The Runner's High - Redefined

Our customers and program participants often ask me, “When do I experience the runner’s high?”
Ah… the elusive runner’s high. AKA: The promise of a somewhat euphoric experience that is supposedly achieved through distance running.
The truth: Despite the promises of Runner’s World magazine and movies like Chariots of Fire, the runner’s high is not really a common experience.
The really true truth: Running isn’t always easy, and the runner’s high is a sort of rare treat.
After 17+ years of distance running I can specifically remember the number of long runs that I can confidently say were fueled by the runner’s high. On that handful of days my legs seem to lift effortlessly, my lungs seemed super-human, and there weren’t enough miles to accommodate my desire to run, run, and run some more.
But seriously – over the course of 17 years – just a handful of runs fit into that category of special, effortless, and euphoric. Hmmm….
So why do I keep running?
Because I have re-defined the runner’s high.
For me, this is how I define the runner’s high: (All of you crazy runners can add to this list!)
The Runner’s High Is:

• Standing around the water cooler at work talking about your morning and casually tossing in the statement “yeah… I got out for my easy 8 miles this morning… just before the sun came up.”

• Knowing that no matter what kind of craziness might happen in your day you have 20, 30, or 60 minutes that you have given to yourself to get your heart pumping and your legs moving.

• Really noticing the homes and people in the neighborhoods that you quickly drive through on a regular basis by traveling them on foot.

• Inhaling fresh air and appreciating the seasons when you battle the elements of the weather on the run.

• Finish a hot summer run and wondering how in the world you have sweat so so much… and feeling clean like you had a shower from the inside out!

• Feeling strong enough to help a family member or friend get through a tough run and knowing that your encouragement made a difference.

• Sitting through a less than thrilling business meeting, class, or family function and knowing that you – thankfully – already got in your run for the day and no matter how annoyed you might get, NO ONE can take that away.

• Running in the rain, the snow, the wind, the dark, the extreme heat, the extreme cold… and feeling like a rockstar because you know somewhere there is someone who is trying to decide if he or she is going to lace up their shoes for the day.

So add to the list… what is your runner’s high re-defined?

Happy Running Folks – Coach S Batt