I have a friend who does triathlons and smokes…I am trying to get him to stop…and want to hear from others who have been down this road, and what improvements in the sport and life they noticed. He claims that he trains enough to overcome the downside of smoking…don’t jump on me, I am going to share your feedback. Much appreciated.
It’s really dead simple in my mind:
Do you have respect for your body? If so then don’t smoke. Ever. Someone who says they train enough to overcome the downside of smoking is so delusional they are likely beyond help, imho. They likely just need to learn the hard way (which may result in death, unfortunately).
Thanks, Chris
You might want to mention that exercise is not an antedote for smoking or any of the problems it causes. Can’t run away cancer. Not sure where you are but look for all the new really nasty anti smoking TV adds. The one with the disgusting foot that they have to chop off should be enough to get anyone to quit.
…don’t jump on me, I am going to share your feedback. .
And please do not jump on her friend either, she is looking for helpful, constructive information from people who have been there to share with him.
I have a friend who does triathlons and smokes…I am trying to get him to stop…and want to hear from others who have been down this road, and what improvements in the sport and life they noticed. He claims that he trains enough to overcome the downside of smoking…don’t jump on me, I am going to share your feedback. Much appreciated.
I grew up playing golf, drinking, and smoking.
Your friend isn’t pushing hard enough, otherwise, he/she would likely want to quit smoking.
Have this person do hill repeats or race a few crits, and the puffing days may be long gone.
Smoking expands the lungs. Whilst smoking.
It’s why all the old Professional cyclists back in the 30’s and 40’s used to light up a fag before doing some of the massive mountain climbs.
Most now just do speed or coke.
I don’t see anything wrong with it.
For the record I have never smoked or taken drugs but could be tempted if it would make me go sub 9.
Maybe he just likes smoking?
He’ll quit if and when he’s ready.
If your friend is a long distance triathlete whose run ME is not sufficient to outstrip his cardio endurance and he smokes one or two a day than he’s not going to feel much difference. Ultimately he has to make a decision about his long term health and well being. You’d be surprised how many fast triathletes smoke on occasion. If you want him to feel the pain, encourage him to do sprints and olys. Then he is really going to suffer. Most people find that the fitter they get the more they have no interest in smoking and drinking.
"the fitter they get the more they have no interest in smoking and drinking. "
Not so sure about the drinking part. Some athletes party harder than rock stars.
They binge more, but they don’t mainline the stuff anymore.
I’ve done marathons and triathlons smoking and not. To the tune of a half-pack a day. I would light up right before and right after long runs and bikes.
I saw improvements in both speed and endurance after quitting. The fast was faster and the long was much easier to do. Recovery was also much faster and I had a lot less soreness. Smoking decreases circulation, and particularly circulation to the extremities, so it stands to reason that the recovery would go better.
If you want to be supportive of your friend, definitely have the facts. Yes, smokers who eat their veggies and exercise have lower lifetime cancer rates than smokers who don’t, but only slightly … it’s still vastly worse than people who don’t smoke. The offset is never as much as smokers think it is.
Remember that your friend is addicted. One of addiction’s hallmarks is willful denial, which he certainly seems to be in. Logic may or may not help, but always approach in a loving spirit, which you seem to be doing. I wish you and him the very best. The truth is that he won’t quit until he wants to quit, not when you want him to quit, and little you do will probably make it happen sooner. The best thing you can probably do is let him know that you care deeply about him and his health, and that you are there for him whether he quits or not.
The carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke can stimulate red blood cell production. So my question is why aren’t YOU smoking?
As a former smoker I’ll tell you my view. You’re not going to do a thing positive by suggesting, hinting, or even nagging him to quit. It doesn’t matter what the “facts” are nor does it matter what your view is. Until/unless he finds something inside himself to make him quit, he won’t. All your going to do is create a topic that hopefully will do nothing but become a topic you two cannot talk about. Worst case is you nag so much as to do damage to the friendship.
I smoked and did tris for a year or so and in all honesty I cannot tell much of a difference now in my wind and then. That was a pack a day for about 25 years. When people did the “don’t you want to quit?” No, I didn’t. The more often a person brought it up, the less I wanted to spend any time with that person. When I decided it was time to quit, I didn’t buy another pack and didn’t slip. If you push someone to try to quit the odds are really bad for staying stopped.
I found that the friends I had when I did quit were true friends who liked me for me and not ones who tried to push their own lifestyles on me.
Totally agree with the previous poster. The reason has to come from within.
Best of luck.
X2 and that goes for any “addiction”.
Maybe he just likes smoking?
Khai,
I remember distinctly going out for one of my first large group rides with a bunch of roadies back in the 80’s. I arrived at the designated meeting spot and their was this thin, very serious looking guy all dressed up in some fancy team kit smoking a fag. I was shocked. I was further shocked later on in the ride when the main break went up the road, with the smoker leading it!!
This might be a good bridge to the promise land of a tobacco-free life.
I definitely think this is just as dangerous in the long-term and addictive, but it will allow for his lungs to begin the healing process, which is obviously essential for endurance sports.
Is this guy 18?
get him to get an x-ray of his lungs. Then get an xray of someobody’s lungs that doesn’t smoke. Ask him who he thinks will be faster.
As an ex-smoker, there is nothing you can say or do that will get him to stop. The only person that can make that decision and know when the time is right is him. Pushing/harrassing/bugging him only makes it worse and will make him resnt you and possibly not want to hang out with you. So walk a fine line. Smokers are an odd bunch. 
Actually I would argue against this as a transition. I chewed from the time I was 10 until about 30…then quit and stayed off for 13 years or so…I craved it everyday and have fell off the wagon more times than I care to count. Thankfully I am off it but have been told by several dentist that is worse than smokes to get off of…of course it would destroy your lungs…
I was racing cross a couple years ago and took a big dip of Skoal while I was warming up…Went off the front like I was lit on fire…HR spike out the roof…and off the back I went.
Sometimes smoking or other addictions can be worn as a badge of honor whilst succeeding at other endeavors, such as “Look at me, I can smoke and still do this well at triathlons.” Or it’s an identity - the guy that smokes and does well at endurance sports. It can also be a security blanket, becuase if he quit smoking he’d have no excuses for not doing better. In his mind, “Yea, I was the fastest smoker in my age-group…ha, ha, ha.” In my experience, people seldom change because you want them to. If it’s an issue for you, you may need to put your foot down…“The smell of smoke bothers me, especially when I am trying to lead a healthy lifestyle - not to mention the potential ill effects of second hand smoke. And, it makes you VERY unattractive.”