Cannabis & Inspiring CONSUMING
BY ANTONIO DEROSE
THE WORLD
IN HONOR OF OUR WOMEN’S HEALTH ISSUE, THIS MONTH’S CANNABIS AND FITNESS COLUMN HIGHLIGHTS SIX INSPIRING WOMEN WHO ARE SHATTERING THE STIGMAS OF CANNABIS THROUGH SPORTS.
MARTE’ HEPBURN
Merrimac, Wisconsin | Running, Biking, Swimming, Rock Climbing, Hiking Hepburn calls herself a “senior cannabis athlete.” Recently, at the age of 66, she set a High Five Challenge where she completed races in lengthening distances starting with a 5k and progressing to a 4.2 mile, 10k, Half Marathon, and finishing with a Full Marathon where she placed 1st in her age group. In addition to her running accolades, Hepburn is an avid traveler who incorporates fitness in her travel plans, as seen pictured here in her summit of Mt. Norquay Via Ferrata, Calgary, Canada. These are only a couple of her many athletic adventures, including her upcoming plans to bike 100 plus miles along the Erie Canal Bikeway in New York later this year. When asked how cannabis helps her as an athlete, Hepburn had this to say, “I find cannabis helps me get though the long distance running and takes the edge off any aches or pains. I can focus on the run, bike, swim, or climb rather than focusing on discomfort or pain.” Her routine around consuming cannabis includes edibles and topicals lotions, sprays, or oils which she uses before and after activity. 60
LIA ORIEL ARNTSEN
Boulder, Colorado | Running, Hiking, Mountain Climbing, Picking Up Litter Arntsen, who happens to be Marte’ Hepburn’s daughter, describes herself as an “awareness athlete.” She defines an awareness athlete as “someone who uses their athletic ability to complete races, adventures, and challenges to bring awareness to critical environmental and social issues and causes.” Just like her mother, Arntsen incorporates travel into her adventures as an athlete, and she is pictured here running in last year’s MoonRun Marathon in Monteverde, Costa Rica, where she raised $350 for sloths at the Toucan Rescue Ranch. Arntsen is also the founder of health and wellness company, You Canna Be Well, where she educates about the benefits of cannabis for a healthy lifestyle. Her advice for anyone curious about trying cannabis for activity is, “Play around with high CBD edibles and strains if you are concerned that cannabis may make you drowsy or unmotivated.” For her, “Cannabis acts as a motivator, to get me excited to go do something crazy, like run 25 miles through the jungle.” This year she’s planning an Eco-Triathlon involving biking, hiking, and cleaning up our planet.
SARA HAMALA
San Diego, California | Walking, Hiking, Group Fitness Hamala is a certified personal trainer who offers small group strength and stretch classes, private personal training sessions, hosts a biweekly hiking group, and is the Founder of lifestyle brand, Team Cannababes, where she encourages active living and cannabis for wellness. Hamala prefers to vape or smoke before a workout. She says it helps her “to dial in and focus on the workout ahead, as well as acting as a bronchodilator to decrease airway resistance and increase airflow. Cannabis is wellness, and—if you use it responsibly—it can really boost your overall performance.” Last year she completed the Rugged Maniac 5k which included 25 obstacles throughout the course, and she plans to do it again later this year.
