That awesome thing called the RUNNER’S HIGH.

Billy always finds the coolest articles for me and this one (from Runner’s World, Runner’s High from Medium But Not Hard Exercise) I especially loved because it helped explain my love for running lots of miles at a medium pace (not too hard and not to easy).  It is all about that Runner’s High that we are all addicted to.  The study that they conducted charted 10 different runners endocannabinoid (“morphine-like brain chemicals”) levels before and after workouts at different intensity levels. 

Screen Shot 2012 10 02 at 2 11 10 PM

 “It’s only a certain range of medium intensities that hits the sweet spot.”

According to this study the jogging-medium intensity runs produce the highest endocannabinoid levels!  Now this study doesn’t chart endorphins (which are also a huge part of the Runner’s High) but I thought it was pretty cool to see what type of running makes us feel so good from these endocannabinoid chemicals:)   I think this is why we come back from our long runs where we go slower than our normal pace feeling like a million bucks.  

———————————————————

The crockpot really is one of the best inventions ever.  Yesterday I put in chicken and bbq sauce to make sandwiches.   Billy’s favorite fruit is blackberries and he shared them with me, that is selflessness at its finest.  I don’t think I have ever shared my grapes.   

DSC 4160

I had another dose of Pinterest obsession time yesterday and it put me in the mood to bake.  Instead of making anything that I found on Pinterest I stuck to my favorite cookie recipe but got a little crazy and threw in white chocolate chips too.  The cookie dough deserved its own picture.

Screen Shot 2012 10 02 at 8 34 06 PMIs it a sad thing or a good thing that I have this recipe memorized?

DSC 4164

I am sending some (SOME) of the cookies to school with Billy because butter and sugar is the best way to make friends and I also made some brownies for friends.  I left a piece for me and Billy, he prefers the middle piece and I prefer (I didn’t use to) the corner pieces.   I mixed my brownie in, just like Coldstone does, with some vanilla ice cream.

DSC 4166

And because I have never ever written a post (that I remember at least) that didn’t include a picture of someone in my life or myself I have to include this one.  The bow lasted a full 8 minutes in her hair before she took it out.   

Photo 4

The most important question I have ever asked… Corner brownie or middle brownie?

How often do you feel the Runner’s High?  What type of runs do you feel it most often with?

What did you have for dinner last night?

I usually ask this at the very first of the month but I want to know WHO HAS OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS?  What day?

You May Also Like

92 comments

Reply

Middle brownie always! Those odd corner pans freak me out! ;)

I always get a Runner’s High when I race. The adrenaline is amazing and makes up for all the 18 mile boring as all get out days, lol.

Crockpot BBQ chicken is one of my favorite meals! I make it often.

Reply

Apparently I feel very strongly about the runners high, because that is exactly what my post today is about…not yet up though! No matter how hard a run might be, it always reinforces why I run to begin with! As for your very important question: I’m a corner girl too…I like the crispy bits :)!

Reply

I like the middle pieces and end. I don’t discriminate. I like to put ice cream in brownies too. Oh and I made the croissant s’mores you once posted, and they are a huge hit at dinners and bbq’s so thank you!

I usually just feel better after a run. Especially with lots on my mind or if I was mad or upset over something. I realize its not as big of a deal as I thought.

I had stuffed chicken. I too found the recipe on pinterest. Just signed up for it and love it!

Reply

Corner brownies are my favorite!!

Love the feeling of a runner’s high…I honestly think there is no better feeling.

Dinner was a grilled cheese and spinach

I have an October birthday…. The 22nd :)

Reply

So funny because I NEVER share my grapes either. Seriously, I go crazy when I see my husband steeling a grape. Especially those huge holiday grapes that are out now. I have to hide them. :)

Reply

I gotta have the middle brownie. I like them all soft and gooey!

Yep, I’ve experienced a runner’s high. I love that feeling. I think its why I workout! Yeah, I’ve felt it when I do longer runs. 5 miles is my longest right now. I REALLY feel on the days I go 5 miles. I feel like I’m on top of the world!!

I love the crock pot. I had chili just the other night using the crock pot.

October is a popular month for birthdays. Several people in my life have October birthdays- my boyfriend, my sister, my nephew. I love the Fall so its probably the best month!!

Reply

-I used to be a middle girl but now I’m edges and corners all the way with my brownies!
-Runners High = pretty regularly and probably after run just to log miles, catch up with friends, enjoy the weather or scenery, etc. I guess that chart is right on track with me!
-BLACK BEAN BURGERS with sweat potato fries!!! ( I facebook’d you the recipe. I love it so much I give it to everyone… I don’t use half the ingrediants and have made it a really simple, once a week meal for us. Oh it’s so good!)

