Continuous exercise can produce short-term euphoria, an affective state associated with feelings of profound contentment, elation, and well-being, which is colloquially known as a “runner’s high” in distance running.
Maniac Newsletter cover
Lotta attention attributed to ‘runner’s high’, a naturally induced opioid-like euphoria. Long distance run junkies, the accusation.
My CEO refers to ‘earned energy‘ in his blog below. Lotta kind words (thanks Paul) but I tell ya: my high energy level wasn’t achieved overnight. It’s consistency – not weekend marathoning – which produces that addictive endorphin high.
‘earned energy’ [unlike drugs] is maintained in the body 10-12 hours, a full work day+. Steadiness, high productivity, even temperament & mega confidence spills over into ALL aspects of life – not limited to only the morning run.
My injury in April, blessing in disguise.
have seen much of Indiana thru the eyes of my running partner Carolyn
Broken down physically, went back to the run archives & re-started the process. Training. Knowing I’d struggle posting 3 weeks of consistent mileage, added an accountability partner (Carolyn) to keep me true to the process. Less than a week left in May, I’m on track to finish 200 miles – first time since 2014. FAAANNNTASTIC!
Don’t confuse the message though. It’s not the # of miles; it’s the getting up when you’re tired, bored, busy, depressed, hot, cold, blah – whatever excuse – getting up & moving.
opportunity: 24 hours a day, every single day. Use ONE of those hours – just ONE – & give back to yourself. Make it count & MOVE.
[preachy segment] Surround yourself with positive peeps. We are not obligated to solve our friends & family’s problems. Be there for a mate (everyone has a bad day) – but ya know, not everyone wants to be rescued. Some folks are perpetually stuck. I can’t because… I could but… If only I… You can’t…
Distance yourself. Detach. What I’ve learned? No one is ever gonna remember. If you’re doing it hoping for recognition – it’s not coming.
Skydive, volcano hike, marathon all 50 States – do YOUR thing, but do it. Walk the talk. Live now. Laugh. Smile. Be happy. #noregretlife
Mounds State Park, IN (running posts from Carolyn)
Paul’s Post: Earned energy
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Our financial controller, Keenan Haga, likes to run. He likes it a lot. He’s one of only a handful that has run 50 marathons before he was 50.
One of the reasons he runs is for the earned energy, called endorphins. Endorphins charge you up after exercising and, if you exercise enough, you start to depend on them, hunger for them, like a junkie. Endorphins are the prize I get after a morning run, though my efforts are paltry compared to Keenan’s.
Energy you earn is superior to energy you force into something (like the “energy” of caffeine). Take for example a DAC.
We’re in the middle of the final voicing of Torreys, the new operating system for DirectStream and DirectStream Junior. And one of the things that strikes me most is the energy some of the versions present. We voice the DAC by careful listening to different compilations of FPGA code. Each compile sounds different than the other. On some versions voices, both human and instrumental, seem to resonate with an energy that is very close to the spine tingling reactions we get at a live performance. Yet other versions are dull, lifeless, and sound recorded.
I suppose you could duplicate the energy some versions present by artificially pumping up a certain frequency range, adding energy artificially, but I bet it would never sound the same or have the sense of magic I hear in these version changes.
I think energy, naturally acquired through the hard work of exercising or voicing products, will always trump external attempts to add in something that isn’t natural.
Better to earn it than to force it.
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Unexpectedly, received a package at work today from my Sister – commemorating my 50 State finish. Letting this one play out below…just as it happened over social media. WOW, just WOW! LOVE LOVE my family; such a lucky guy 🙂
Keenan
May 24 at 3:27pm ·
completely over-the-top floored – received the most AMAZING gift today from my Sis & family. 50 State book – finisher pic from each state, marathon name & time, plus tons of state fun facts. LOVE LOVE LOVE the effort involved in making such a priceless gift. Just WOW!
Like 76
Tammy · iMessage · 3:43pm
The facts are actually pretty cool so read all the little captions. I enjoyed it. All the trivia and famous people. I wanted to circle where you ran but like I said I also wanted to get it done. You went to most of the highlights. It’s super cool.
I loved the book when it came in. I couldn’t believe how perfect it was!! Lucky me.
Sent from my iPhone
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- WOW, just WOW!
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- best sis ever – LOVE my family!
