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Homing in on the Source of Runner’s High

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Re: Homing in on the Source of Runner’s High

#3
I have never experienced it. Even when I was very physically fit (I was a martial arts instructor in college), I never got any pleasurable sort of feeling from working out. I enjoyed the activity itself, but the end result was always exhaustion and a vaguely nauseous feeling.

Considering other things that are supposed to make you feel "high, aka good" (like the Vicodin I had been prescribed when I got my wisdom teeth forcibly removed from my skull) also only seem to make me feel generally nauseous, I'm guessing this is just me in general.

Re: Homing in on the Source of Runner’s High

#4

I have never experienced it. Even when I was very physically fit (I was a martial arts instructor in college), I never got any pleasurable sort of feeling from working out. I enjoyed the activity itself, but the end result was always exhaustion and a vaguely nauseous feeling. Considering other things that are supposed to make you feel "high, aka good" (like the Vicodin I had been prescribed when I got my wisdom teeth…

I have only experienced it once in my life, so I consider people who feel it regularly to be pretty lucky. I would love to have more motivation and reward in exercise. As it stands exercise is a tedious chore for me.

Re: Homing in on the Source of Runner’s High

#5

When withdrawing from weed I found one of the only effective substitutes is exercise, really makes me feel the same way.

How much did you smoke when you decided to cut it?

I find the extra creativity, and sometimes vastly different viewpoint on many matters in life (probably all of them) is invaluable. Another thing is (in some circumstances) almost constant stream of out-of-blue ideas, solutions to situations/problems etc coming from subconsciousness. In life as usual, these are much more scarce. Some of best ideas/decisions in my life came from those places, often Inception style (you get some basic idea, and explore more and more after it).

This fades away significantly if I smoke often and comes back in full strength when having a week or two breaks in between.

working out feels great, the harder the better (well till certain breaking point), but mentally those states are worlds apart, something around clarity vs expanded consiousness.

If I could cut the smoking part (don't smoke cigarettes/tobacco since that's a net lose for consumer on many levels), and have something like eye drops that would be something.

Re: Homing in on the Source of Runner’s High

#6

When withdrawing from weed I found one of the only effective substitutes is exercise, really makes me feel the same way.

How much did you smoke when you decided to cut it? I find the extra creativity, and sometimes vastly different viewpoint on many matters in life (probably all of them) is invaluable. Another thing is (in some circumstances) almost constant stream of out-of-blue ideas, solutions to situations/problems etc coming from subconsciousness. In life as usual, these are much more scarce. Some of best ideas/decisions in my lif…

I still do, and vaporize a lot(Magic Flight Launch Box FTW). Too much probably but it's at least not that harmful! Pretty much daily/all the time. I agree with all your points.

Re: Homing in on the Source of Runner’s High

#7

I have never experienced it. Even when I was very physically fit (I was a martial arts instructor in college), I never got any pleasurable sort of feeling from working out. I enjoyed the activity itself, but the end result was always exhaustion and a vaguely nauseous feeling. Considering other things that are supposed to make you feel "high, aka good" (like the Vicodin I had been prescribed when I got my wisdom teeth…

That's unfortunate! I find you have to run pretty hard for it to occur, and it doesn't always happen, but I get it. It's a subtle effect. I think one of the most reliable ways to get this feeling is to hike up a mountain, then take off your backpack and lie down. :-)

Re: Homing in on the Source of Runner’s High

#8

I have never experienced it. Even when I was very physically fit (I was a martial arts instructor in college), I never got any pleasurable sort of feeling from working out. I enjoyed the activity itself, but the end result was always exhaustion and a vaguely nauseous feeling. Considering other things that are supposed to make you feel "high, aka good" (like the Vicodin I had been prescribed when I got my wisdom teeth…

I have only experienced it once in my life, so I consider people who feel it regularly to be pretty lucky. I would love to have more motivation and reward in exercise. As it stands exercise is a tedious chore for me.

My thought process during running:

Oh great, let's stare at the ground for the next hour. Let's trod the same ground, day after day. Yep, that pile of cigarette butts is still there. Oh look, the street cleaning crew missed that weird children's doll in the gutter again. This is so much fun. Let's do this for the rest of our lives.

Re: Homing in on the Source of Runner’s High

#9

I have never experienced it. Even when I was very physically fit (I was a martial arts instructor in college), I never got any pleasurable sort of feeling from working out. I enjoyed the activity itself, but the end result was always exhaustion and a vaguely nauseous feeling. Considering other things that are supposed to make you feel "high, aka good" (like the Vicodin I had been prescribed when I got my wisdom teeth…

I do quite a bit of running, some lifting and I've never personally experienced this with either. However, I also do a lot of mountain biking and experience this during and after each ride. As best I can describe it, it really becomes of a sense of "flow" and you feel connected to what you are doing while a wave of good feelings hits you. The only similar expression of this that I've been able to come across is how surfers often describe their feelings after catching a good wave.

Re: Homing in on the Source of Runner’s High

#10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have only experienced it once in my life, so I consider people who feel it regularly to be pretty lucky. I would love to have more motivation and reward in exercise. As it stands exercise is a tedious chore for me.

My thought process during running: Oh great, let's stare at the ground for the next hour. Let's trod the same ground, day after day. Yep, that pile of cigarette butts is still there. Oh look, the street cleaning crew missed that weird children's doll in the gutter again. This is so much fun. Let's do this for the rest of our lives.

That sounds like you're using some disgusting city block as a treadmill. Check out Trailporn for some alternative venues: http://www.trailporn.com/
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