I smoked more weed in 2019 than I did in 2018, and I also ran a faster marathon. Those two things are not connected, at least I don’t think so.

I also consumed less cannabis than I usually do in the buildup to my goal race, which was in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 8. The day was beautiful and the course was flat, through a park, and I had many friends on the sidelines. I ran the first half of my race slower than the second — this is called a negative split — so instead of losing speed as I neared the finish line, I actually sped up. I passed other racers who went out with an aggressive race plan that didn’t pay out. I finished in 3:05:32, quick enough to take 130th place, and maybe 1st place — who knows? — in terms of fastest marathon-running pothead.

I enjoy pot and running. Both things contribute to my mental health. Intensity is important in sports and life, but too much intensity, for me anyway, can backfire. Cannabis helps me exhale.

– Read the entire article at London Free Press.