The Runner's High A Gateway to the Running Addiction

I had always heard about the ‘runner’s high.’  It is that point in a run when the adrenaline takes over and the endorphins give you a feeling that is hard to describe.  That feeling is what keeps a lot of runners going.  I know that after the first time I felt that rush I became addicted to running.  It was the hunger for that rush that kept me going through injuries, it still does. 

For me it usually happens on a slower run about 7-8 miles in, during a faster run I might get the runner’s high during Mile 3.  The reason I know this is because I am very aware of that feeling now when it comes upon me.  It is like someone flips on a ‘happy switch’ in my head.  Does the runner’s high give you that sort of feeling?  Are you able to notice when the endorphins kick in?

It is the runner’s high that much like any other drug leads to addiction.  Granted, a running addiction is far healthier than most other addictions, but it is one nonetheless.  I have been fortunate enough to not suffer a major injury in my running time.  That being said, I have had injuries which have forced me to the sidelines for a few weeks.  The running addiction really shows itself during that downtime, it’s like suffering from withdrawls. 

My most glaring example of the running addiction is the following story.  Last June I had a bad case of jumper’s knee, along with a sore Achilles in my opposite leg.  Common sense said to rest, the running addiction said to find a way around the pain.  I bought a brace specifically for the jumper’s knee which didn’t help.  Then I bought a regular knee brace to use along with an ankle brace which doubled as an Achilles brace.  I padded that with a sock on the inside, the brace, and a sock on the outside.  All I kept thinking was how Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling had the sutures put in to keep his ankle tendon in place during the 2004 World Series.  Obviously my injury was not that serious, but I was doing all sorts of odd remedies to speed up my recovery.

I would run slowly warming my legs up and slowly picking up speed just so I could feel that rush.  It was just so I could satisfy that addiction.  Part of me thinks that the addiction actually helps me heal faster because I am willing to do whatever it takes to get back to running full-time.  Do any of you find this to be true?  Do you enjoy that feeling of the runner’s high so much that it in a weird way helps you recover from injury faster?

I love that moment that I realize that the endorphins have kicked in.  I was running in Hull, Massachusetts, an hour from me on Cape Cod, last week and was able to pinpoint that moment.  It was just over 7 miles in and I was running back to the beginning of my 9.5 mile loop at Nantasket Beach when that ‘happy switch’ was turned on in my head.  I couldn’t stop smiling and enjoyed waving to a bunch of little kids playing at a playground too.  I often wish I could bottle that feeling.   

I am sure that every runner is different as far as how long it takes to get that feeling or whether you can pinpoint when it happens.  However I am pretty certain that it is the runner’s high that leads to the running addiction.  It is an addiction I don’t ever plan on getting help for!

The First Setback

After the CapeAbilities 5K in May I felt unstoppable.  I had gone from not running at all to running a fairly good time in a 5K within 6 weeks.  I wasn’t fooling myself about stepping up in race distances, but I was much more comfortable in my running skin.  That being said, two events combined to give me my first taste of setbacks that come with running.

The first event was after having several drinks one night I decided to sign up for the St. Peter’s Fiesta 5K held in Gloucester, Mass. near the end of June.  That was not really a big deal since I was already itching to run another race after my first.  Plus I love Gloucester, it has been my favorite place to visit since I began doing travel writing in January 2010.

The second event was what really caused a problem.  As of the First of June my longest run had been 10 miles.  That had come after gradually working up to it like I had read was the wisest way to train.  That was all well and good but then I discovered that June 1^st was National Running Day.  It is in my nature to be a little overzealous and I was on that day.

I mounted one of the treadmills at the gym in the back row with the intention of doing a 10 mile run.  Then I got a message from my friend Emily that she was not feeling well and was not going to be able to come and run on that day.  Well, seeing that she was my running mentor and the reason I even attempted my first real mile I decided to dedicate my National Running Day to her.  What did that mean?  It meant running a Half Marathon distance, 13.1 miles. Remember, I had only done 10 miles once, and was now planning on doing 13.1.  Yeah, nothing could go wrong, right?

I knew I was running a long distance when I actually had to reset the treadmill at one point since it only went up to 99 minutes.  My legs were growing tired but I felt I needed to run the full distance since I told Emily I would.  I pushed past my 10 mile high and kept going.  Finally after 2 hours and 12 minutes I completed 13.1 miles and proudly turned off the treadmill and sent Emily a message telling her what I had done.

One thing became apparent right away, struggling through the last few miles had taken its toll.  My muscles were so tight and sore, my only thought was to get home and get some ice and heat on them and see how they felt in the morning. 

Within a few days of my 13.1 I developed soreness in my left Achilles tendon and a sharp pain just below my right kneecap where patellar tendon connected to the tibia.  I found out later it’s called ‘jumpers knee.’  Remember I had signed up for a second race which was rapidly approaching.  When I admitted to Emily that I had become injured by running a half marathon distance to show off for her she was not too thrilled.

I was disappointed in my injuries but determined not to give up since I had already become so passionate about running after only 3 months.  What happened next were various trips to the store to buy ibuprofen, an ankle brace which would cover my Achilles as well, and a knee brace.  I would put on a sock, the ankle brace, and another sock on my left foot to keep the Achilles secure and minimize the pain.  I knew any damage to that particular spot was doom for a runner.

I tried my best to combine rest with shorter runs but it was not working.  Working in the restaurant business did not make resting feasible no matter how much I tried.  I was also afraid to do any sort of stretching especially in the Achilles.  The ‘jumper’s knee’ pain was on the outside of the bone and one day I figured out it was from landing wrong as I ran.  Walking with my feet pointed straight ahead was virtually painless.  However, once I took a step with my right foot facing outward slightly it became unbearable.  Even if 1 out of every 100 foot strikes happened with my landing in that fashion it still ended up being hundreds of times during an 8-10 mile run.  No wonder I got injured, I was not paying attention to my stride.  It reminded me just how far I still had to go.

I was in constant pain in both areas and was wondering if my race in Gloucester might be the last one.  I began to wonder if running was not meant to be.  I began to think of my own worries before I began running.  There was the worry about my left knee which I had hurt when living in Las Vegas in 2000.  While moving a 20 foot tall ladder in the back stockroom of a Target store the ladder closed up and slid toward me the bottom rung took out both of my knees.  I had periodically suffered through tendonitis in my left knee afterwards and always had believed that it was only a matter of time before one wrong step did me in while running.

I decided I would run the St. Peter’s Fiesta 5K as if it was my last and go from there.  My right knee and left Achilles would be hurting but I would not dream of quitting.  I hated the idea of wasting money.  So I would go and give it my best shot.

What were some of your first injuries?  How did they affect you mentally as well as physically?  Did any of you suffer similar injuries to me?  How long did they take to get better?  Did any of them become worse?