Running is the ultimate High

I started my weekend with a healthy 8.25 mile run on Friday morning.  My friend Bekah joined me for the first half along one of my favorite trails through the Pekin parks.  Besides a couple bugs that flew into my mouth, it was the perfect start to the weekend.

Later that day, my hubby and I got all prettied up...

and partied like the end of the world was coming.... 

The Apocalypse!  The Great Rapture!  

Of course, I awoke on May 21 and world was still intact.  However, I was in pieces after too many celebratory drinks at the wedding reception.  Seriously, I know better.  I used to be quite the rockstar in the bar scene, but since running, I rarely have more than two drinks.  On Friday, I blew that limit out the window.  I had a fabulous time, no doubt about it. 

By Saturday night, I started coming down with symptoms of a head cold... sinus pressure, sore throat, cough, etc... I began to double-dose on Emergen-C.  I can not get sick.  Sunday morning wasn't much better, and I blew off my long run.  Needless to say, I spent most of the weekend napping, sipping vitamin drinks and gathering Kleenex boxes.

So why is it every time I splurge on alcoholic drinks, I get SICK?!?!  This morning I let the powers of Google do the research for me... and sure enough - no fluke!


"Excessive alcohol intake can harm the body's immune system in two ways. First, it produces an overall nutritional deficiency, depriving the body of valuable immune- boosting nutrients. Second, alcohol, like sugar, consumed in excess can reduce the ability of white cells to kill germs. High doses of alcohol suppress the ability of the white blood cells to multiply, inhibit the action of killer white cells on cancer cells, and lessen the ability of macrophages to produce tumour necrosis factors. One drink does not appear to bother the immune system, but three or more drinks do. Damage to the immune system increases in proportion to the quantity of alcohol consumed. Amounts of alcohol that are enough to cause intoxication are also enough to suppress immunity."   Source


So yes, alcohol does greatly inhibits the immune system, making your body more susceptible to germs.  I found interesting the part about sugar also because I always seem to indulge in sweets when I'm hungover too.  Can you say double-punishment to the immune system?  O'brother!


I got up this morning still feeling a little sluggish, but was determined to kick this cold in the butt.  At 5:10 am, I hit the pavement and logged close to 6 miles.  A slow start, but I was really booking at the end.  Low and behold, I feel WORLDS better afterward!  Running really is a much better high...

** Pssst, don't forget to give me VOTE today here!  Thank You!