Like crack, only better
January 16th, 2008There are people who run, and people who don’t.
Many of the people who don’t run find it relatively difficult to understand why the people who run, run. For those who don’t run, the idea of willingly submitting one’s self to such perceived torture is unfathomable. Why do it? Why make the effort? Why running?
I remember a conversation I had with the leader of my running group about a year ago. We were talking about running, and the motivations we each had for it. As a seasoned walker just dipping my feet in the world of running, she said something that somehow surprised me a great deal: “I don’t like running, actually” she said, “but it’s the feeling you get from it that I’m addicted to.”
I didn’t understand what she meant at first. And maybe, as a person who doesn’t run, you don’t either. While I can’t explain the feeling, I can tell you one thing: There is simply nothing like the rush you get after a good run. It doesn’t matter if your dog just died, your boyfriend just broke up with you or if a car just sped by and sprayed dirty slush over every inch of your being—regardless of your circumstances, you will still feel ridiculously, unexplainably giddy after.
And for the days when it’s grey and stormy outside, and you can come up with a hundred and one reasons not to hit the pavement, you’ll think back to the moment when you first felt the rush; the feeling of pure, unadulterated happiness, and you’ll go outside. You’ll brave the wind, the snow, the rain, or the heat—you’ll brave it all—because when you’ve played on the beach, you don’t ever want to go back to the sandbox.
Why do I run?
Because it’s like crack, only better.
I used to be a cross country runner before I hit puberty. I’d give anything to be able to run for miles without wanting to fall over dead.
I always used to take being able to run for granted and now I can’t. It really does give you a great feeling of euphoria. Yay endorphins!
Reply: It’s strangely unfunny how that works, isn’t it? You rarely fully appreciate something until you can’t do/have it anymore. Everything happens for a reason, though!
January 16th, 2008 at 1:34 amI used to run a lot back in high school! I used to win races but I don’t know what happened now :( I need to feel that adrenaline again, I miss it. You make me wanna start running again.. :)
Reply: Aww, you should! You’ll probably find it hard and unrewarding at first (especially if you haven’t run in ages), but soon enough you’ll feel that rush again. :)
January 16th, 2008 at 3:33 amIt’s not just running. Endorphins are released with any big phyisical strains caused by sport. I sometimes feel it in warming up for volleyball training, when our coach has a bad day. I really hate warming up, but it feels so great after it.
Because of this feeling, I’ve also decided to start running, but I haven’t gotten to that yet.
January 16th, 2008 at 4:47 amSince I’ve become a revisionazi I haven’t gone on a long run in aeons. I just… don’t have time. (Which is such an appalling excuse — I’m of the opinion you can make time for anything if you want it enough.)
Used to love running. It was lovely to just run and feel free (and isolated, I suppose) from everything around you. You get the lovely sense of achievement at the end. There’s also the advantage that afterwards you’re so physically exhausted that thinking becomes impossible. :P
January 16th, 2008 at 5:02 amI can do aerobics for an hour, but for some reason I can’t run for more than five minutes at a time. It really annoys me, because there’s a sort of freedom to running, and it’s free, and you get to see more, and listen to your own music. And then there’s the endorphin-rush afterwards. I envy you. ;P
January 16th, 2008 at 5:46 amI’ve never been a runner because I can’t get past the pain I get in my side after two minutes, but I’m so out of shape I get the happy-endorphin feeling just by power-walking. It feels gooooooood.
January 16th, 2008 at 8:06 amThat giddy feeling you get after a run is called a “runner’s high.” It’s due to increased endorphin levels. And you’re right, it’s a great feeling.
January 16th, 2008 at 11:01 amI love running too, and I’ve had the hardest time trying to explain why I do. Every time I come back from a run, I’m so tired but just so happy. I think you’ve explained it brilliantly. Don’t mind if I steal this to justify my dedication to running.
Reply: Oh, thank you! I’ve been meaning to write about it for a long time, but could never find the exact words (besides “endorphins”, which means nothing to someone who’s never really experienced them!) to somewhat accurately describe the experience.
January 16th, 2008 at 1:43 pmI don’t run, but I know the “natural high” feeling you get. Sports = endorphins XD The only sport I’ve played for a fair amount of time is Badminton, and even when some people thing it’s for wussies (lol), it just feels so good and I want to keep going.
Reply: I used to play Badminton! I was never any good at it, though - my hand-eye coordination sort of sucks. :P I’ve never been much of a sports person, but I’ve felt the that euphoric, endorphin-fueled feeling from intense dance, and back when I used to ride too!
