Hello everyone !
Here I am...here you are, heading towards the final weekend of July...
The cushions need a good shake and will be getting a really good airing over the weekend, ready for a brand new month!
Hoping a few folk will pop in and let us know how the week has gone. It has certainly been a lot cooler, certainly here in North Wales. We have missed a few folk this month!
I would normally, have had some glorious runs here, but life had other plans and the runs didn't happen.
But... ( yes, there is always a. BUT, with me) ! Just because the runs did not happen, did not mean that all movement had to stop. I have, as many of you know, in past posts extolled the virtues of our strength and stamina work...we need to keep our whole running body working beautifully, not just the legs!
I have kept moving... and alongside the normal, ( although slightly easier), strength and stamina routine... managed a day in the Welsh mountains with some lovely friends, ( found right here on the forums), rock scrambling , chatting, laughing, picnicking and simply soaking up the wonderful clear Welsh air.
Back from that outing, senses filled and reeling from the sights, sounds , smells and sensations of the day, I felt, completely high... high on life!
Which, in turn got me thinking.... and led to my ramble today... ( Oh gosh....not another)!
One of the things, ( amongst others), that I as an Admin' on here, notice with some regularity is a question that our new runners ask? They ask it usually, after about Week 6 or 7.... sometimes towards the end of the nine week plan and even as new Graduates...and the question is,
“ When will I get the Runner's high) ?
Okay... what exactly is it? Well... one definition is;
“A runner's high is a brief, deeply relaxing state of euphoria. Euphoria is a sense of extreme joy or delight. In this case, it occurs after running”.
This begs the question then, .. wow.... where can I get some of that?
Well... the straight answer is... not everyone gets it... !
In fact surveys suggest that, the number of athletes feeling it is not a lot! Many runners feeling hot, tired and not at all blissful, particularly after really intense running!
And, the feeling is different for individuals...ranging from, deep satisfaction, a glow from head to toe, a feeling of effortlessness, of energy, power and accomplishment.
Now that sounds amazing.... doesn't it?
But... ( yes, here is another);
The not so amazing news is that new runners are less likely to feel the legendary Runner's High until they have been running for a lot longer !
The more experienced runner is more likely to get that feeling, and apparently long distance runners too !
BUT...( not another one) !
You do not have to have a Runner's High to succeed in your running, benefit from your running and have an absolutely amazing time when you are running.
The feeling that you get or that you are hoping to get. is all about some very long words!
Really long words like...endocannabinoids, ( told you). Basically, happy chemicals, not just endorphins but a whole bunch of things all flying around our body and giving us a really good feeling, even after the shortest and maybe the slowest run.
Now, this IS great news for so, so many of us.
Starting out, returning to running, getting back after illness or injury; and this is why I read so many times, that folk have just had to put on their running shoes, head out the door and after the shortest time, and the shortest distance, those happy feelings start whizzing around, encouraging them to do it again, go a little further, try a little harder
That my friends has got to be the best bit!
You just lace up your shoes, keep following the plan and as you move forward,
You can feel free to chase that Runner's High... or just run for pure enjoyment... and see what happens !
So, slip off the running shoes... get a glass of pure cold water and sit a while. We are ready to hear how this last week has gone and how things are with you.
Oldfloss x
x
