It is easy for nonsmokers like me to tell you to "just quit, it's bad for your health"! I'm not going to insult your intelligence - you know that. Unfortunately, I know it is not nearly that easy. I watched my mother smoke and try to quit many, many times. She didn't quit smoking until after she was diagnosed with lung cancer and died 6 months later.

Like my bud, FF said, starting a cardio program while smoking is better than smoking without a cardio program. Then, maybe that will be your inspiration to quit.

But, do your loved ones a favor, especially kids if you have them, and do whatever is in your power to quit - be it cold turkey, cardio, support groups, the patch, chew gum, accupuncture, prescription drugs, whatever...

Running, for me, is a quite painful experience - so don't make it any more difficult! You will notice how smoking effects your exercise and then when you stop, how much easier it is to get a great work out in.

lol - I was just about to post the exact same thing when I read this.

mayb, I also quit 6 months ago (after over 20 years as a smoker) so, CCR and myself are living proof that it can be done! It isn't easy but, I promise you it is worth it. It feels so good to get up in the mornings and not want a cigarette!!

Being a smoker and being a runner aren't necessarily mutually exclusive. I ran for years whilst maintaining a 20 a day habit, long distances too. I was certainly healthier than if I'd been a 20 a day smoker who didn't run!!

Sounds like you want to quit though - I wish you the very best of luck, it will be the best decision you've ever made

i dont know what all the hype around running and smoking is. i have been smoking for a while now and i can run a mile and a half in 9 min as i have pt tests anually and practice ones monthly. i can run 5 miles without killing myself from shortness of breath. i have been smoking alot now and it hasnt effected my running in the least. my pt scores have actually been on a steady increase. so if you love smoking and love running then by all means, do both, its ur life. your the one behind the wheel. it will have effects on you im not saying it wont but im just telling you from a different point of view from all the other posts that seem to be from ppl that hate on smokers. im not telling you to smoke it up, or stop, im just stating my experience. good luck in your fitness goals.

As with any type of exercise, your body is going to adapt to the factors and influences affecting the body at the time of training. Your body has adapted to running with a "smoker's" cardiovascular system.

You can run a mile and a half in 9 minutes. I could run a mile in a half in 8.5 minutes back in college ROTC, and that's after an all-night drink-a-thon. I drank a lot in college, and my body was forced to adapt to running long distances at early mornings after nights out. Could you run a 7 minute mile and a half if you stop smoking? Maybe.

But all of that is moot considering the fact that even if your body adapts to perform even with your habit of smoking, exercise is going to have little to no counter-effect on what smoking does to your lungs or to the hardening of arteries/veins.

My guess is that since this thread is two years old -- he has probably figured it out by now....

That is the reason why athletes are not encouraged to these vices especially smoking because it can deteriorate their body system, making them weak while exerting pressure and energy on plays. Definitely, smoking should be erased to win!

VirtuSmoke.com