Loss of Pace in Soccer because of Smoking?

[vita666420]

I've been out of soccer for a couple of years and decided to join a little rec league and I'm surprised at how much pace I've lost (I'm still young). I've always had poor technical ability, even poorer endurance but I had really fast acceleration and usually would be first to the ball in any sprinting situation, which is why a lot of coaches kept me on despite my other flaws. Can you actually lose pace from smoking? I could understand it effecting your endurance, but I thought for sprints it wouldn't effect it that much.

[.:Rabid]

I'm a smoker and that's all I have is pace.
The top scorer in our indoor league is a smoker also.

Maybe you're out of shape?

PS: I believe Mat Sundin smoked.

[ArteEtLabore]

FWIW somebody on the RPB forum posted that they saw Jeff Cunningham in Toronto with a cigarette. I think his loss of pace in the second half of the season was more due to his recovery from hernia surgery than anything else.

[crazypete13]

Smoking affects your cardiovascular capacity to carry oxygen - not to mention adding all kinds of chemicals and tars to your system. So depending on your cardio level you could absorb the hit smoking has on your system without losing any pace, but if you lose your fitness level smoking would have an increased negative impact on your ability to run for sustained periods for sure.

In my experience loss of pace is more affected by the gain of weight :D

[adammac19]

I would never know since I never really had fast pace. I only rely on my air ability (I am 6'5) and passing ability :D

[vita666420]

In my experience loss of pace is more affected by the gain of weight :D

Thats probably it, I've been packing on the frosh 15. But a couple games in and I'm starting to feel a lot better, it was prob. just the fitness thing. Now I don't feel that bad about smoking.

[adammac19]

Now I don't feel that bad about smoking.

Well you should "It is not a rumor, it can cause a tumor".......and the classic line "smokers are jokers"

:D