Conditioning, in the Ivan Pavlov sense, is a strange thing. As people we’re able to think our way in or out of most anything, yet we’re no less subject to the process. This was on display last weekend at the annual Boulder Creek Festival, which saw the return of the Rubber Duck Race. If unfamiliar, here’s the score: literally thousands of caution-yellow rubber ducks are released into Boulder Creek en masse; the first to cross the finish line is the champ, and the “sponsor” of that duck wins a grand prize. It’s a quirky but fun tradition, and all proceeds go to the EXPAND program. Win-win. Due... Read More

Since cannabis is legal for recreational use in ten states and counting, one of the most common question that comes up is “Can I use cannabis before working out?” The answer is yes. More and more athletes are coming out of the green closet to discuss their cannabis use and how it affects their athletic performance.  Olympian and World Champion Joanna Zeiger, PhD is the founder and coach with Train Away Chronic Pain. She is a cannabis advocate and often discusses how cannabis has helped her manage chronic pain symptoms and provide a restful night’s sleep. Other athletes such as Anna Symonds... Read More

As an athlete and personal trainer, my mission is health for people and our planet. Cannabis is used as a medicine for many people, including myself, and as a safer alternative to harmful opioids and anti-inflammation drugs. There are so many reasons why increasing numbers of people and companies are choosing organic cannabis options, and here are a few. 1. Cannabis is Medicine Many people consume cannabis for medicinal reasons. Individuals may also be battling serious illnesses and have compromised immune systems. This is why so many people are choosing organic cannabis to get the highest quality... Read More

“How do you add cannabis to your training routine?” is a common question I get as a sponsored cannabis endurance athlete and NASM Certified Personal Trainer. I’ve been asked it to the point where I started taking notes about what I said in response. In doing so, I noticed a few similarities and patterns I tend to repeat, so I’ve created a standard routine for anyone looking to add cannabis to their everyday personal wellness routine. The first rule of adding cannabis to your workout or activity is to know your tolerance and start where you feel comfortable. If you’re new to cannabis in... Read More

Cindy Sovine and her team recently submitted their application to open Utopia, which will be the nation’s first full service cannabis spa. It will be a safe space for cannabis infused yoga and massages. They also plan to carry hemp products for health and beauty, as well as offering meditation, and acupuncture services. I attended the Seven Points World Tour, in Denver, where I had the pleasure of seeing Cindy speak in person. She has a very moving story, and her passion to advocate for the health benefits of cannabis is quite apparent. Although the application was just submitted recently, I’m... Read More

If you’re thinking about becoming active, there are a few things to consider to avoid injuries. If you’re already living an active lifestyle, you don’t want an injury to slow you down. However, many athletes who participate in activities where the knee is bent repeatedly experience a common injury. Most commonly called the overuse injury, running, cycling, hiking and walking long distances can cause iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) or IT band syndrome. Mostly affecting endurance athletes, the injury affects tissue that runs from the hip down past the knee. Usually, the injury manifests as... Read More

The Athlete PEACE Survey studying cannabis and athletes has been completed, and the results have just been published! The survey, titled The Cannabis use in active athletes: Behaviors related to subjective effects, was conducted and published by Joanna Zeiger, PhD, who is also a World Champion and Olympic Triathlete. Last summer I had the opportunity to speak in Denver on the Women, Fitness and Cannabis panel for Ellementa, a global Women’s Network focused on health, wellness, and cannabis with Zeiger. She discussed how she used cannabis to help her manage chronic pain symptoms and help her get... Read More

Earlier this week, the Federal Appeals Court reinstated the complaint and declined to dismiss the Federal Cannabis Lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by several cannabis patients and advocates challenging the federal scheduling of cannabis. According to a comment by their legal representation Michael Hiller, “This case represents the first time in history that a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the CSA has survived dismissal.” This is amazing news for those advocating for the de-scheduling of cannabis. This means the court put the federal government on notice to make a decision for... Read More

I recently had the honor of speaking with Kinessa Johnson. Kinessa is a United States Army Veteran and uses CBD for athletics and recovery. She’s also using her military skills to save wildlife from poachers in Africa. She grew up in Anacoco, Louisiana and joined the Army. “I loved serving, I loved the people that I met and the friendships that I made. I also loved that I got to deploy, and it humbled me and made me appreciate my family and the country I was born in.” After serving in the military, Kinessa had the opportunity to use her skill set and become an animal protector. “I had the... Read More

I’ve always loved getting massages, but didn’t really understand all of the benefits it can provide. Similarly, when I first consumed cannabis I wasn’t aware of the effects it could positively make for my overall health and wellness. For someone like me who loves massages and cannabis, I jumped on the opportunity to try a cannabis infused massage from Primal Therapeutics while attending the Cannabis Health and Wellness Fair in Denver! After speaking to several cannabis companies who were at the wellness fair, I was offered a massage! Primal Therapeutics was attending and offering on site... Read More

With the legalization of cannabis across more states and the stigma surrounding the plant and its users shifting, so has the demographic of people benefiting from the plant. According to the CDC, Americans aged 55-64 who use marijuana regularly has risen by 455%. Those aged 65 and older has risen by 333% from 2002-2014. Why is this shift occurring and how can seniors benefit from cannabis? We know that each person has their own endocannabinoid system. The endocannabioid system has recently been recognized as the most important modulatory system within the body. It is responsible for regulating... Read More

Athletes train and fuel their bodies to operate at optimal levels in their sport. CBD is the non psychoactive compound found in cannabis. It is a non toxic, natural option that provides multiple mental and physical benefits. The recent announcement by the WADA (World Anti Doping Agency) to remove CBD from the banned substance list in 2018 provides a safer option to many athletes. With athletes and individuals allowed to consume CBD legally in all 50 states, it is diminishing the stigma surrounding cannabis and its users. It has the potential to provide a better quality of life when provided as... Read More

After facing the devastating floods that began on September 11, the result of an eight-day period in which The National Weather Service reported between 7 and 18 inches of rain, Boulder County has maintained its resolve and continues to rebuild. After the natural disaster, which destroyed approximately 2,000 homes, cut off entire towns, and washed away countless roads, hundreds of people were reported to be missing or unaccounted for. That number diminished quickly, however, as people checked in to authorities and on Tuesday, it was reported that the final six missing people were found to be safe. Of... Read More

After the disastrous floods which lasted from September 11 through September 15, Boulder County has officially been designated a Federal Disaster Area. According to CNN, there have now been seven confirmed fatalities and approximately 18,000 homes across the state have seen damage. Nearly 200 miles of state highways will need to be repaired along with many more miles of local roads. It’s been estimated that repairing all of the damage may end up costing businesses, homeowners, and local governments up to two billion dollars. Here in Boulder, Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle has said that... Read More