Some comments on the runner's high
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2010-03-05


I had some of them in the last years. Here, I want to identify some influences
that I think caused the runner's highs I had.


First, there is not *the* runner's high. It's like there is not *the* orgasm.
It can appear in different shape and intensity.


Most intensive was it in early summer after the first few weeks of training, at
the point when you realy realize your improvements. In the first weeks of training
it is just hard, after several month, it is nothing special anymore. Inbetween
is the time when I had best chances for runner's highs.

However, there were seasons when I haven't had a real one. Sometimes you just
know that is was almost one. I don't care.

I haven't had one in a tournament and I think it's unlikely for me to get one
in one. Running can become very easy -- light -- in a tournament or during a
long training run, but this is not what a runner's high is, IMO.

The perfect situation to get a runner's high (for me):
- a not too long training run (but at least 45min long)
- you know the track very good and know where you finish
- the last kilometers have good ground
- they are plain or slightly downwards
- wind is missing or from behind
- you had a quite good run
- you constantly pushed yourself to the limit
- you know, you have the largest part already done
- you have power left, and you want to spend it now
- you tell yourself how good you are (all them time! That's very important.)
- you ``know'' your power will last till the finish
- you make yourself speed up a bit every few hundret meters
- you tell yourself how good you are
- you feel you still have a lot of power
- you can speed up
- you are a great guy
- you are powerful
- you can speed up
- your power will last
- you still speed up
- the track is great
- that is a great run
- you know, you still can go faster
- you go faster
- today you'll be even better than last time
- yes, you can still go faster
- you make yourself to go faster

... that's how you likely get a runner's high.


In my eyes, there is nothing magic about it. You need a good track, good weather,
a free mind, and, most important, you need to push yourself to the limit --
constantly.

Because I need the knowing that my power will last till the finish, I only had
runner's highs in the last kilometers ... especially on the last kilometer.

This of course depends on your personality. I much fear having to give up on the
last kilometers, thus can only really speed up when I know I will make it. You
may have different enablers to a runner's high.


And how do you know that you have one? At first, don't think about it while you
run! Just tell you that you are a great boy, and to speed up.

You'll feel that your running becomes only limited by the speed you legs go
forth and back, the length of your steps. You do not feel your muscles anymore,
the just do their work. Your breath is sufficient (thus you need enough trainig
before). You are happy, and running is great.

But the main point I recognized is that when I cross my finish line, my legs
just run further. They do not stop on theirself. One or two hundred meters farther
they still want to run, and I have to tell them to walk, but even then, they still
try to run.

That's when I had a runner's high. :-)