Keenan Tammy, Victoria, Paul & Jack – thanks so much! Absolutely unbelievable. WOW WOW WOW – no words. Just incredible. I only finished my 50th a couple weeks ago – and BAM. Thanks so much.
Tammy Wanted the other gifts to totally freak you out. That’s why I put it at the bottom. Saved the best for last. Hee hee hee.
Keenan Yeah, started with beet juice & the ping pong paddles…assumed this was a family challenge for 4th of July. HATE beet juice – I’d be all-pro ping pong by the 4th if a beet juice chug was spoils to the loser.
Tammy No way was I punishing myself. I suck at ping pong.
Victoria Finding some of those times weren’t easy! Glad you liked it! Tammy is super creative.
Tammy You should really tell him what you said every time you wrote down a time. That was funny.
Victoria I feel like I wrote the same number over and over and over and over again.
Esther What a wonderful, thoughtful gift. You must be loved.
Keenan AMAZING family. I’ve always been lucky in life.
Tammy that’s why I was giving you a hard time about no picture for Illinois. I was panicked I would only have 49 pictures. Sneaky.
Keenan Wasn’t gonna even post Illinois — ’cause who wants to see #49, after you’ve run #50 the next day. Very sneaky sis.
Paul Yes she is an expert sneak….for sure
Seth That’s very cool!
Gwendolyn That is an awesome book can you ask your sister where she had it done I’d like to make one for myself.
Tammy I made it myself. The book came from Amazon and then I added to it.
Keenan Gwendolyn – fair warning…this book includes DC. One more to add to your calendar 🙂
Benjamin So, so, so fantastic! A perfect keepsake to a wild adventure you’ve had.
Jason Congrats!! AWESOME!!
Scott Oh, wow! I can’t think of a better gift, actually, very personalized and will memorialize memories for a lifetime!
Toni How cool is that!
Stacy I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!!!!
Keenan Me too! So thoughtful – most AMAZING gift. Also friend, happy I got to share #50 with you. Training consistently again, healthy again, lotta positive endorphins flowing. Life is good 🙂
Heather What a thoughtful family you have!
Stephen Wow! Awesome gift!
Leslie [heart emoticon]
Ellen Wonderful! Love you all!
Erin What an awesome gift!!!
Tina What a thoughtful gift!
Tara That’s awesome.
Arun A lovely gift!
Sara That’s pretty cool! You have an amazing family!
Amy Now THAT is perfect. Love it.
Jill What a thoughtful, most perfect gift for you. Like the haircut.
Carolyn Funny, you said storybook ending and your sister made you a book.
Run the Year Motto: Run, Crawl, Walk, Conquer, Dominate 2,016 miles in 2016
April 2016 update: Overall, mighty tough month – as much mental as physical. Suffered my first major running injury – IT band (left knee) overuse (fairly common) which resulted in my first DNF (St. Louis) & sidelined me the 2nd half of the month.
Positives? Not being able to run (doctor restricted) was probably the kick in the butt I needed. Taking for granted I could just show up & post 26.2s each weekend without putting in consistent training hours – was a much needed wake up call.
2016 I’ve added ultras, trail marathons & doubles (Saturday/Sunday marathons). Filled up my marathon calendar from January to December (no exaggeration, already registered for the Death Valley Trail Marathon Sat Dec 3rd). But if you look at my ‘Run the Year’ mileage tracker, I’ve been anything but consistent. Lotta blank spaces Mon-Fri, tens of miles posted each weekend.
2 month focus (May & June): CONSISTENCY
What’s the plan?
Short-term: Working with a physical therapist to get healthy. Finished my 50 States, April 30th & May 1st (2 marathons, 2 states, 2 days). However, running another double only 2 ½ weeks into therapy, kinda reset the recovery clock back 🙁
Long-term: Added an accountability partner: Carolyn, an Indiana-based runner I met during an ultra run in New Mexico. I’ll PR this Fall (sub-4 again), she’ll BQ (Boston qualify). Can’t fail if you don’t set goals.
Race ReCap: trail marathon in Kansas (multiple water crossings, fave trail race to date), first marathon fail (at mile 21) in St. Louis, finished state 49 in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois on the 30th.
Mileage ReCap: Epic fail; ended April at 601 miles (71 miles short of goal).
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- ended April at 601 miles
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- Milestone 600
