JJSB's Log, Run Date: 15029 Yes, Running Can Make You High

So, yesterday, I had one more opportunity to run in a T-shirt and running shorts during the winter season in KC.  Even though I didn't get home from work until around 7:15 PM, it was still in the 60's and you just can't waste that.

WHAT A FABULOUS RUN!

It was one of those dark, evening runs during which my body was surging with endorphins.   By the way, that Runner's High thing?  It's REAL.  Here's an article that discusses a study in which they used PET scans on runners before and after a run and it showed that endorphins are definitely being produced during the run and are attaching themselves to the limbic and prefrontal areas of the brain which are associated with emotions.  Here is the link to the article:  Yes, Running Can Make You High

I was particularly struck by this paragraph, "The limbic and prefrontal areas, Dr. Boecker said, are activated when people are involved in romantic love affairs or, he said, "when you hear music that gives you a chill of euphoria, like Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3.". The greater the euphoria the runners reported, the more endorphins in their brain."

This, of course, leads me to the "Song of the Run.  Referring back to the article, it doesn't surprise me at all that, as I ran listening to this song, I experienced the height of the endorphin rush.  I remember when Arcade Fire's release Funeral came out way back in 2005 and this was my favorite song off that album for the longest time.

Neighborhood #2 (Laika):

"Come on, Alex.  You can do it!

Come on, Alex.  There's nothing to it!

If you want something, don't ask for nothing!

If you want nothing, don't ask for something!"

Last Warm January Run

JJSB's Log, Run Date: 15024 Debased but not Destroyed

So, it's been over a month since my last post.  Maybe because that's because I haven't been running much.  The last time I ran (prior to today) was exactly two Saturdays ago on January 10th.  I ran 6 miles that day which was the longest I had run since November.  I had plans to start my winter running plan the following Monday, but certain events all kind of ganged up on me all at once and knocked me for a loop.  I had no ambition to run for a while, despite the fact that there were a number of fairly warm days for January in Kansas City.  We're talking in the 50's.  I think it even reached 60° on one or two of those days.  In the back of my mind, I was thinking about how I was wasting great running weather days but still, I couldn't find any motivation to get out there and run.  Or to do much else for that matter. Well, it's gotten a bit better and I knew that today could very well be my last chance to run in shorts and a T-shirt this January.  It was near 60° today, sunny, and Saturday so I pushed myself out the door and went on a 2.5 mile run.  Kind of short for me but I ran a fairly quick pace the first mile or so (around 8.5 min/mi) and I felt like it was good for me.  Sometimes I post a "Song of the Run" on Facebook, but I deactivated my Facebook account temporarily so I can't post it there.  I figured that I might as well post it here although few will even see it.  I suppose if nothing else, it will be a private record for me to look back on,

At any rate, there were two songs that I enjoyed immensely today.  One by Concrete Blonde and the other by The Pixies.  The Concrete Blonde song is "Caroline" which I just have always loved the whole feel of.  The Pixies song is "Debaser" and because I feel like the events of the past few months have somewhat "debased" me, that's my pick today for "Song of the Run."  And hey, why not post a live version of the song since it's a fabulous video?  Until next time, get out there and run fellow earthlings!  Peace.