Reply

Corner brownie! I had amazing pizza with friends last night. I have an October anniversary…does that count? :)

Reply

Oh my gosh, that picture with the little bow … so cute!

Reply

I am the biggest cookie dough fiend and that looks incredible!
Love runner’s high! I think it’s only on really long runs I get it, but then again I’m happy almost every time I run!

Reply

I definitely go for the middle brownies!

The runner’s high is what got me addicted to running. It comes for me during medium intensity runs too. Those times when you run just to run and you feel so incredible afterwards. Nothing beats that feeling!!

Also, that cookie dough looks AMAZING.

Reply

I am ALL about the corners. For me, a brownie is not a brownie unless it’s a corner piece.

Last night we did a restaurant crawl with a group of friends. We had bites of so many delicious dishes at about 8 restaurants. It was amazing! I cannot wait to go back to my favorites

Reply

All the brownies– the corner ones have the crispy edges, BUT the middle ones are sooo gooey. I would take one of each. No choice is possible!!

Reply

Any part of a Ghirardelli brownie (you get the mix at Costco!), warm so that the chocolate chips are melted, with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, a drop of whipped cream, and some chocolate syrup drizzled on top. Trust me; it’s heaven!

I get the runner’s high pretty much as soon as I go over 5k in a run.

I had sushi last night! My friend and I have found the sushi restaurant to end all sushi restaurants. SO good!

My birthday is this Friday! :)

Reply

I’m all about the soft middle brownies. It’s probably because I grew with my dad and sister demanding the chewy edges. Joke’s on them though because there’s usually a lot more middle than edges.

Reply

Definitely corner brownie! I totally agree with the runner’s high study. My favorite runs are the long steady ones. Have a great Wednesday!

Reply

Definitely the corner brownie! I love the crunchy edges :)

Love the runner’s high, I seem to get it on longer runs. I’ve been running for a little over 2 yrs, but just started training for long distances & I’m hooked, wish I’d started sooner.

My 30th Birthday is Oct 5th & I’ll be running my first 10 mile run that day! Then I can’t wait to make it to 20 & then my first marathon in Feb.

Reply

Middle brownie, warmed.

Not near often as I would like.

Bock Choy and grilled fish.

Your cookies look amazing, and so does Brooke’s little yellow bow with that outfit!!

Reply

Definitely the middle brownie!

And my birthday is today ;)

Reply

MIDDLE piece…the softer and chewier and fudgier, the better.

My birthday is the 7th (Sunday!)

And Janae, thank you for emailing me a couple months ago…I want you to know I am doing much better…oh and my tibial stress fracture is HEALED!

Reply

P.S. or just the whole pan. :)

Reply

-middle brownie, slightly undercooked :)
-that study is interesting but for I tend to love my slow-paced runs (probably because my mind is more relaxed) and the runs where I run a really long distance more than those in-between ones
-dinner last night was a bowl of pumpkin oatmeal…my husband went out with some friends so I just ate whatever sounded good!

Reply

I love the edge pieces! Not the corner of the brownie but along the side so it’s crunchy on one side and gooey on the other!

Reply

Middle brownie, for sure! I get more of a post-yoga mellowness or post spin class high than a runner’s high, but they’re both awesome.

Reply

No wonder I LOVE my marathon training long runs!!

Reply

Corners. Edges. Michael likes the middle. Works out perfect.
My high is more about the miles. 3-6 are usually my best.
We went to Claim Jumpers and it was so-so. My chicken was super dry and something upset whatever stomach thing I am fighting.
8 minutes is a long time for that bow!!!

The Kidless Kronicles

Reply

Corner brownie is where it’s at!!! I love the chewy outside.

I have to agree with the runner’s high. I love long, mid-intensity runs! They are the best! Unfortunately, they don’t make us faster. lol.

Reply

Both those brownies and cookies look amazing. I want something sweet now and its only 9 in the morningand I just had a healthy omelet breakfast. I made the cream cheese chicken chili in the crockpot last night (saw that recipe from you :) ) Tonight is another crockpot night, hot and sour soup with rice and salad on the side. I made up a new combination, mixed greens, goat cheese, granny apples and walnuts…it is so good!
I have an October birthday..its tomorrow!!! October 4th!

Reply

We have a rule in the house that corner brownies are mine (as are end pieces of the bread, corners of cake, etc)

I get the runners high usually after I hit 4-5 miles, it can be a long run, a tempo, anything really, its the best feeling ever!

I ate spaghetti squash, marinara sauce and homemade bread, SO GOOD!

