I am terrible at sports. Anything that involves kicking, hitting, catching or shooting a ball, a puck, or whatever ... I can't do it. At least I can keep up with the other players. At least I can run.
Running.
You could say I have mixed feelings about running. Sometimes I loathe having to go and do it, especially on a treadmill. Other times, I couldn't be happier to get outside and get some miles in. It's something I can't go on without. Rain, shine, ice, snow, and wind, I'll be out there running all year round. It's not just good exercise, there's so much more about it to appreciate. Running is therapy for the body and mind. It's a chance to go out and explore the world and it gives you a sense of accomplishment every time you do it. The best part about running though is that you can get a serious high off of it!
Let me explain what I mean about that.
First off, it's not that kind of high. Runner's high is the only feeling of intoxication the NCAA doesn't disapprove of. It's also not something you get from any kind of performance-enhancing drug professional athletes get away with using every day. Runner's high is a state of pure euphoria you can only get from tapping into the perfect amount of speed and mileage. At some point during a run, you may be lucky enough to experience it for yourself. Some are unlucky, don't get it, and just give up on running, which is a real shame. Because when you do get the high, it will go something like this:
You feel completely invincible.
When running, the body's limbic and pre-frontal regions of the brain can produce chemicals called endorphins. This is usually in response to times of physical pain and discomfort. The greater the endorphin level, the better the high. You feel invulnerable to the elements, the strain from the exercise, and you feel like you could go on forever faster than any human being. It's thrilling.
However, you're not completely invincible, which is the funny thing. You can end up pushing yourself too hard and hurt yourself, especially with a lack of exercise. The high can't be experienced at a 5 minute mile pace for a 16 mile run. It is found at just the right distance and speed, like a tempo workout. Nothing too short and slow, but nothing too fast and long.
When you hit that balance, you can't be stopped. You're running the perfect run. Just make sure you've been training...
You get an unnatural amount of happiness
Almost any cell in the body produces endocannabinoids that calm you down when you are feeling stressed. During the perfect run, the physical pain kicks in and the body gets to work making these chemicals. Suddenly, you enjoy running all together, something some people see as a horrible experience. It doesn't matter though! You're in such a gosh darn good mood that you say hi to everyone you pass by and gain the urge to sing and dance to the music blasting through your headphones.
Warning: you may start to sing and dance to the music blasting through your headphones. And you will get a lot of dirty looks.
Nothing matters
What 20-page paper due tomorrow? What about who said what about someone? When you have a runner's high, all of your deadlines, worries, and issues go away for a moment. You feel good and can take a short break from what's been keeping you down. It's not avoiding reality or life's problems, it's taking the time to feel relief and comfort. Sometimes, it's a time to think. Which brings me to my next point.
You start to appreciate the little things
If you're out on a peaceful run alone, it gives you time to think to yourself. When you're alone and have a runner's high, you only think about the positives. You can look forward to an upcoming event, getting to see someone you care about, or just enjoy life altogether. Plus no matter the time of year, you begin to notice how nice something in the area you're running in looks, whether a neighborhood, a forest trail, a town/city, by a shoreline, and so on.
Even the weather.
The rain and winds now makes you feel refreshed and powerful. There's the crisp fall atmosphere that makes the run all the more colorful and lively. The cold and snow challenges you to push through and end the run feeling stronger. The sunshine and warmth helps you feel relaxed and grateful for everything. Lastly, the intense heat and humidity dares you to add on another mile so that cold drink feels even more well deserved.
You want to experience it again immediately
Some days, it feels like an eternity until I get to run again. Even if I just ran and my next workout isn't until the next day.
Running ...
Whether I'm in the mood or not, I'll always love it.
As for runner's high ...
The high can be seen as natural with the body producing all those chemicals or just your overall feeling about running. To me, a runner's high comes from everything to appreciate about an activity you might see as a workout, a sport, a simple jog, or an exercise.
The high comes from the healing of a stressed mindset and the working of your muscles. It comes from the love of adventure by getting outside and passing through new and familiar areas. It comes from being appreciative of the world around you and all you have. It comes from a form of positivity in the face of life's hurdles and challenges to help push through. Most of all, runner's high comes from all of the excitement and challenge of going out for a run. To be alive. To be energized and unstoppable.
To be free.
So if you ever are lucky to experience a runner's high for yourself, you might experience something similar or something different. Whatever you see and whatever you feel, you will no doubt want to do it again. You will want to get out and run once more.
