Runner's High

Not a lot of time for posting today, but wanted to put up a quote from this article on sun tan addiction. (Sorry for the source. I'd seen the same content on CNN yesterday, but couldn't locate the piece.)

The study [was] published in the journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. . . . Half of tanners were given an inactive drug and half were given a drug (naltrexone) to block the effects of endorphins and other brain opioids.

The researchers found that with the opioid-blocking medication . . . surprisingly, four of the eight frequent tanners reported nausea or jitteriness. . . . "The finding was unexpected and is consistent with the hypothesis that frequent tanning may be driven in part by a mild dependence on opioids, most likely endorphins," said co-researcher Steven Feldman. "The nausea and jitteriness induced by the medication are consistent with symptoms of mild opiate withdrawal."

While the study is small, it supports the hypothesis that tanning behavior may be driven by endorphins in much the same way that the so-called "runner's high" helps to motivate runners.

Perhaps we do need a 12 step program?

Ran 13.1 today, the Queensboro Loop plus an add-on of two loops around McCarren Park in 1:43:13.

If you'd told me 2 years ago that I'd run a half marathon in sub-8's, I'd have just barely thought it doable. If you'd told me that I'd do it before work I'd have thought you crazy. If you'd added that it was three days after doing 21 miles also at sub-8, I'd have probably had a coronary from laughing so hard. Oh how things do change!