Cigarette smoking: an underused tool in endurance training (2010)

My dad was an All-American swimmer competing mainly in the butterfly, and is the second-youngest person to earn a varsity letter at Notre Dame, and he accomplished this while smoking more than a pack of cigarettes a day.

Of course he nearly died of a heart attack at the age of 47, despite having seen several cardiologists complaining of heart pain. As it turns out, his heart and lung function masked the fact that his left descending aorta (aka The Widowmaker) was 98% blocked.

I liked "The hemoglobin increases may be further enhanced with add-on therapy of ethanol" - i.e. a nice pint with your cigarette.

Technically Smoking does increase your haemoglobin (CO binds to it better, blocking O2, causing body to produce more) - just doesn't increase your ability to carry more O2 (and gloopy blood is not good for you). Also, probably does increase lung capacity, by destroying pesky surfaces used to transfer O2 from teh air to your blood.

I can only think somebody got bored at work and decided to chuck this out there for a giggle/reference-bait.

This information is only useful for smokers, former smokers, and those who are transitioning into a former smoker while dieting and exercising....I can tell you first hand, any long time smoker, whether you were a light or heavy smoker, finds themselves out of breathe quickly when complete cessation begins, if the intensity of whatever activity picks up. It takes around two-three weeks before your body fully adjusts. Sometimes when in transition, it does help to smoke a little bit before a long run. It just does. Some of it is psychological though, because as the intensity increases, so does the tension and stress. The nicotine eases these feelings a bit. Funny thing, you can't stand the smell nor stand to smoke one after exercise.

Very funny. But what about nicotine alone, via patches or gum? I kept using nicotine gum for several months, after the last time I quit smoking, on the theory that it helped me focus, and reduced appetite. But it was too iffy, and I didn't like the taste.

Is this serious or another one of those parachute papers?

Having served in active duty with a hard requirement to pass a physical fitness test twice each year, and being a former smoker who was motivated to quit as my 1.5-mile run slipped every year despite each time feeling like I had exerted myself more than the prior instance, I'm inclined to respectfully call bullshit.

EDIT: Err, should have read the abstract first...parachute paper.

I am lost, it’s clearly a joke (the part about the kids too young to grasp a cigarette), but I don’t find the context for the joke. It can’t really have been an actual in depth scientific joke since there is no actual vo2max of smokers.

Anecdote: my Father would smoke before, during, and after his morning runs. He competed in marathons and later, 24 hour runs on a track. I thought him crazy, but I turned into a ultra runner, too (although I don't smoke - too expensive these days!)