The cannabis component CBD could benefit competitive runners by helping to reduce anxiety and perceived exertion, according to a study from the University of Northern Colorado.
The research involved 12 adult subjects who were given either 300 milligrams of CBD or a grapeseed oil placebo. After a two-hour waiting period, participants were instructed to complete a two-mile run on a treadmill as fast as possible. Vital signs were captured periodically throughout the run and afterward, and participants also filled out surveys to measure anxiety and other subjective experiences.
The results indicated that participants who ingested cannabidiol “reported increased feelings of calm and relaxation” compared to those who took the placebo. The CBD group also had an 8% reduction in the average rate of perceived exertion halfway through the two-mile run. As for the runners’ speed, those who took CBD completed the two-mile runs slightly (3.1%) faster, but that difference was not statistically significant.
“Our findings provide evidence against existing concerns that cannabis use independently promotes sedentary behavior and decreases physical activity,” authors of that paper wrote, adding that “the stereotypical ‘lazy stoner’ archetype historically portrayed with chronic cannabis use does not acknowledge the diverse uses of cannabis today.”