Reply

Middle piece for the win! But cookie dough is up there too. Those might be my two favorite desserts actually.
I get crazy runner’s highs usually particularly after a long slow run, but lately I haven’t been as much after my long runs. I think I just hurt too much after 12 miles. I also get it after really good interval workouts too, which is surprising given that chart.
Love that picture of Brooke!

Reply

Corner brownie, every time! I love how crunchy the edge is!

Reply

Corner brownie. Hands down best! I usually get the runner’s high on tempo runs. Something about pushing myself and seeing fast splits on the Garmin makes me uber happy! I had BLTs and sweet corn for dinner (that my Mama froze). It was like celebrating summer on a cooler almost-fall night!

Cutest picture ever of Brooke! She looks so sweet!

Reply

How about the whole pan of brownies?

JK

Maybe?

But, seriously, I like I both. But, if I have to chose I’d take a corner brownie just for the difference of texture.

Reply

I prefer the middle brownie piece! So much gooeyness with nothing interfering. Last night for dinner I had a mishmash – one slice of leftover homemade pizza from the night before (tomato and mozzarella with garlic), plus a small side of mac and cheese.

Great info on the runner’s high too!

Reply

First off, I’m a Halloween baby, secondly I love corners and edges. For dinner I had Mexican Street Corn (see recipe on today’s post) w/ seasoned veggies. For my second dinner I had bran flakes w/ almond milk. I get a runners high after anything more than 3 miles…I heart endorphines. Jessica

BTW, the Mexican Street Corn recipe is from Runners World , you’ve got to give it a try and definitely answer the street vendor question. :) Jessica

SweatismySanity.com

Reply

That chart is right on for me, I get the runners high from the longer, medium paced runs most often. I don’t like to discriminate with my brownies, I love them all :) Last night for dinner I made butternut squash mac and cheese. I am counting down the minutes until lunch so I can eat my leftovers!

Reply

I’m pretty sure that I would eat any brownie that you gave me, but I think I might prefer the middle. I like the ooey goodness of it!

Reply

It has been forever since I have had that high feeling but I would have to agree with the study. Gotta push it some for that “i f-ing love running” feeling but not so hard you want to puke.

Hi Brook, you are very cute!

Reply

Middle!… But corner for cake (more frosting!)

Reply

I’m going to have to go with Billy on this one… I’m all about the center pieces! The softer the better in my opinion! And I can’t get enough of Brooke’s little bow! Adorable.

Reply

Middle ooey-gooey brownie for sure!!! No birthday’s over here (unless my baby decides to come out before mid-November), BUT it’s my anniversary on the 16th. Close enough to a birthday, because in my opinion, cake should still be made and consumed lol

Reply

I really don’t discriminate with any type of chocolate! Those cookies look amazing and now i need one for breakfast. I experience runner’s high after I run up a steep hill, it’s incredible. I had steak tips and broccoli on the grill for dinner last night, my boyfriend did it all!

Brook is so so cute, she made my morning reading this.

My birthday is October 22nd! My brother and 2 best friends have October bdays as well.

Reply

That research is so interesting – I always wondered why shorter runs just don’t feel ‘the same’ and I am only addicted to running double digits minimum. Now I know: it’s down to pace. Although race highs last for ages to and I usually kill myself with effort in those :P

I hope your treadmill is fixed soon!

Oh, and Brooke really suits that outfit :)

Reply

Negative split long runs over 8 miles are my very best high.

Corner for sure. The more edge the better.

Brooke in a bow……SO cute.

Reply

I think I’d have to say I’m a corner girl because you get some crispy bits but you’ll still get some soft bits attached from the middle….but really are we going to pass up any brownie????

I feel awesome after most runs. I experience runner’s high probably more after longer runs but overall a run can make me feel awesome no matter what my mood was starting my run. Can’t beat an awesome run:)

Its my birthday this month- October 11th, same day as my wonderful mum:)
I love fall:)
Happy Hump day:)

Reply

corner brownies are the best!!! love the crunchy parts!

I feel runners high pretty often, usually on easy runs or long runs.

dinner was eggs over easy with a whole wheat english muffin and sauteed spinach. typical ;)

My birthday is next monday, october 8th! the day after chicago lol…so im sure i’ll be hobbling but happy! can you send me one of those cookies as a present? need to refuel my carb supply ;)

Reply

Aww man, the bow is too cute!

Reply

I am totally about the corner brownies! I love the crunchie edges. Yum!

After yoga I came home to a BBQed roast beef by my fabulous hubby. I am a lucky girl.