January 16th, 2008 at 1:52 pmRunning *hard* makes me feel so free and away from the real world. It does feel good, even the physical tiring feels good. I was the only student who didn’t complain about laps in gym class :P
I would love to run more often, but I’m not able to go on my own :(
Reply: Oh my goodness, I used to hate running in school - I even refused to play tag in *kindergarten* because it involved running. :P
It’s too bad that you can’t go on your own - but eventually you’ll be able to! I still drive my parents nuts by going running alone and in the dark (I can’t run during the day for some reason) … they hate it, and probably for good reason, but so long as I keep my music down and constantly remain alert of my surroundings, they grudgingly relent. :P
January 16th, 2008 at 1:52 pmYou missed the best aspect of running! Its not running itself per say, but a post-run shower. I kid you not. I find it unbelievable. The run itself is torture, but taking a post-workout shower is even what does it. Once I come out a shower like that, I feel alive, filled with renewed energy and ready to kick ass.
January 16th, 2008 at 6:22 pmThat’s why I enjoyed soccer so much. Being a midfielder, all you did was run. Except instead of just running, you were tearing after a ball. After a game, even though you’re exhausted, you feel like a million dollars. Plus you stay fit and pretty!
I ought to start running more often though, as I’m not on a soccer league anymore.
January 17th, 2008 at 10:14 amRunning is awesome. Here in London running randomly on the streets doesn’t really happen because it’s so crowded and people stare at you like you’re an alien, so pretty much the only places to run freely are the gym [which isn’t the same] and park. So I guess it’s lucky we have a lot of parks. :p
January 18th, 2008 at 6:21 amI hate running, but the funny thing is… I want to be able to run. I’ve always wanted to be good at sports, but I’m not so I hate them and then I just don’t bother trying to be any good. It’s a vicious circle.
January 19th, 2008 at 11:21 amI don’t run, I did it a few times about 8 years ago, but not anymore. I’m in terrible shape, so maybe I should start again? So many people say running is so great, and explain it just like you do.. :)
January 19th, 2008 at 3:39 pmNice post! It’s always lovely to read descriptions of how people feel doing something they love. :-)
I totally know that feeling from various sports … but especially riding. I think riding magnifies the feeling because when you pull up from a good gallop, or after riding a course, or after a perfect flying change, you can hear your horse’s elevated breathing, feel their rushing heartbeat and the extra spring in their steps, and you know they are experiencing the exact same kind of high. That really puts a smile on my face, sharing that kind of experience with an animal you otherwise have limited communication with.
January 20th, 2008 at 12:28 amGo us for loving to run! :) Sometimes I find it difficult to understand why people hate running. I mean, you can stay happy and healthy and toned. It’s why I loved track season so much. Unfortunately, I can’t do track anymore because I’m too busy, and I can’t just randomly run outside on my own, but I still have tennis, and pretty much any sport releases endorphins.
January 20th, 2008 at 10:58 pmHaving just started on a running/exercise kind of regime myself, I can safely say I liked the post-run feeling. Exhilarating; hadn’t felt it since cross-country marathon practice back in primary school.
I’d like to say you get the same feeling after dance practice, but mostly it’s just exhaustion but feeling extremely productive. :P
January 21st, 2008 at 5:20 amChanel, when I saw this entry my heart started to flutter in my chest.
You have no idea how terrible it was to not run for the past month or so while I was in Nova Scotia, it was hell. I went for my first run in a little over a month last week and I was so worried that I would kind of be back to where I started but I picked up right where I left off, it felt so good.
And also - I’ve been talking to Greg about running alot lately (you and him are my only friends that run!) because I get so giddy over it and we are nerds and talk about cramps and how to alleviate them. And I told him about the first time I ran my longest time, it was so amazing. I had *finally* hit the three minute mark for running, which was a struggle getting there considering I couldn’t do 60 seconds when I first started. And anyways, one day I was at the three minute mark and I just decided not to stop even though I had a terrible rib cramp and I felt ready to collapse - but the oddest thing happens when you finally push yourself past that point, the cramp goes away and you don’t die. And once you push yourself past that one point you have no reason to stop. The first day I pushed myself past the 3 minutes I ended up running 9 minutes.
So right now I’m at about ten minutes, but am thinking I should soon probably push past that point - I think I get too comfortable with my times and then I stop just because that’s what I usually do. I’m pretty happy though with how far I’ve come since September.
January 23rd, 2008 at 1:00 am