HOW CBD HAS AFFECTED MY TRAINING AND FITNESS ROUTINE
SVN SPACE
For roughly half of the past decade I’ve been a fitness and health editor, making my passion for wellness into a full-time career. Said passion is relatively recent, though. In fact, my fitness career started in both senses (personally and professionally) circa 2014.
I’ve never been an athlete; I hate sports, I don’t have any coordination or competitive drive, and in high school I had pretty gnarly exercise-induced asthma which I kept a secret by never working out whenever it was possible (I was forced by a PE teacher to run once, it didn’t go well). When I did happen to find fitness in my adult life — via running — it changed my life in so many ways. I learned to heal myself from mental health struggles, learned to believe in myself in ways I never imagined possible, and created a healthier and more balanced body. I could go on for eons about this, but that’s another conversation for another day.
Since the moment I started running, I’ve wanted to do the Lululemon Seawheeze race (I’m a diehard Lulu addict) but haven’t made it up to Vancouver. Fortunately, this year, Lululemon brought at 10K race to the US — San Diego to boot! — which is a dream in so many ways for me. For starters, a 10K is way better for my knees and joints, and secondly, I don’t have to travel. Win.
So, I’ve been training for the race which was on November 10th, and this go around was vastly different from my prior training regimens. Lululemon made sure I was set with clothes of all kinds for my training workouts and runs, but when it came to recovery, I needed to figure out what would work for me this go around. I decided to take a new approach this year.
I’ve always used traditional supplementation and recovery products; I hadn’t considered much else, aside from perhaps arnica cream and tablets for soreness. My first foray into health supplements was a BCAA powder from what I called the “getting swole store,” (probably a GNC or Vitamin Shoppe, unclear) and I’ve since tried dozens of protein powders, collagen supplements, bars, gels, tablets, smoothies, etc. etc. in order to make the run-training as comfortable as possible, because it can truly be miserable at times.
It occurred to me (in the most *DUH* of duh moments) to try CBD; why wouldn’t I incorporate this natural remedy into my athletic routine? I’ve already been using it for acute pain and anxiety — why wouldn’t I use it for fitness? With anti-inflammatory, restorative and reparative properties, this is a dream plant to have in your arsenal while adding more strenuous workouts to your routine. Here’s what I’m using, and how it’s working.
Salt Baths
Epsom soaks have always been a part of my training routine, but I have taken it up a notch with CBD. You may recall, last month I tried Lord Jones’ botanical blend of CBD bath salts and had serious relief — so much so, that I’ve made it a staple in my 10K training routine. Adding CBD to an already soothing and relaxing soak can help deepen the recovery. You’ll be adding a bit more relaxation, which can help reduce your cortisol levels (which tend to spike during cardio).
Topical Cream
Achy calves and feet? Sore IT bands? I used to solely reach for arnica or IcyHot — now I turn to CBD balms. Whether it’s Dr. Kerklaan, Cannuka, or Sagely Naturals, I can find targeted relief that helps my muscles heal so I can keep working on my training in a safe, healthy, and comfortable way.
Oil and Tinctures
For relief from the inside out, I have been going to my default sublingual oils and tinctures. They are fast-acting and powerful and have been super helpful for me during this period. AUR Body and Papa & Barkley have been potent and effective (I’m a big fan of AUR’s tasty flavors). This way I target muscle soreness from both angles; internally with oils and externally (and more targeted) with the topicals.
Capsules
I like taking CBD capsules before bed since they’re slow-releasing, allowing for a deeper and more restful sleep in my personal experience. Sometimes extra exercise can disrupt my circadian rhythm; I’ve mitigated this by adding some CBD into my nighttime routine. This also helps my body repair and restore that muscle damage more deeply while I’m snoozing away, and I get a better night’s sleep, so I have more energy the next day. It’s such an all-around win.
Facial Creams and Masks
Daytime runs in San Diego can wear on even the toughest of SPFs. When my skin feels a tinge of dryness from the autumn air or a burn coming from extra sun exposure, I’ve been using Peter Thomas Roth Green ReLEAF cream and CBD face masks. Outdoor exercise takes a toll on more than just your muscles, so be kind to your skin, too!
The result of all of this? I felt more balanced, less stressed, less sore, and more ready than ever to take on those 10 kilometers.
Written By: Dominique Michelle Astorino, a wellness and fitness editor, CBD aficionado, and author (currently working on her first book). She graduated from the Annenberg School of Journalism at the University of Southern California and has written nearly 5000 articles on how to live a happier, healthier life.