Reply

If you look at the chart, it shows that actually the jogging sessions showed the highest endocannabinoid levels. Medium paced runs had levels on par with walking and high-intensity, but with a significant increase compared to pre-run levels.

Reply

I can’t get over how CUTE she is! Adorbs! And my birthday is the 20th of this month :)

Reply

One of my best friends and I have a made-up holiday coming up and I might have to borrow the cookie recipe for that! They look amazing.

Reply

I just read an article about endocannabinoids yesterday as well! The article I read was summarizing a recent study focusing on foods in our diet today. Apparently the endocannabinoids are the same hormone produced when an individual smokes marinjuana – it is what gives you the “munchies”. The brain regulates this hormone through linoleic acid. If your system has too much linoleic acid, your body becomes incapable of turning off the regulator for the endocannabinoids, rendering an individual incapable of determining satiety.
Linoleic acid, it turns out, is a component in polyunsaturated fats (vegetable oils like corn oils, soy oil, etc). Standard diets today contain about 8% linoleic acid. In 1900, the average diet consisted of about 1% linoleic acid. Studies on rodents indicate that with the increase in linoleic acid is the the inability to determine when you are full, and an increase in the amount consumed. Therefore, people who eat foods with a lot of polyunsaturated fats tend to continue eating beyond what they need because they think they are still hungry, contributing to the obesity epidemic in the US today.
And, one last additional token, the same studies on rodents indicate that higher amounts of linoleic acid in the diet (1% vs. 8%) results in more fat stores and the combination of the two actually scars brain tissue, hindering the ability of the brain to determine (in the future) whether or not hunger is actually a factor.

Broken down:
polyunsaturated fats = linoleic acid = triggering brain = produce endocannabinoids = munchies

Article is here: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/345277/title/Tricks_Foods_Play

Reply

Totally made those cookies! So delicious. Especially with ghiradelli chocolate chips. Perfect for when my runner’s high wears off. ;)

Reply

I love ALL brownies… I don’t discriminate! :) I really like the ones with chocolate chips in them…so yummy.

I feel that runners high when I am just going at an easy pace for awhile…. I also tend to get it right before I have to get off the treadmill and go to work soooo I don’t get that long to enjoy it.

I have an October birthday… It’s today!!!

Reply

I like the corner piece. I don’t like it when its too mushy.
I usually get a runner’s high after I run. I always feel so happy!
Last night I had spaghetti with (chicken) meatballs! It was really good! And two chocolate chip cookies for dessert :)

Reply

Little Brooke looks so much like both of you guys!

I love the corner brownies too–I like a little crunch! ;)

Last night’s dinner was cheese and black bean quesadillas, chips and salsa, and 2 pumpkin-chocolate chip cookies hot out of the oven!

Reply

It depends on the brownie section…if theres a lot of stuff added to the mix like nuts or some kind of dried fruit or chocolate chips then the middle piece but if its just a plain brownie then a corner all the way.

Runners highs are the best…I feel it the most after a good hard run on a stress filled day.

Dinner last night was a pork roast in the crock-pot. Put it in half frozen in the morning and let it go all day on low with a bottle dark beer, onions, garlic, salt, pepper and some bar-b-que sauce. The best part if the left overs the next night for tacos.

Reply

Middle brownie. With Ice cream on top.

Reply

I could just eat that dough! Yum. But like you, I like the corner and my husband likes the middle. Perfect match.

Reply

If I was really honest, I would say a slightly undercooked middle piece, still warm, with a scoop of ice cream on the top.

Also those cookies look fabulous, I don’t know how you didn’t just eat all the dough.

Reply

Brooke is too cute.

I prefer corner brownies with ice cream. : )

Runner’s high…I’m sure what that would feel like. Is it the feeling that you have this extra energy to run? I’ve felt like that only a couple of times; like I could run forever.

My birthday is on the 26th.

Reply

I have all of my favorite dessert recipes memorized as well… no shame! And sorry love, but I’m gonna have to side with Billy on this one… middle pieces are definitely better :D

Reply

Yay for a runner’s high – but a bigger YAY for those cookies, yum!

Reply

I’m all about the runners high since I’ve experience pretty much every other high that life has to offer and it almost killed me. Now I just rely on the runners high. This study is interesting. I find my best highs when I nail a set of intervals, which would mean a high intensity run, or when I run a long run. There is a whole different high I get from miles 13 to 20 that I don’t get before.

Reply

I don’t think I’ve ever had a runner’s high. I have had a corner brownie piece high. Corners all the way!

Reply

Corner brownie for me, middle for the hubby, and definitely vanilla ice cream on top! :) I generally get runner’s high after my long runs…sometimes after a killer HIIT workout.

