Cannabinoids and Endorphins

What to do when science and experience don’t mesh? 

I’ve always been one to read the directions last and  to go by instinct and feel first. I hate instructions with things like skiing and golf.  I’d rather “be the ball, Danny, be the ball”  (Caddyshack,) and don’t trust anything I read and only half of what I see.

So when a study cites evidence that the best running buzz is a fairly slow cruiser rather than an intense, vigorous run,  I have to question it.

In a‘sweat-science’ article of runners world, a study measures traces of cannabinoids in runners' blood stream during various intensities of running.  It concluded that the biggest runner's high is gained in a medium intensity run, that is, "a level ‘2 out of a 4" run on the intensity scale,  rather than the levels 1, 3, or 4 which showed cannabinoid traces which were significantly lower.  In other words “walking and sprinting don't cut it for runner's high." 

I wasn’t chosen for the study (I was busy) but my own personal experience and experiment is that my Runners High is the greatest when I’m chasing the dragon either running my fastest or my longest.  A good set of intervals, a tempo run, or the miles between 10 and 20 when I”m hitting a marathon-pace are when I get my biggest thrill.  And I would say this would be a level 3 or Level 4 intensity run.

Here's an excerpt:

So the basic conclusion (subject to various caveats, including the fact that they measured endocannabinoid levels in the blood not the brain) is that walking and sprinting don't cut it for runner's high: it's only a certain range of medium intensities that hits the sweet spot. One thing worth bearing in mind: there's pretty solid evidence that other factors like endorphins also contribute to what we think of as runner's high -- and they don't necessarily follow the same pattern. It may be, for example, that endocannabinoids dominate at low-to-medium intensities and endorphins dominate at medium-to-high intensities.

Here is a link to the full article.

So why am I experiencing different results?  All I can think of is that my pleasure center’s circuitry has been ‘blown-out’ since it has been bombarded by a barrage of chemicals, and that it has now mutated into something strange. How else to explain my bizarre ipod playlist, fascination with odd, dark shows yet affinity for the most Venus of chick flicks.

The article does refer to the possibility that there is other substances, endorphins, which dominate the level 3 and 4 intensity running levels that weren't measured in the study,  since they were focused on cannabinoid levels which (perhaps) dominate at the low to medium intensity levels. 

This is an example where the study may mean something for me.

Meaning, as far as getting a runners high off of the cannabinoids of level 2 intensity:  I never ever did really like pot (a cannabinoid) anyway, which could even explain why I can get a little bored with the intensity two level.  (No evidence of paranoia or the munchies going on during these runs, but I did have the urge to pay hackey-sack and frisbee football.)

Side note: this is not a statement regarding what intensity levels are best to train at, since I’m thinking a dose of all levels is needed, but rather, at what levels do we get that out-of-body, surge of energy, elated sense of well-being  that comes from a blissful run.

More studies please. Keep em coming. They say that if science does not match up with an “old wives tale” (pardon the expression) then you better check the science.

I bet more studies will show that higher intensity runs develop chemicals that as of yet are undetected and undiscovered.  But rest assured, that some day Big Pharmacy will discover them, learn how to replicate them, and  soon there will be drug companies trying to bottle the stuff. Next step is to get the medical industry to develop a “condition” for this new drug to treat, and then the drug can be marketed hard and heavy.  We’ll soon be watching commercials:

“Suffering from Endorphin Dysfunction?”  
Try Run-Agra.
Ask your doctor. 

"Warning: side effects may include marathons lasting longer than

than four hours."

The Jade Rabbit on Amazon

STRAY on Amazon

Nike or Saucony? And A Guarantee To Burn Up That Last Quarter Mile

One month to the minute until the New York City Marathon, just about, and I'm trying to decide what shoes to wear. My trusty Nike Pegasus, or my minimalist starter-shoe, Saucony Kinvara's? 
 

I bought the Kinvara's in July, and they are oh so so so sweet. 'Comets,' Greg from Predawn Runner calls them. Putting them on is like grabbing a tiny pair of wings and strapping them to my feet. I wore them for intervals, for a half marathon, for a 16 mile long run and I swear they take 10 seconds off each mile with the same perceived effort.

But I've only ran maybe 20-30% of my total mileage in them. New muscles need to adjust, form needs to be worked on, and even though I am running in them, ready to face it, I'm feeling like  Luke ready to face the evils of Darth Vader, saying "I'm not afraid, not afraid..." and Yoda always seems to appear to me and says.....

Yes, the words of Yoda and the feedback I have received from those with wisdom greater than mine is that when you tire, your form will fall apart and your legs will get hammered and my historical calf problems will crack. This is from shoe store folks, faster marathoners, and googling message boards. Unless I'm running some sort of sub 3 hour time, to be on my feet that long with these tiny little beauties is not too smart.

Yes, like Icarus who also enjoyed his wings but got a bit too bold, flew too close to the sun, and had the wax melt and he fell to his doom, I imagined myself with the same fate in the last 6.2 miles with this tiny pieces of cardboard strapped to my feet and wasted legs and crushed spirit, and hearing the voices of those wiser than me saying "I told you so..."

