The Runner's High...it is real. Not psychedelic high like drug-induced highs. Endorphin high that washes away anxiety, stress, moodiness and replaces them with euphoria, calmness and a state of general well being. I generally can't go a day without running and not feel anxious...so to reduce the anxiety I go running. I love the Runner's High!
Most of my running is alone. Since I run early morning along city streets, I need to be aware of vehicles and traffic. When I run the trails, I like to hear the birds chirping. Sally who has recently started walking the Humber River Trail near our place says the same thing. She has already experienced the Walker's High!
I love music. Rock, Jazz and that wonderful combination of Jazz/Rock mastered by bands like The Dave Matthews Band are favourite genres. But even though I love music, I don't run to music. I don't like the earbuds at all and I carry my Samsung Galaxy Note Smartphone to take pictures and videos. But I do like running music...music that gets my foot tapping, my blood pumping...music that I have to play LOUD! Here are a few of my favourite 'Getting High' running songs:- "Running Back to Saskatoon", The Guess Who
- "Life is a Highway", Tom Cochrane and Red Rider
- "Two Step", Dave Matthews Band
- "Loose Yourself", Eminem
- "Walking on Sunshine", Katrina and the Waves
- "Echo Beach", Martha and the Muffins
- "Thunderstruck", AD/DC
- "Relax", Frankie Goes to Hollywood
- "Two Tribes", Frankie Goes to Hollywood
- "Desire, the Hollywood Mix", U2
- "Firestarter", The Prodigy
- "Running Down a Dream", Tom Petty
- "I Got a Feeling", Black Eyed Peas
- "Tubthumping", Chumbawumba
- "1999", Prince
- "Beat It", Michael Jackson
- "Ramble On", Led Zeppelin
- "Midnight Rambler", The Rolling Stones
- "Brick House", The Commodores
- "Last Dance", Donna Summer
I have been know to sing these songs out loud while running. Out of tune and flat for sure but sung with all the emotion and energy they inspire. And I'm pretty sure that after going through the above list at least one of them is currently playing in your head right now. You're welcome.
Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy
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I'm raising funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation in 2013. My goal is to raise $2,000 by December 31. My planned races in 2013 include:Please join me on Facebook at Run for Heart.
Every once in a while I stop running and take a few moments to take it all in. Last Sunday morning on my long slow distance run was one of those moments. I was near the end of my run anyway (about 1 mile from home). And with my Samsung Galaxy Note with me (shameless product plug) I caught a few pictures plus the video below.
I took this photo from the trail on the east side of the Humber River just south of the Dundas Street Bridge. For you history buffs, this is in an area originally called Lambton Mills and is about 2 miles north of Old Mill on Bloor Street. For most of this part of the trail it's really hard to remember that I'm in the heart of Etobicoke with busy streets nearby. And because I run very early in the morning, I generally have the trail all to myself. Later in the day it gets very busy with walkers, runners and cyclists all sharing the trail very courteously.
But the video below really does better justice to the almost complete separation of city and country possible by running the Humber Trail. I shot it at a small waterfall and the sound of the water rushing over the edge completely drowns out the sounds of the city. The illusion is complete!
Over the years I've enjoyed running in just about every location I've visited or lived. Most recently I enjoyed running along the beach in Wasaga Beach. But now back in Toronto, it's tough to beat the magnificence of running along the Humber River. It's enough to get me to stop long enough to take it all in!
Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy
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I'm raising funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation in 2013. My goal is to raise $2,000 by December 31. My planned races in 2013 include:Please join me on Facebook at Run for Heart.
I used to just go for a run. Then one day I decided to race. It's been a battle against time ever since.
That wasn't necessarily a bad thing when I was young and foolish. But now that I'm on my second half century it's become a bit more of a challenge. On two fronts actually. First, the work it takes to run faster and second the challenge to stay healthy and un-injured. So speedwork and hills.
On the speedwork front, I use the local high school dirt track. Prior to the recent hurricane level rain it was a lovely oval of hard-packed red clay. It's suffered some damage recently that I hope will be addressed before the new school season starts in September because it's really messed up my weekly speedwork sessions. Normally I head out from home at a faster-than-usual pace for the 1 mile distance to the track. Then I do a series of 'Repeats to Failure': sprinting the straights then walking/slowly jogging the curves to catch my breath. So far I'm up to about 6 laps of this torture (about 1 1/2 miles) before I'm spent. The really hard part is the slow 1 mile jog back home.
Whew!
Then there are the hill workouts!
Where we live there aren't too many real hills. We do have the descent/ascent down to the Humber River however and it's become my nemesis! It's a steep, narrow, uneven dirt path up the side of the ravine. It starts steep then gets really stupid for the last 5 metres. I know 5 metres doesn't sound like a lot but after my 3rd repeat my thighs are burning and my lungs are trying to do an 'Alien'! Again, I try to do these hill repeats only once every other week. These photos are of the trail but they really don't do justice to the steepness of the incline. You'll just have to trust me when I tell you that after my 5th repeat I've invented some new swear words to go along with the burning in my quads and searing in my lungs. The beauty here though is that it's a quick walk back home and the relief of a cold compress on my knee. Yeah, there's some pain but I've been looking after it carefully.
The big benefit of all this pain is that my regular runs have become fun again. While it may only be in my mind, I feel as if I'm running faster. For sure I'm running more comfortably with the mid-foot running style. We'll see how fast I really am this fall in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon where I'm running the 1/2 Marathon and again in Negril in Decemeber at Reggae Marathon where I'm running the 10K.
Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy
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I'm raising funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation in 2013. My goal is to raise $2,000 by December 31. My planned races in 2013 include:Please join me on Facebook at Run for Heart.
'Back in the day' "Beer Run" meant stopping at the Beer Store to pick up a 'Two-Four' of Molson Export or Labbatt Blue on the way to a friend's house for a late night get-together to watch Saturday Night Live. Ahhh...those were simpler times. No Smartphones...not even mobile phones...heck, 'Touch tone' phones had just made the mainstream; 28 TV Channels to choose one...couldn't find anything good to watch then either. And yes, we listened to LP Records but were super excited about the newest technology about to hit the market: Cassette Tapes! Oh, those were the days!
I digress...this is about a Beer Run that's happening in Kitchener, Ontario on Monday, October 14 (Thanksgiving Day) as part of the Thanksgiving Day Parade that is a part of the Oktoberfest Celebrations that get under way that weekend.
I love the idea of a Beer Run. At Reggae Marathon held on the first Saturday in December every year, it's possible to be drinking a cold Red Stripe Beer at 6 am in the morning after finishing the 10K race event. That sounds decadent I know but combined with the fresh cut coconut and and dash into the warm Caribbean Sea it's the best Post-Race Celebration I can think of. A cold beer after finishing the KW Oktoberfest Fun Run is a close second.
Click here for details on the KW Oktoberfest Fun Run. Personally I think that name is way too long and cumbersum...I'm going to stick with Beer Run.
Shoutout to all my Kitchener Waterloo friends: want to do this event?
Until next time...ThatRunninGuy
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I'm raising funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation in 2013. My goal is to raise $2,000 by December 31. My planned races in 2013 include:Please join me on Facebook at Run for Heart.
