Welcome to Wednesday Word, a weekly linkup for everyone, not just health and fitness bloggers. Each Wednesday you will have a single word prompt to write about. Let your imagination run free and share with your readers your interpretation of that word, or simply use it as inspiration for your post. Today’s word is endorphins… I’d love to have you link up, and if you do, please remember to follow my six simple rules.
Endorphins
Any of a group of endogenous peptides found
especially in the brain that bind chiefly to opiate receptors
and produce some pharmacological effects (as pain relief)
like those of opiates
~ Merriam-Webster
Runner’s High
A feeling of euphoria that is experienced by some individuals
engaged in strenuous running and that is held to be associated
with a release of endorphins by the brain
~ Merriam-Webster
Why do we run?
Do we run to burn calories?
Do we run to socialize with friends?
Or do we run to get that little boost from endorphins?
I don’t know about you, but running for my endorphin boost is a huge reason I love to run.
Running ⇒ the Release of Endorphins ⇒ Euphoria
I’ll set the stage…
It’s early, 4:30 to be exact, and it’s dark outside. When my alarm goes off and my feet hit the cold hardwood floor, it’s hard to get excited about venturing out to meet my friends for a run, but I do it. I do it because I know that my body needs it, my brain craves it, and if I’m lucky and push just hard enough, I’ll be treated to euphoria producing endorphins to get me through the day – a day where I just might get twice as much accomplished compared to a day I sleep in.
Here’s to an endorphin rich day for you, too. All you have to do is get out and run!
When have endorphins played a role in your life?
Grab My Button!
Next Wednesday’s Word: Organize
Those are all respasons I run!
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…Runner’s High? Thank Your Endorphins
And all excellent reasons!
I never believed the “Runner’s High” was real…until I trained for my first 20K and did my first-ever 10-mile training run. Wowzers. It’s real! I walked around with a silly (probably stupid-looking) smile on my face for at least a week after my 12-hour ultra back in July LOL
Kimberly Hatting recently posted…Route 66 Marathon….my toughest race ever
Weren’t you just so pleasantly surprised when you learned that you really can get a runner’s high? I think I’ve had that same “stupid-looking-smile” on my face after an especially great run, too! 😀
I pretty much run for the endorphins. I would say I have an addictive personality–I’ve chosen the healthy pursuit of the high!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Running: The Healthy Addiction
Agreed – a healthy pursuit of a high is the way to go!
I feel that high on a good cool day! I’ve really only had one good rush since it cooled off this year, but even when I don’t feel the rush, I still usually feel better 🙂
I am almost alone running, so I run to stay try to stay fit and adjust my mood lol
Karen recently posted…My Racing Month
Running during those first cool days of fall after a hot summer definitely make me feel stronger and add to my endorphin boast!
I never thought about running for the endorphins but I do like the way I feel afterwards (even after a crappy run)!
That’s even better – a reward when you least expect it! 🙂