Reply

Middle brownie! I like my brownie’s chewy. omg those cookie look amazing, I want to order some right now, you should have a button on your blog that would allow me to shop for all your delicious baked treats!
Runner’s high is why I run, I have to run at least 5miles though…7 miles is definitely the golden number :)

Reply

Outie, definitely! Best of both worlds- crisp edges and gooey insides :P Dinner last night was a *massive* salad + southwestern soup + black bean and turkey pita pocket… Perfect for the dreary weather and feeling under the weather.

P.S. Charlie [our pup aka my furry child] has an October birthday and he’ll be 1!!!

Reply

The only reason corner brownies should exist is to create middle brownies – this holds true for cake, or any other type of dessert made in a pan.

Reply

I get the best runners high after my long runs!!

I want the middle piece of the brownie…the gooier the better.

Reply

CORNER BROWNIE (or at the very least, an edge brownie) for sure. I love the different texture of the edge with the softer middle part.
And I truly get a runner’s high after about 20 or 30 minutes. That’s also around the time when I’m sweating from every pore of my body. It’s pretty awesome.

Reply

I don’t get a runner’s high. :( Or if I do then it is really short and I missed it!

Reply

If I liked brownies, it’s probably be the middle one (they have to be REALLY good ones–not boxed made ones).

She is SOOO freaking cute.

Love the study–this stuff excites me :)

Reply

Ahh, the runner’s high. I love it! I feel sad that not everyone feels it!

Brooke is totally your daughter. Just look at her expressions! Like mama, like daughter!

Definitely corner brownie because you have the right amount of hard and soft. Mmmm… that cookie dough looks delicious!!

Reply

I’ve not really ever run regularly enough to experience the runner’s high. But I definitely get a ballet high after a class. I wonder how much of that is the exercise intensity?! Probably more linked to enjoying the movements and stretching oneself and your body…

Those cookies look awesome!!! I made Easter biscuits on Sunday (yeah, I know, it’s October) and they were yummy. Not as good as yours though!

Reply

I’m surprised you were able to bake – it’s been sooo hot here the past few days! I’ve wanted to make cookies, and fall inspired bake deliciousness, but i can’t get myself to turn on the oven. hopefully in a couple of weeks!

Reply

corner piece, duh!!!

BTW, my peanut has the same top.

Reply

How did you ever get to the point of BAKING the cookies?!? I would’ve just eaten all the dough!!
And I LOVE corner brownies – crispy edges own my heart.
Is it me, or does Brooke get cuter every day!?!?

Reply

Corner brownie all the way! It’s so yummy!

Reply

MIDDLE BROWNIE! I mean, if my only option is corner brownie, I would take it. :) Corner brownie is better than no brownie.

We had leftovers last night – paella! It was delicious, and I can’t wait to make it again!

Reply

Middle pieces are the best!!!

I haven’t felt a runner’s high in far too long, but I think that I get it most of those long-ish runs (5ish miles) at a fairly steady, but hard pace.

We had pizza with the in-laws last night.

I am praying this Baby has an October birthday…

That bow is too cute :)

Reply

All brownies are good brownies, but if I had to pick, I would pick a corner.

I had a late lunch yesterday which resulted in me not being hungry at dinner time. I didn’t eat until after class and it was just crackers and a couple Laughing Cow cheese wedges. I didn’t want anything to heavy at 9 PM.

I’m an October birthday girl! Mine is on the 20th.

Reply

The most important question I have ever asked… Corner brownie or middle brownie?

I feel it about once every two weeks – I”m still struggling with endurance. I love it when I get it though!!!

Last night – I had Chick Fil a chicken nuggets and about two fries – it was Middle School football game night!

Reply

Middle piece. it’s so gooey and delish.

Reply

I felt runner’s high this morning!!! My first time ever! (I’m a newbie runner!!) I get it now :) Brooke looks adorable as always! And corner brownie. Always always the corner brownie. Can’t beat that delicious crunch!

Reply

Corner brownies! And that hairbow is so cute.

Reply

I love middle brownies… but not THE middle, too gooey. Just the left of center is just right :)

Reply

Brooke is the CUTEST baby EVER. Seriously. Adorable. I can hardly stand it! :)

Reply

middle piece, followed by tons of brownie slivers.

Reply

Crock pot is the best. Brooke is darling with her little bow. I perfer the middle piece of the brownie.

Reply

the body’s natural cannabis! a legit high lol

Reply

That article on the runner’s high is very interesting! I will back up the article claims by saying that I usually feel happiest after easy/medium endurance runs. Oh how I love that runner’s high!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *