Ah, that elusive runner’s high … kinda like drugs except that it’s cheaper and doesn’t land you a mandatory death sentence. I want that high. In fact, I think I may have experienced it a teensy weensy itty bitty bit recently.
First of all, let me declare my fitness status: I’m not a marathoner or anything grand like that. There’s rarely a point during a run when I don’t think:
a) Oh my god, I’m going to pengsan.
b) Why am I doing this to myself when I can be sleeping in bed?
c) Oh my god, I’m going to pengsan.
So that should prove to you that I’m not really a bona fide Runner by any standards. And if you’re still not convinced, please read my FAQ page.
My point is (and I do have one!) that despite my lame running, I think I experienced a bit of that high one morning after I did my measly 3km. While driving to work, I found myself singing in the car – you may not know the significance of this but I only sing when I’m happy. Can never do it when I’m stressed or upset or preoccupied (which means that I haven’t done it in a loooooong time). I just felt a little high … and that ‘high’ lasted all day and even throughout the next day. I had no real reason to be happier than usual or anything, but I just was. That’s not to say I was all Yoda on the mountain despite the insanity at work; just that things that may have pissed me off or upset me last time seemed to have less of an effect. It was a little odd.
And it’s no longer some airy-fairy concept anymore either: researchers in Germany have proven that running does cause a flood of endorphins in the brain. And the harder you exercise, the more endorphins are pumped out and the happier and calmer you feel. They also proved that the flood of endorphins helped to increase your pain tolerance (maybe that’s why I can take more crap than usual). In fact, the researchers likened the feeling after a good run to being “in love”. Read more about the study here.
I find this very exciting – after all, the runner’s high was unproven and widely considered a myth until recent years. To know that it’s been proven that there are actual chemical changes happening in the brain when you run (or do any other intensive exercise) is fabulous. Only 3km and already I can feel some endorphins kicking. If I do 10km leh? I’ll be bouncing off the walls!
5 Comments
May 14, 2009 at 2:02 AM
Even if its medically proven i m still not really sure if it influences me, there was a time when i started running, started off from 500 metters (and i felt i was about to die) and after a month managed to reach 5 km mark. But i was just running, no changes. Just running. There comes a time when my brain ll stop working, i wont be thinking anything else…. just running. but again it never influenced me in any other way.
But if running keeps u happy than running it is
every body needs something, maybe that something is “running” for u
May 14, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Yeah
this is motivation for me to keep at it and kick it up a notch or two … it’s exciting though, to see in what other ways this will affect me. It’s better than therapy! Or chocolates!
May 14, 2009 at 12:53 PM
I am sure all the ways will be positive
if nothing else, its a good cardio exercise lol
May 15, 2009 at 12:09 AM
The mere act of dragging yourself out of bed in the morning – to me – is cardio enough! Hahaha
May 15, 2009 at 2:57 AM
Haha. Couldnt agree more.
I keep two alarms and i hit the snooze button on both for God knows how many times before finally i m up