I do not currently smoke (and haven't for the last 7.5 years), but I used to. When I did smoke I was probably running around 10-15 miles a week. To tell you the truth I didn't do anything to mitigate or reduce the amount I was smoking. One effect that I did notice was that after a run I didn't want to smoke for about 2 hours. I guess you could call that a benefit. ;)

I have tried to quit smoking for a while and found that when I had a regular workout plan I didn’t crave smoking as much. How ever I do have an uncle that runs marathons and smokes. He says that he only gets through the last quarter of the race knowing that my aunt has his cigarettes and the finish line.

I quit tobacco 14 years ago. Whilst I was in the British Army, I used to smoke. After intensive physical training which I managed well enough, I couldnt smoke for at least 3 to 4 hours. I think what the body is saying is that it is in recovery mode, and the thought of inhaling poisons at this stage is unthinkable.

The lesson is: listen to your body.

I’m far from an athlete but I gave up smoking just over one year ago with the use of Zyban. I had tried everything previously. Hypnotism, patches, gun, accupressure, the works. Zyban made it very, very easy and had not a single side effect for me.

Smoking and epitheliums are not compatible. I was and athlete and a smoker and end up giving up athleticism. Trust me, it was not a good deal, I still regret that, as the matter of fact I also want to give up smoking, I plant to ask for assistance through drug addiction treatment.