So, I did buy the new Nike Pegasus 29's, and the only difference I notice in this new version is they are much more flexible out of the box, and they are even 'mushier'. "Mush, mush, mush" it feels like to run in them, compared to the saucony's, which feels like I'm running on one of those airport moving-walkways, cruising way faster than I can even believe and with a silly smirky grin. 

Here they are. Easily the Ugliest shoe you've ever seen.

Compare these to the flashy exciting brilliance of these pair of wings.

So, there I was, stuck in the middle.

In the end, I want to choose comfort and safety in those last miles, and let my legs do the work and not the pair of wings.

Besides, I have developed a whole new secret strategy.  Proven to work. My secret, given to you for free.  Simply put this song at the end of your playlist, and  any pair of shoes will become...

"Systematic,

.       Hydromatic

                Utlramatic....

                   

    And they will "burn up that quarter mile" to the finish.

The Jade Rabbit on Amazon

STRAY on Amazon

Patience. Patience. There's Plenty Of Time To Run Faster Later

Patience.  The essential ingredient to bake up anything important.

I needed it recently waiting for a sinus infection to fully pass, that I knew was coming, and in fact, once it started to attack, I basically yelled “bring it on” as I ran a 20 miler during its onset, realizing I”d be sideline afterwards. But, at least it would be with a 20 miler under my belt and what better time to get leg rest. 

Still, I had to wait while the 750 MG of Amoxicillin went to war on the infection. It triumphed as always, but there was collateral damage. My stomach lining felt like it was bleeding, even on runs, and (to quote The White Stripes)  “The stains coming from my blood said go back home.”  But I ran through, cause I was patient with the pain and discomfort that I knew would pass.

Patience – today I’m  waiting for Running Fit to open to see if my shoes are in. The Nike Pegasus 29 were released in July, and I visited the store on Friday. They didn’t have my size, so they had to be shipped from another store.  They said Monday, and in all my patience I hope to be at the store three minutes after they arrive.

Patience, in a way, is key to running an effective marathon.

When the race starts, the excitement of being in the chute with thousands of runners, listening to the anthem, weeks of marathoning mojo building in your legs after a three week taper.  Everything in you wants to tap into that sweet source and whhhoooosshhh through the first miles, which are so soft, swift, and easy. (It’s like butter.)  Yes you have to  wait and wait and preserve energy and hold off on the speed, running the first ten to 13 miles with your head. The urge is to push push push with the runners flying by you, a bunch of Wraskly Wabbits, but you have to let them go. Run your own race.  Be patience.  Many of these rabbits you’ll pick off at the end if you run it right.  The walked wounded will be waiting for you while you slowly build up to your Beast Mode.  Beast Mode at mile 14 is a whole different delicious buzz than is the 1^st mile rush. And you'll eat those rabbits, lick your chops, and finish in beast mode rather than zombie mode.

“There’s plenty of time to run faster later. Plenty of time to run faster later” I tell myself this always in the beginning of marathon to slow myself during the first miles. Sometimes I even listen.

Patience is waiting for a rough spot to pass during the latter miles, telling yourself that just because you feel terrible at a given moment that you’ll run through it, that the nag or pain in your leg may fade, that the Gu may kick in, that seeing your family cheering for you will make everything seem fresh and new again, the air ahead is filled with greater oxygen, seeing another mile marker pass may give you new energy, that this wave of hurt will pass but you have to face it, to endure the momentary pain knowing that you'll rise above.

Muhammad Ali called it “Rope-A-Dope”- hanging on while you were getting pummeled because you would soon fight back with force.

 Or, to quote The Verve (who are they?) 

“Tie yourself to the Mast my friend, and the Storm will end.” 

Or, you “Hold On” just like Wilson Phillips and those Bridesmaids:

“I know that there is pain. But you hold on for one more day and
Break free the chains.”

(Yes, I’m trying to be funny. I see that smirk.)

 Patience is waiting in line for an hour for a roller coaster, which seems tremendously long yet when you finally get to strap yourself in, ride the ride and get off with that childhood glow, you fully forgot the long, slow line but only remember the ride.

Patience for runners comes in all sorts of forms – waiting for an injury to heal, waiting to get faster, waiting to recover.

But, I’m thinking,  is patience the right word.? I’m using Patience in the sense of enduring things, just waiting things out, tolerating, fighting through time until something we really want is going to happen on the other side.  This seems not right since it takes one out of the moment, like it’s the next moments that really matter, and right now doesn’t.

If patience is being at peace and in peace in the moment, whatever that is, I do get that but in fleeting and choppy bits. But if patience is able to endure most anything in order to find some redemption in the suffering? Well, that’s something I take in heavy doses. 

I’m gonna have to leave it at that and be patient and wait for the answer to come to me. “The less I seek my source for some definitive- The closer I am to fine.”

 Off to the shoe store.

The Jade Rabbit on Amazon

STRAY on Amazon