Striding While High

By Frank Sabatini Jr.

When Christy Collins launched HighStryde several years ago, she knew nothing about an upcoming study by the University of Colorado that concluded marijuana increases motivation to exercise. Nor was she aware of a few articles that were recently published on the subject, including one that ran last month in The New York Times.

“I first stumbled upon combining cannabis and running in 2014 because I had a significant amount of weight to lose. I saw the runner’s physique but hated every minute of running. Yet when I used cannabis, I couldn’t stop moving,” she recalled. “It happened so organically.”

Thus over time she adopted her own regimen, dropped more than 50 pounds, and spent seven years developing customized programs for others to use.

Fast forward to Balboa Park later this month, when Collins will hold her first public HighStryde workshop from 4 to 6 p.m. on Aug. 21, near the historic carousel. Registration is required and donations are welcome.

“We’ll be doing a full-blown stride,” she said while noting that she will share her recommended marijuana strain with registrants online before the event. She plans on holding the workshops in the park once or twice a month.