Jonathon | 21st Oct 16

I can relate to that feeling of saying no to races when emotionally you want to but logically its probably a better idea to say no. Been there many times this year and other years. I think the term “runners high” often refers to the production of endorphins chemicals in the brain, which results a state of mental happiness. This is achieved whenever we exercise at sufficient intensity for long enough and is something that can be done in 5-10 minutes. Obviously for the marathoner there would be very high levels of endorphins, and, the brain and body tends to mask the significant amounts of pain and damage caused in the marathon (or long runs) for a few hours to assist recovery, before DOMS sets in. However there is an emotional response (probably is associated with high levelsof adrenaline and endorphins as well) that I would call “being in the zone” when everything seems to be functioning well at a very high intensity and you are performing with a very high degree of natural alertness. At these rare times,that usually only come a few times per year, I have felt like I am performing at or very near the absolute best I possibly can at that time, and am very highly focused on the task. I have also experienced moments of extreme emotional happiness and satisfaction which I think is a cumbinationof the chemicals in the brain, emotional responses to achieving a goal successfully, and emotions associated with relief and satisfaction at achieving something longed for and aimed for for many months or years. Often the cheering of the crowd, or the spectacle of the finishing gantry, the words of the announcer,achieving agoal time,or a podium position, (or for me just getting to the finishline at UTA50 or my first six foot,ormy first 6 inch) were reasons enough for me to reach an extreme state of happiness,senseof fulfullment. At work I sometimes feellike I am “in the zone” when I answer a phonecall well and everything goes smoothly,and without a doubt when I was working as a courier driver when I was driving flat out within the laws on an express job,and finding my way through heavy traffic at express speed,I often felt strong emotions of being at one with my car, and almost like me and the car were one unit, working together with precision and lightning reflexes and responses,with precise and rapid response to surrounding traffic and road requirements. Again on these rare occasions when I was taking on an extreme challenge and achieving it against the odds I felt like I “was in the zone”. I feel very similiar when attacking hard on a difficult steep downhill single-track,or when I PBed in the Melbourne Marathon I felt like I was almost jumping into the finishline in sheer happiness (photos show me completely airborne at the end). Similiar at Six Foot and UTA. At the start of Melbourne 2011for TeamWA and running with Yuki in the C2S as well was same, and probably running ahead of Busi in the Perth Marathon for 400m (before he ran 2.24/2.25), even running with Todd and Chris at the start of the Perth one year. So I think in running at a high level there are many times where the opportunity to experience extreme special happy emotions are there,and there are some rare psychological states reached. However I think the term “runners high” generally just refers to the basic endorphins accumulation which you can get running for 5-10min or going to the gym for a few min… But I’m splitting hairs at the very least…