This Runner IS High
Just a few days ago I achieved another personal record and did a training run of (slightly more than) 21 miles.
Yes, I'm a little stunned. I did a run that was long enough to be old enough to drink. (Okay, that may not make any sense but that joke is a classic so it's staying).
And I still don't think I've ever experienced the fabled "Runner's High." Mostly, during a run, especially a long run, I'm likely to just feel bored, or annoyed, or even a little panicky (as in, "Am I really going to survive this?") At some point it does start to feel surreal (around 2.5 hours) as I lose sense of time and think "My God, how long have I been doing this? What day did I start this? What day is it now?"
So I don't think I've experienced euphoria while running, but post-run, I'm prone to feeling many of the feels. As I wrote in my July 14, 2015 post after my first Half Marathon race: "I'm not sure I've ever experienced a "runner's high", but the crossing the finish line 'oh-my-god-I-did-it-I-may-puke-and-I'm-going-to-cry-and-I-can't-stop-moving-where-is-Chad?' feeling is pretty intense."
This dazed, over-emotional state makes me feel I'm high, at least in the I-ingested-some-type-of-mind/mood-altering-chemical sense. These emotions aren't all blandly positive, and are usually a combination of shock, awe, and a potent mood swinging combo of "Holy Sh$#T I'm Awesome/F*ck, I Should Be More Awesome."
Experience Life Magazine ran this really interesting article about How Exercise Can Prompt Profound Emotional Releases so I expect some of that is at play. (Keep in mind that I'm a Midwestern German Lutheran at my core so a "profound emotional release" is usually a stray tear. This may also explain the lack of a runner's high experience).
Mostly, post-long run I'm just exhausted (I've been lucky so far not to be in too much pain) and just at a loss for what to do with myself. Perhaps unconsciously, I feel because I've done something that seems potentially life-changing, the world should change with me. The line from the Buffy musical, "Where Do We From Here"? pops into my head...usually all I can handle doing is eating, and looking at my running stats, and eating some more, and perhaps taking a nap while I wait for it to be time for me to eat again. And drink.
Oh yeah, and thank the Heavens I can get on Facebook. Seriously, how did people do Marathons pre-social media? Not only can I post sweaty selfies and race stats, I'm part of a Facebook group for First Time Marathoners. This group is so awesome as a channel for these emotion thingys. The group is full of incredibly supportive and inspiring people. As Chad (he who reads Facebook over my shoulder says) he just wants to give them all hugs. There are actually folks who are getting up at 3:30. a.m. to fit in their long runs! In the dark! Before work! The only way I could possibly consider a 3:30 a.m. run is if that was when I was ending my day, and it would be a very ill-conceived run. I certainly wouldn't be going to work afterwards...possibly the ER, or jail.
One of the most noticeable effects of my marathon training seems to be improved cardiovascular health (let's not talk about my liver health). My resting heart rate is definitely quite low. But maybe the improvement to my heart in the emotional sense is more impressive. I think our minister would call this having a "tender heart," and that tenderness takes a lot of strength.
I don't even have a snarky ending. I'm just going to go grab a box of Kleenex and watch some Subaru commercials.
Yes, I'm a little stunned. I did a run that was long enough to be old enough to drink. (Okay, that may not make any sense but that joke is a classic so it's staying).
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| A collection of Touchy-Feely running photos |
So I don't think I've experienced euphoria while running, but post-run, I'm prone to feeling many of the feels. As I wrote in my July 14, 2015 post after my first Half Marathon race: "I'm not sure I've ever experienced a "runner's high", but the crossing the finish line 'oh-my-god-I-did-it-I-may-puke-and-I'm-going-to-cry-and-I-can't-stop-moving-where-is-Chad?' feeling is pretty intense."
This dazed, over-emotional state makes me feel I'm high, at least in the I-ingested-some-type-of-mind/mood-altering-chemical sense. These emotions aren't all blandly positive, and are usually a combination of shock, awe, and a potent mood swinging combo of "Holy Sh$#T I'm Awesome/F*ck, I Should Be More Awesome."
Experience Life Magazine ran this really interesting article about How Exercise Can Prompt Profound Emotional Releases so I expect some of that is at play. (Keep in mind that I'm a Midwestern German Lutheran at my core so a "profound emotional release" is usually a stray tear. This may also explain the lack of a runner's high experience).
Mostly, post-long run I'm just exhausted (I've been lucky so far not to be in too much pain) and just at a loss for what to do with myself. Perhaps unconsciously, I feel because I've done something that seems potentially life-changing, the world should change with me. The line from the Buffy musical, "Where Do We From Here"? pops into my head...usually all I can handle doing is eating, and looking at my running stats, and eating some more, and perhaps taking a nap while I wait for it to be time for me to eat again. And drink.
Oh yeah, and thank the Heavens I can get on Facebook. Seriously, how did people do Marathons pre-social media? Not only can I post sweaty selfies and race stats, I'm part of a Facebook group for First Time Marathoners. This group is so awesome as a channel for these emotion thingys. The group is full of incredibly supportive and inspiring people. As Chad (he who reads Facebook over my shoulder says) he just wants to give them all hugs. There are actually folks who are getting up at 3:30. a.m. to fit in their long runs! In the dark! Before work! The only way I could possibly consider a 3:30 a.m. run is if that was when I was ending my day, and it would be a very ill-conceived run. I certainly wouldn't be going to work afterwards...possibly the ER, or jail.
One of the most noticeable effects of my marathon training seems to be improved cardiovascular health (let's not talk about my liver health). My resting heart rate is definitely quite low. But maybe the improvement to my heart in the emotional sense is more impressive. I think our minister would call this having a "tender heart," and that tenderness takes a lot of strength.
I don't even have a snarky ending. I'm just going to go grab a box of Kleenex and watch some Subaru commercials.
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