature popular rest supplements, including melatonin, valerian, chamomile and lavender.
A good night’s sleep doesn’t just make you feel rested. It promotes muscle recovery and gives your body and mind the reset it needs to be invigorated and focused tomorrow.
4. Promoting Focus
A rested mind is a focused mind.
Focus is crucial to the runner. Whether you’re monitoring your form to prevent injury, relaxing into a meditative state or just keeping a lookout for cars (and maybe bears, if you’re a trail runner), your brain is as important as your legs.
For people who confuse CBD with THC, it can be surprising to learn that athletes turn to cannabidiol in efforts to enhance focus. But remember, CBD doesn’t get you “high.”
Whether runners use CBD to address their nerves, to enhance their rest, or to soothe aching muscles, they’re already getting a focus benefit.
For an added bonus, products supplemented with vitamins, L-Arginine and caffeine work in concert with the calming properties of CBD to make focus easier.
Final Thoughts
Time for a blog cool-down.
Runners demand a lot from their bodies. And their bodies demand a lot in return. Diet, hydration, rest, and self-care are the key components to a long and healthy running practice.
The added benefits of CBD to runners of all levels can be key to keeping a sustainable fitness regime. Successful recovery, healthful rest, and sharp focus are all benefits of smart self-care supplemented with CBD.
Take care of your muscles and joints, gift yourself with healthy rest, and keep yourself focused and calm, and your body will thank you.