i hate running. i have never enjoyed the burning in my lungs, the jolting of my joints, and the achingly repetitive motion. but saturday morning i rallied some motivation from my inner depths, and i ran. i biked one mile for a quick warm-up, ran six miles, and biked one mile home to cool-down.
much to my dismay, i had fun. the sun was out, the trail was busy, birds were chirping... it was beautiful. and i think i've learned that i never liked running, not because of the physical stress, but because i was bored. my lungs didn't burn that bad, and my joints were fine... and i felt great for the rest of the day. was it the fresh air? or the vitamin d? or the endorphins?!
endorphins are endogenous morphine. or, literally, "morphine produced naturally in the body." except that there is no chance of addiction or dependence!
who wouldn't want an endorphin rush?!
endorphins are produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus during exercise, excitement, pain, consumption of spicy food, love and orgasm. they resemble opiates in their abilities to produce analgesia and a feeling of well-being. and we can all trigger endorphin release. we can participate in strenuous exercise, meditate, receive acupuncture or massage therapy, or make babies! seriously, sex is a potent trigger for endorphin release and placental tissue, formed during pregnancy, excretes beta-endorphins into the maternal body system from the third month of pregnancy.
whether it was the beautiful day or the endorphins, i was inspired. i ran again this morning and enjoyed myself, again. have i found a new hobby?
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