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Sunday, January 6, 2013

Runner's High

I've been running for only 3-4 yrs. I have heard about this runner's high thing forever. But I can honestly say that I have never really felt it. Sure I love running and I have enjoyed most of my runs. I have had some great runs, even some great races. But I can truly say that I have never experienced that runner's high......

...... that is, until today.

Truth be told that for the past couple weeks, I have been having some real crappy runs. For example:

From Dailymile


My knees have been achy and I haven't been able to get back in the grove. For every mile run, I have been stopping to walk a couple of minutes. A simple 4 mile run had become a pain in the ass..... I have been hating my runs lately. I have been hating running, period!!

Training schedule called for an 11 miler today. It's been on my mind all week. If I can't run a simple 4 miler, how was I going to pull out 11 today? I was dreading it. So this morning I woke up, got dressed, had a sip of coffee, and headed out the door before I could even think about it.....

Similar to my last couple runs, after mile one I had to stop to walk for a bit. I did some stretches and continued on. My knees ached but I had to talk myself threw the pain to continue on. I had to remind myself that Boston was around the corner and that the dream of finishing was the goal. I charged on.

I was running an out and back. At the half way point I was feeling pretty good. I had only stopped once so I was pretty happy. Somewhere at about mile 6 or 7 something weird happened. I was no longer running.....  I mean physically I was, but I was lost deep in my head somewhere. I was sitting at my kitchen table having dinner with the family. I was sitting in my parlor watching TV. I was at the softball field pitching fastballs to my daughter. I was everywhere else but on the streets running. I was in a state of bliss,.... or euphoria, if you will. My body was on auto pilot and my brain had checked out.

It wasn't 'til about mile 10, when I was approaching Main St (and traffic), that I came to my senses. It was weird. I didn't remember the last couple miles. I remember thinking to myself "what just happened?"... It was a similar feeling like waking up from a good dream and then trying to fall asleep again so you can continue with that dream. But as we all know, that just doesn't happen. I spent the last mile trying to get back in to that bliss. I wanted that feeling back. I wanted that "high" back.

I must of had some lingering effects of the high when I walk into my house because even my wife asked if I was OK. She thought that I was hurt or something. Far from it. I haven't felt this good in a long time. I have been doubting myself these past couple weeks. I really struggled with my runs. But after today's run those doubts have been washed away. I feel reborn. I'm ready to give it my all.

I needed a run like today's!!!

-

Now here I sit. Icing both my knees. Achy, but feeling really good about tomorrow.
April 15th can't come soon enough!!





5 comments:

Char said...

This is exactly why we become addicted. One case of the runner's high and you're as addicted as if you'd had one taste of crack or crystal meth.

Bill Fine said...

great recap, Jose......I haven't had one of "those" runs in a while myself, but I look forward to the next one!

Anonymous said...

More highs to come!

Michelle said...

It's a great feeling when it happens! Wishing you many more :)

Kenley said...

They say, to get to the great runs, you have to go through some pretty crappy ones. Thanks for sharing your experience. I often get a high type feeling when I do tempo runs. Hang in there brother. I just wish that I can be in that many places at a time. lol.