Hey. I quit smoking 4 months ago after smoking for 10. I tell you, cold turkey is supposed to be the best way to go. Just do it and get it over with. I personally, woke up one Wednesday and decided not to smoke that day. And the next day and the next. I ate the nicotine candy sparingly for 4 days, but haven't touched anything since. I read somewhere that 95% of all ex-smokers out there quite cold turkey. I don't know if that's true or not, but I tried everything before. Since you're athletic, (I am a runner also) it won't be as hard for you as someone who sedentary.
Some things I did to help with the urges:
Drank lots of juice, Smoking does something to you're blood sugar (you should look up the exact science) and drinking juice will help you from not over eating until you're body re-adjusts itself.
I walked a lot. I went outside every hour for a non-smoke break and walked. I still do that three times a day.
I chewed a lot of gum. I still keep a pack on me at all time. I don't crave smokes anymore, I crave trident.
I worked out.
I drank a ton of water.
I talked about it with everyone..
Oh, so there's these tobacco free cigarettes (called Smoke Free) that you can buy online you smoke them like a real cigarette and everything. When I drank, or when I felt that I really needed one I smoked one of those. They taste like complete butt, but really, they where the biggest thing to get me over the habit. I completely forgot about those. They helped me just because I'm a heavy drinker. I haven't smoked one of those in 2 months. Oh, they do taste bad.
Really, you can do this, it's hard, but ... It's soo good for you
Good luck