What's Your Buzz?

[bjorn2bwild]

When asked about regrets while dying from esophageal cancer, Christopher Hitchens replied -
‘Booze and fags are happiness’.
Near the end, in a more somber mood, telling Charlie Rose -
‘He would not have had it any other way – it was ‘impossible for me to imagine having my life without going to those parties, without having those late nights, without that second bottle’.
He referred to Johnnie Walker Black Label as ‘Mr Walker’s amber restorative’.


Me, I’ll take the ‘runner’s high’, truly one of life’s great pleasures.
It’s best experienced while pursuing a favorite outdoor endurance sport at my upper fitness limit.
Some ultra-runners and mountain bikers augment with edible cannabis, legal here in California.


So, which is it, Yin, Yang or both?

 

[aja8888]

I was a serious long distance runner for two decades (70's - 80's) and experienced the highs many, many times. I never used MJ when running during those years. Never thought about it. I enjoyed the wine afterwards, though!

Now at 80, I just walk a lot, as that's all the doc will allow me to do with both artificial hips! (guess how they got worn out)

 

[Koogie]

I run quite a bit, having picked it up again after a half decade hiatus. And cycling. I enjoy exercising outdoors almost exclusively.

As to my vices, see the avatar pic. High quality spirits, only. No cheap hooch, very little wine and almost no beer.

And younger women, back in the day.

 

[Ian S]

Alas for Mr. Hitchens, there were likely warning signs that a G.I. doctor might have been able to treat and avoid the cancer. Ignoring chronic heartburn raises the risk dramatically. With his drinking and smoking, he'd have been well-advised to to have an endoscopy especially if he also suffered from GERD.

 

[slaternuthink]

Alas for Mr. Hitchens, there were likely warning signs that a G.I. doctor might have been able to treat and avoid the cancer. Ignoring chronic heartburn raises the risk dramatically. With his drinking and smoking, he'd have been well-advised to to have an endoscopy especially if he also suffered from GERD.

I believe his father also died from esophageal cancer, the pull of alcohol must have been great.


I love exercise for the health benefits, but don’t seem to get the true runners high that others experience.
Chardonnay in the evening, after the workout does it for me.

 

[Amethyst]

Good conversation with an attractive man.

 

[MC Rider]

I'll guess the runners high is not the same as having to stop to breath while hiking up a big hill.

 

[aja8888]

I'll guess the runners high is not the same as having to stop to breath while hiking up a big hill.

You ought to see what a runner feels like when he hits the wall at around 20 miles...ask me how I know, and it's not a "high"!

 

[MC Rider]

You ought to see what a runner feels like when he hits the wall at around 20 miles...ask me how I know, and it's not a "high"!

LOL.


I guess the high I get is due to increased elevation above my home level, and hopefully a nice view.

 

[bjorn2bwild]

Good conversation with an attractive man.

I think good conversation is the primary outcome Hitchens was seeking.
By reputation, he could hammer out a 1000 words of good copy in 30 minutes, while very high on the ‘hitch fix’

 

[skyking1]

I got that high very briefly when I was riding the bike every workday. Getting back to that shape is the goal.

 

[FlaGator]

Attributed to Hunter S. Thompson:
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body; but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a ride!"

He was a man of well-documented excesses who appeared to fully understand where the edge was, how close he was too it, and when he went over it. Don't think it's a stretch to say Hitchens lived the same way.

I think there are a lot of ways to keep that edge in sight, however one defines it. I have done so periodically as family and professional circumstances have permitted. For me it was always physical risk-taking without chemicals. But, I won't criticize anyone like Hitchens or HST who spent the majority of their life at the edge, IMO it is a thrilling place to be. No matter how you get there, or how many years it knocks off your life.

Another thing I heard decades ago, but didn't *fully* adopt - "live hard, die young, and leave good looking corpse". So far, I'm batting under .333

 

[Koolau]

Attributed to Hunter S. Thompson:
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body; but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a ride!"

He was a man of well-documented excesses who appeared to fully understand where the edge was, how close he was too it, and when he went over it. Don't think it's a stretch to say Hitchens lived the same way.

I think there are a lot of ways to keep that edge in sight, however one defines it. I have done so periodically as family and professional circumstances have permitted. For me it was always physical risk-taking without chemicals. But, I won't criticize anyone like Hitchens or HST who spent the majority of their life at the edge, IMO it is a thrilling place to be. No matter how you get there, or how many years it knocks off your life.

Another thing I heard decades ago, but didn't *fully* adopt - "live hard, die young, and leave good looking corpse". So far, I'm batting under .333

I always thought the best way to "go" would be like the BluesMobile at the end of "The Blues Brothers" movie. Instead, I'm going one-part-at-a-time.

 

[Bryan Barnfellow]

When my wife's father was suffering from dementia twenty years ago he was interviewed by a geriatric specialist on his medical team. The doc told him that modern medicine is pretty good at keeping individual failing organs alive within a person; but that doesn't always ensure a good quality of life overall. He asked if my wife's father if he wanted to go piecemeal or would he prefer to "die with some amount of control and dignity." He chose the latter. When things got critical physically he instructed his doctors and nurses to "let nature take its course" and died within days of that decision.

 

[bjorn2bwild]

Attributed to Hunter S. Thompson:
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body; but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a ride!"

He was a man of well-documented excesses who appeared to fully understand where the edge was, how close he was too it, and when he went over it. Don't think it's a stretch to say Hitchens lived the same way.

