Runner's High

[dragitoff]

I just had a question for the board......When I first started running earlier this year, I noticed I would get a second wind or adrenaline kick or something that gave me energy and strength to keep going. It seemed like it came in stages. When I was running 5 miles per day, I'd get the first one around 20 minutes, then another around 32 minutes.

When I mentioned that to my dad, who was a long-distance runner before a skiing accident 10 years ago, he said that's called a runner's high. He said he used to get that all the time when running long distances. I've heard other runners mention that as well.

DW swears she's never gotten that EVER. I do every time I run. There's always at least one point where I feel like I can be the energizer bunny and just keep going and going. Last week, when I ran my longest consistent distance w/o any walking (8.5 miles), I think I had at least 4 or 5 kicks.

My question is really just when do you feel that "runner's high" for yourself?

 

[windwalker]

I just posted this on the Panda Ramblings thread this morning:

I have always had a belief that each of us has a part deep inside that is not yet tamed and domesticated. We all have a wildness that dates from the days we had to be strong to survive. I think that when we do let go that we can become more intuned with that wild side. That elusive runner's high, when we can effotlessly cover ground is actually letting that wild strength have it's way.

I have been an endurance athlete for about 40 years so I have had plenty of opportunity to experience a lot of the feelings both good and bad. A lot of it is attitude. I have found that if I have negative thoughts then the exercise will suck but if I'm feeling the joy of life then I can fly.

I remember a day about 30 years ago when I was on a 10K training route and the temperture was hovering around 115, (This was in Las Vegas, where I was stationed in the Air Force), I went into a zone that I had never experienced before. I normally raced a 10K around 50 min, that day I did 47 minutes and felt like it was effortless.

Dave

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I think it may be a male/female thing. I don't get that every training session or really any training session. But, I do get it on race day...most of the time towards the end. At the Marathon it was right after the end of the half marathon segment.

 

[joan4mickey]

I love the "nature high". I got it this morning. Funny thing is I was struggling to get going, but once out, the weather was great and run was good, best feeling in awhile.
My DH swears the "high" is not real and he has never gotten it.

 

[paxsarah]

I tend to get a second wind or burst of energy around 7 miles into a long run - last weekend I did a 10 mile run with the first half at a LSD pace and the second half building to half-marathon pace, and I felt pretty great toward the end. On my shorter, day-to-day runs I don't get anything quite that dramatic, but they wake me up and improve my mood, which at 5:30am is about all I can ask for.

 

[dragitoff]

I think it's funny that people call it "runner's high" because to me, running is now like a drug. As a recovered addict, I relate my mood swings to when I was taking illegal substances. If it's a day I'm supposed to run, but for some reason don't get to, I get grumpy or feel overly stressed. Even if it's a scheduled rest day, I sometimes get that way. Does anyone else get grouchy on non-running days? Since I get up at 5am to run (currently running 5 days a week), you'd think I'd be less grumpy since I get a few minutes more of sleep.

 

[joan4mickey]

As a recovering addict myself, the high from running can carry me through an entire day. But as far as running as a drug, not for me. I find I must have a balance...I only run 3 days a week and if I feel the need to get out then I will walk or work in my yard.

The "LSD" term still cracks me up (no pun intended).

 

[FireDancer]

On some runs I get a second wind especially if I am above my goal pace. I don't really consider that a runners high as much as a second wind but that might just be semantics.

When I think of a runners high I think of how I feel after an accomplishment. When you run a PR or finish your first race of some new distance (5k, 10k, half, full, tri, whatever). It is kind of an endorphin rush and it is hard to explain. Sometimes I get them in training but also that is usually when I am done more than during. When I finished my 17 mile training run still below the pace needed to qualify for Boston or when I was still able to run an 11 second 100m after an hour long track session. That kind of thing.

I do feel good and a sense of accomplishment after almost every run (race or training) but I personally think of only those great feelings of accomplishment as runner's highs. Like I said though, that might be semantics and they might all be runner's highs.

 

[John VN]

At 61yo I guess my endorphins are disappearing just like my brain cells so enjoy them while you got them. I can remember back when it seemed like a jet's afterburners were applied and I have to agree that it was exhilarating.

Now I drink a Mtn. Dew and that helps provide the rush.

 

[dragitoff]

At 61yo I guess my endorphins are disappearing just like my brain cells so enjoy them while you got them. I can remember back when it seemed like a jet's afterburners were applied and I have to agree that it was exhilarating.

Now I drink a Mtn. Dew and that helps provide the rush.

Unfortunately I went caffeine free a few months ago so now I'm stuck with Caffeine Free Diet Dew. What a tease! lol

 

[moonbill2002]

Nice to know there are other recovering addicts out there Running has only added to my recovery and helped me connect with my Higher Power in a way I hadn't done thus far in sobriety. I get that runner's high as well and it's usually when everything seems to fall in place, the running becomes effortless and I feel like I could just run, and run, and run. For this old girl who always said "I can't", it's a wonderful feeling that I am out there, putting one foot in front of the other and better yet, enjoying it! It has given me such a feeling of empowerment, like I can do anything.

 

[dragitoff]

Nice to know there are other recovering addicts out there Running has only added to my recovery and helped me connect with my Higher Power in a way I hadn't done thus far in sobriety. I get that runner's high as well and it's usually when everything seems to fall in place, the running becomes effortless and I feel like I could just run, and run, and run. For this old girl who always said "I can't", it's a wonderful feeling that I am out there, putting one foot in front of the other and better yet, enjoying it! It has given me such a feeling of empowerment, like I can do anything.

I have a highly addictive personality. That was a bad thing early on in life, but a good thing that I've started running. If I could physically do it without hurting myself, I think I would really run twice per day! lol.