Blog Master G

Some people might think I’m high for running 15 miles. Apparently, I am. And today I experienced this sensation: New York Times / Yes, Running Can Make You High:

The runner’s high: Every athlete has heard of it, most seem to believe in it and many say they have experienced it. But for years scientists have reserved judgment because no rigorous test confirmed its existence.

Yes, some people reported that they felt so good when they exercised that it was as if they had taken mood-altering drugs. But was that feeling real or just a delusion? And even if it was real, what was the feeling supposed to be, and what caused it?

It was a pretty incredible feeling to run so far — 15.06 miles in 1 hour, 59 minutes, 38 seconds (7:57 pace) — and I surpassed the 11 miles I ran last week by a solid 4 (my goal was to run 14 today):

The other cool thing about my run today was how the power of people (and Gatorade) is such a tremendous boost when running. When I ran my first-ever distance race, I nearly opted for the 2.2-mile version of the race, but the crowd’s energy cheering runners on at the finish line helped inspire me to finish the whole 4.4-mile race. Likewise, my record distance run today involved three people-powered moments that helped me push through:

• Between miles 5 and 6: I ran past Patricia’s house, where she and a couple friends were soaking in the sun on the porch; seeing them and saying hi to them helped me feel proud of what I was doing (“5 miles down, 9 to go,” I declared).
• Mile 8.25: I returned home for a brief refueling stop (Gatorade and part of a Cliff bar), along with a kiss from my wife; my legs and motivation were ready to rock again.
• Mile 12: I was beginning to feel delirious and my legs were getting sore. Then I saw my friends Jen and Kyle, who cheered me on as I ran by and shot my arms up in the air.

In the final stretch between miles 12 and 13, I leveraged my new PowerSong for some extra motivation, and definitely experienced a euphoric runner’s high.

It’s kind of weird to think that I’ve now officially run farther than a half-marathon. I guess that means I’m ready for Nashville — with about a month to spare.