I think there are a lot of ways to keep that edge in sight, however one defines it. I have done so periodically as family and professional circumstances have permitted. For me it was always physical risk-taking without chemicals. But, I won't criticize anyone like Hitchens or HST who spent the majority of their life at the edge, IMO it is a thrilling place to be. No matter how you get there, or how many years it knocks off your life.

Another thing I heard decades ago, but didn't *fully* adopt - "live hard, die young, and leave good looking corpse". So far, I'm batting under .333

My dad was a big fan, along with Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Kerouac, Hefner and the like, emulating the philosophy and lifestyle but falling short on the adventure. He was married five times but ultimately died alone to the same fate as Hitchens.
I followed suit in my early teens to test the waters, then took a hard pass at adulthood. My only regret is any potential knock-on effects to my health as I age. Darn that slow maturing prefrontal cortex

 

[razztazz]

The best way to go would be like Carl Weathers a few weeks ago. G'night everybody. I'm gonna turn in. See you all in the morning. Even better would be like Bob Hope. Same thing only at 100 after a life of nothing really seriously bad happening.

 

[EastWest Gal]

Swimming is my buzz, but I didn't realize how much until 2023. Every stroke is a nice stretch of arms, back, and legs. I'm using fins to encourage kicking and it has strengthened my legs and has changed my walking gait. I find myself running upstairs without even thinking about it. I also observed the massaging effect the water has, also only this year. I started swimming laps when I was 20 but had major lapses due to time and access. The increased total body strength makes me feel wonderful, just like it did when I started as a college senior. Then, the first four weeks I got out of breath at a 1/4 mile. Then something clicked and I never got out of breath again. I guess my body learned how to breathe.

 

[braumeister]

I only experienced a true "runner's high" a few times, back in my 30s and 40s. But they were truly memorable experiences, and I can still recall them vividly. Of course, I was in the best physical shape of my life back then, so it was to be expected occasionally.

Having never tried recreational pharmaceuticals, I can't compare it to anything, but they were very special occurrences for me.

 

[bjorn2bwild]

I only experienced a true "runner's high" a few times, back in my 30s and 40s. But they were truly memorable experiences, and I can still recall them vividly. Of course, I was in the best physical shape of my life back then, so it was to be expected occasionally.

Having never tried recreational pharmaceuticals, I can't compare it to anything, but they were very special occurrences for me.

Most any longtime athlete has experienced the ‘good day’ phenomenon where everything just clicked or they are ‘In the zone’. Above and beyond the normal athletic high, they do become more elusive with age in my experience.
I continue to experiment with potential catalysts or ‘mother's little helpers’.
Besides good training, some things that work for me -

Caffeine – works best with targeting - no or low daily consumption.
Pseudoephedrine – good on long hard days
Vitamin D3 – I get a mild boost, 2000IU is enough
Octacosinol – mild lift, was once popular, not so much now.
Exogenous Keytones – (expensive) I have tried salts, ester and diols with esters/diols being the most effective.
Cannabis – I tried edibles once on a trail run, I don’t remember if it was effective.

 

[jollystomper]

Of the activities I can discuss in polite company , the one that currently gives me the most "buzz" is walking a round of golf. I feel much more part of the playing the game and being in the surroundings when I walk, as opposed to riding in a cart. If I am by myself and have no one in front of me, I can complete a round in about 2.5 hours. When I am done, I do not feel tired, I feel almost refreshed. Doing this early in the morning makes the rest of the day go better.

I have an friend I play with a lot who is 10 years older than me. When we first started playing together over 10 years ago he walked as well, but now he can only walk maybe one round a week. I thankfully appreciate being able to do this while I can.

 

[RunningBum]

Skiing fast used to be my biggest rush. Before COVID my buddy and I were often the first and only ones out on the blacks on our little ski hill on week days, and if the grooming and temps were right we would let it fly until we had to share the slope with others. My legs aren't as strong anymore and I don't feel safe at full throttle, and we no longer have the slopes to ourselves anymore.

In my two fastest marathons I've had a couple miles where I felt like I was running fast without a lot of effort. The fastest race was miles 15-19, though probably the only reason I slowed in the final 7 is that the race finished with some rolling hills. The second was at mile 23. I was in really good shape that year, and it felt great to push myself to my best times. Now I'm just trying to finish marathons.

 

[Winemaker]

Tried MJ in high school on 2 occasions; never did anything for me except a bad taste in my mouth. Never even tried a cigarette. While I do enjoy the flavors and aromas of food and good wine, beer or other adult beverages, I don't consume anything to excess. Running track in high school never gave me a high either.

If I had a rush or buzz about anything, it would be sharing a remote place with DW, where we hiked walked, or visited and enjoyed the scenery around us. One of my favorite times was getting up early to do the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park. Beautiful scenery on a 17 mile hike, and shared the trail with some Rocky Mountain goats for an hour, and observed some grizzlies eating huckleberries. After the hike, we drove back to the VRBO, grilled some steaks and drank some wine on the deck watching the Snake River. Pretty good high there!

 

[Helen]

I've had insomnia since my hormones started changing, so a really good night sleep gives me the best buzz. After a goodnight sleep a fun game of tennis or a long walk or hike is the best.

 

[street]

Mine is being in the outdoors. Working at ranch, hiking, bike riding, hunting/fishing. The outdoors is good for my soul and whatever ails me.

 

[DrRoy]

I'm not a runner, and a low to moderate drinker (~2-3X per week). My main rush is from exploring grand landscapes.
.