Runner's high is defined as a feeling of euphoria that is experienced by individuals engaged in strenuous running and that is held to be associated with a release of endorphins by the brain. It's most commonly an
endurance thing, though, so you won't get the same feeling from a short intense sprint that you could from a longer, slower run.
Helper's high is a name for the
uplifting feeling that people experience after doing a good deed or act of kindness. This high is rooted in natural instincts to help our fellow humans. Evolution had wired us to help each other since helping others is beneficial to human survival. Humans are social beings, meaning that we have evolved to create and maintain social bonds. Kindness, compassion, and altruism are ways that we have learned to do this. After doing good, our bodies release feel good endorphins that reward us for our actions. It's a natural 'high" that is designed to motivate us to continue doing good.
This fact of running providing a double barrel delight of runner's high and helper's high was evident in the recent 1st Mt. Asog 360 Ultramarathon (MATSU) which was held last Feb 18. Not only did the runners and organizers had a great dose of endorphins from running and walking the 50km or road and trail but also their hard work was rewarded with the uplifting knowledge that the organizers (RUNconada) donated the proceeds from the event to
Saint Jude Thaddeus Parish Church in San Nicolas, Iriga City. The money was to aid in the construction of the parish church.
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| RUNconada officers handing over the donation to the Fr. Misael Quindo of St. Jude Thaddeus Parish Church. |
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| Group photo of RUNconada in front of the Church, construction of which is still ongoing. |
For the part of Bicolano Penguin and fellow running 83neans and row5runners, we also utilized our running of the MATSU to raise funds for good. The way we raised the funds was to ask our friends and relatives to pledge a certain peso or dollar for each kilometer that we run in the ultra marathon. If we are able to finish the race within the cut off time, then they remit the pledges they made. Fortunately for us, we were all able to finish the MATSU within the 10-hour cut off. And our donors were all so glad to send their cash. A big big thanks to our kind-hearted donors - Magen, Ruvill, Raul, Fards, Virlita, Glo, Honey, Jing, Rex, Bitoy, Bobby, Mark, Batoy, Kulas and Rolly.
So, we were able to collect on the pledges and handed over the money to our target beneficiary which was the
Fatima Center for Human Development. Based in San Agustin, Iriga City, the Fatima Center houses more than 120 orphans, abandoned and extremely poor children. It also has a school, the Fatima Integrated Farm School, which has been providing elementary and high school education for the past 23 years and counting to the orphans as well as children from the surrounding communities.
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| Handing over the check to Sr. Felicitas of the Daughters of Saint Augustine (DSA) who administers the Fatima Center. Fellow runners Ed, Orly, Ernie and Bob joined me in visiting the Fatima Center last Feb 16. |
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| Sr. Felicitas explaining to the runners the various programs of the Fatima Center which are focused on social development, education and the orphanage. |
Thanks to the kind generosity of our relatives, classmates and friends, we were able to be of help to the Fatima Center which is doing a lot of good for the community. Just recently, the Fatima Integrated Farm School held its graduation ceremonies for the first batch of senior high school graduates. And the Bicolano Penguin was honored to be invited as the guest speaker in the April 5 graduation ceremonies.
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| The Bicolano Penguin with the school directress, faculty and the first senior high school graduates of the Fatima Integrated Farm School last April 5. |
Life is about helping and being helped. Life is good.
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