By John Garvey

Before I embark on the topic of running and cannabis, let me be clear that running high isn’t for everyone, and I’ve always been a little weird. And as with all things, there are wrong ways to go on a doob run. But for an increasing number of runners, from fair-weather 5K types to competitive ultramarathoners, cannabis and running go together like champagne and wedding night sex.

“The Runner’s high” has long been attributed to a class of feel-good chemicals called endorphins that are naturally present in the brain. But today the prevailing explanation is that anandamide — another “feel-good” and pain-relieving neurochemical — causes runner’s high. Anandamide binds to the same receptors in your nervous system as THC, and shares many of its effects. If testosterone wears plaid, anandamide wears tie dye.

My first runner’s high, at age 17, was one of the defining moments of my life. My first time smoking weed was not. But there were similar chemicals at play.

Anandamide is one of a cocktail of neurochemicals that helps you get into a flow state: a deeply engaged, focused frame of mind with no awareness of the passing of time. Flow states are delightful.

Ecstasis is often just a more progressed flow state. It’s intense and joyful. Many experienced runners know the difference between a ho-hum run, a flow state run, and an ecstatic run. These occur naturally. But my theory based on extensive personal experience (wink, Mom and Dad) is that flow states and ecstasis are markedly more likely to occur if you’re running high. This is because anandamide, which your body produces naturally, and the THC in marijuana pair as perfectly as Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris did on their “All The Roadrunning” album.

The following beginners’ guidelines are based on a combination of personal experience, conversations with other runners, Reddit forums, inductive reasoning, and helpful articles written by and about athletes. Caveat: Some athletes have successfully flaunted these. But these are likely to contribute to your success, or at least help you avoid a crash.

Dress up first. Unless you’re an exceptionally high-functioning stoner, having to change clothes while high can constitute a significant barrier to actually getting out the door.
Mode of consumption. Edibles are more likely than smoked or vaped cannabis to produce a lethargic “body high” that will derail your run. At the same time, smoking is more likely than vaping to irritate your throat and lungs. Finally, vaping concentrates is more likely to result in sub-optimal dosing (too much or too little) compared to vaping flower. So when in doubt, vaping flower is your best bet.
Strain. This is rudimentary so I’ll summarize: sativas are generally energizing; indicas are generally relaxing. Getting high on sativa or a sativa-dominant hybrid is more likely to result in a successful run. It’s also ideal to use a strain you’re familiar with.
Just Say No … to treadmills. A big part of the magic of running high is all the elements of the outdoors. Even if you’re in a heavily urban setting, being outdoors is ideal, if not essential. Plus, it’s not exactly driving a forklift, but things can still go very wrong on a treadmill.

If you want to delve into this topic further, Denver journalist and distance runner Josiah Hesse just published the book “Runner’s High: How a Movement of Cannabis-Fueled Athletes Is Changing the Science of Sports.” Click here for our review.

Pick up the January-February print issue of Thirst Colorado magazine for a longer and more detailed version of this story.