Endorphins... oh how I love thee

I am sure most have heard the word, and many have felt the effect of them, but some have no idea where these little magical feelings come from.

..Well, they come from deep inside your body and can affect your behavior in a multitude of ways, both on the run and after.

Let's first start by defining these weird impulses of emotion. According to Wikipedia, endorphins are endogenous opioid polypeptide compounds. While this may sound like gibberish, let me explain it in better terms.

Endorphins are a chemical reaction that happens when you exercise. Other instances could include, excitement, pain, consumption of spicy food, and orgasm. They are produced by the pituitary gland (located at the base of the brain, and roughly the size of a pea) and the hypothalamus. They resemble the drug narcotics in their abilities to produce a painkiller and the feeling of well-being. Endorphins can be easily thought of as 'natural pain relievers'.

So you may ask..well now I know what they are, but how do they happen. So..let's say you are running and you have gotten to your third mile. On your walk home, a sense of exhilaration and happiness overcomes you. Now what? When a nerve impulse (such as pain) reaches the spinal cord, our friend, Mr. Endorphin is released to help prevent other nerve cells from releasing more pain signals; blocking the negative feeling of pain with its counterpart, pleasure.

Saturday afternoon, my friend Kendall and I went for a run outside in the warm sun. Coming back home, we discussed the phenomenon about endorphins and the reasons we both love working out. I mentioned the high I get after each run and the great feeling I exude onto others from it. She mentioned how she never really feels the endorphins and wondered if it was based on each individual and/or the activity.

The first thing I do when I get home from a long run is consume lots of food. I am both starving and depleted of electrolytes, so I reach for certain food groups to satisfy my need. As well as hunger, I am overly emotional and happy. Usually giving big hugs and inspirational pep-talks to those around me that I love. I find myself having a high on life and being uncontrollably positive. Sometimes, I love the feeling so much, I can't wait till the next run that I go on.

So if you are one of the many out there that don't feel the happiness running through your veins, do not fear! You are not alone.

Endorphins can actually vary among individuals. Even if two people take part in the same amount of exercise and suffer the same amount of pain, they are necessarily going to produce the same level of endorphins. Certain foods, such as chocolate or spicy foods, can also change the amount of endorphins secreted into ones system. This gives chocolate lovers a whole new meaning!

Not only can endorphins give you the joy of getting back out on the track, but they can provide that extra boost while working up to your goal. So get dressed for your run, pump up the music, and feel the high of those legal drugs.

run-sarah-run!