Strange "Athletic Feeling"

[elai]

Several years ago, while I was in high school, there was this one gym class where we were playing soccer on a field. Somewhere around the middle of it, I felt like if "charged" myself (best way to put it) for every sprint, up my endurance went up significantly and I was able to run back and forth on the field without loosing breath, feeling like I'm exercising, or all the other things you get when you run. Usually although, running back and forth was a challenge for me and after about 1 or 2 fields worth of running I had to slow down to catch my breath and recover. But with this continuous "charging" I didn't need to slow down, catch my breath, or really huff and puff at all. Afterwards when the entire class was walking/running back to the school (the field was a kilometre or two away) I was able to "charge" myself up and I ran back, ahead of the entire class by a significant distance to the school by myself. The "charging" feeling although started to "peter out" when I was near the school.

I was never able to get that feeling again. I am wondering if anyone else have had a similar experience? Is this just the feeling of being fit? What was it?

[mattsonn]

maybe it was adrenaline

[WanderingOak]

It could be a runner's high, where endorphin production is triggered by strenuous physical activity.

[maryelyn]

you were in the 'zone'. this happened to me a couple of times many years ago when i got in the habit of jogging every night for a while...
there were just a couple of times when it seemed like it suddenly became..effortless! i felt like i could run indefinitely without fatigue or stress.
it was great. however...i was never able to consistently reproduce this feeling.

it was sure nice while it lasted though.

[elai]

The soccer game wasn't that exciting to be just adrenalin or that good feeling you can get sometimes after exercising. "The Zone" description is the best I found.

Why would I not really feel out of breath or anything like that, vs all the other times? What causes this?!?!

[impaul99]

I know the feeling you are talking about. When I did a 30 day workout trial earlier this year, I discovered it on day 17 of my trial. I wrote an article about it here: Have FUN exercising on a treadmill!

Perhaps it will help.

[Keith]

Might this blog post be relevant?

Stretching Your Self (dirtSimple.org)

[John Hill]

Hi Elai,

Sounds like a feeling most people would like to be able to induce at will and I understand why you want to get back that "strange feeling".

I believe the feeling came from a trigger in your mind and if so you can definitely get back to that place again. You need to clear your mind in a relaxed state and ask yourself how you achieved that magic feeling and your subconscious mind will reveal the answer.

Check out the information on the power of your mind at Universe Of Success

Cheers,
John

[mrpinto]

What you experienced does sound like runner's high. Your body can respond to sustained exercise with adrenaline and a number of endorphins in the brain. This response is for example why I am actually *addicted* to distance running. =)

Although, barring injury, exercise will almost always make you feel good, I agree that it takes something more for that special "in the zone" feeling to take place. I find that it's most likely to appear when I am mentally as well as physically calm and peaceful. In a manner similar to Zen, I feel almost as much an observer as an actor in my physical activity. I feel faster and more coordinated, as if I can almost effortlessly let the flow carry me.

So, my advice would be that perhaps you shouldn't try anything to make the feeling return. Trying isn't really necessary - just relax and *let* it return...

[Conan Stevens]

Correct, it is runners high or as Arnold Swartzeneger said "I get the feeling of coming at home, I get the feeling of coming at the gym. Can you imagine how happy I am." (I think that quote is word for word)

If you never felt it again it means you seriously need to overhaul your life health and fitness.

I get the feeling every day in the gym and most days like Arnold I get it at home too

[samsixty]

I think this happens when you choose to ignore the bodys safeguard warnings of pain and the feeling of limits and fatigue push through it. I have done this often and amazed myself with my true ability many times.

I think many people do this often, you go beyond a certain limit and you stop listening to your body and start really pushing and finding out what you can do. In my case it sometimes ends with my throwing up