Runners 'High'

I am a runner. I run three to four times a week; sometimes more if I am training for a marathon. I was fascinated by an article in the New York Times on Thursday (03/27) about ‘runners high’; that euphoric feeling runners are supposed to get when they finish a race. I assumed ‘runners high’ was a myth or at the very least, something an elite runner experienced, not a duffer like me. The Times article put an end to the myth and described how a German doctor discovered a scientific method of measuring ‘runners high’.

I read about ‘runners high’ from magazine articles. I don’t believe I ever experienced this ‘high’; usually described as a release of endorphins in the brain which brought about a state of euphoria - akin to being stoned. (Endorphins affect mood.) I ran seven marathons and I never felt like that. All I felt was exhaustion, as I clutched my heart and did everything I could to avoid puking, as I collapsed on the ground.

So here is the scoop on how the ‘runners high’ was finally measured.
A Dr. Hening Boecher of the University of Bonn discovered that PET scans used to measure pain, combined with new chemicals could be used to measure endorphin levels in a runners brain. The good doctor tested runners before a race and at the end and discovered elevated endorphin levels in the area of the brain associated with emotion. Dr. Boecher compared the ‘high’ to the feeling one gets from being in love.

Dr. Boecker and colleagues recruited 10 distance runners and told them they were studying opioid receptors in the brain. But the runners did not realize that the investigators were studying the release of endorphins and the runner’s high. The athletes had a PET scan before and after a two-hour run. They also took a standard psychological test that indicated their mood before and after running.
The data showed that, indeed, endorphins were produced during running and were attaching themselves to areas of the brain associated with emotions, in particular the limbic and prefrontal areas.
The limbic and prefrontal areas, Dr. Boecker said, are activated when people are involved in romantic love affairs or, he said, “when you hear music that gives you a chill of euphoria, like Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3.” The greater the euphoria the runners reported, the more endorphins in their brain. – New York Times, Thursday 03/27

Now I know that ‘runners high’ is not a myth, but is a real and measurable feeling, instead of puking or collapsing at the end of my race, I will dig deep in my prefrontal brain for those euphoric feelings of love.

Note to my Dear Sister Michelle: Update on the kids.

A mother’s love for her children is a powerful emotion; one that kept my 43-year-old sister Michelle clinging to life in Beaumount Hospital, Dublin, a year after the doctors said she should have died.

My sister was diagnosed with renal cancer in 2005 and was given six-months to live. For a year and a half she fought hard for every breath. Michelle just wanted to stay around to see her two young children grow up. She died in January 2007.

Dear Michelle,

I spent the last week with my niece and nephew, Rachael (5) and Christopher (3) in your home. I wanted to write to you to let you know how they are getting on. I know you were worried about them before you passed on last year - so here is the latest. Rachael will be five next week and we're having a big birthday party for her and her friends. Can you believe it? She goes to the infant's school in Marino now, where you and me went as kids. You would tear up just to see her in her green uniform and tie, all grown up at five. She is the cutest five-year old you have ever seen. She is a real 'girly' girl - she loves her Barbie's and boy does she have an imagination! Rachael plays 'Barbie’s' andChristopher and I end up playing some minor role in her sitting-room floor dramas. You would get a laugh to see your 42-year old brother lying on your sitting room floor playing 'Barbie's, petrified to call a doll by the wrong name in case I get a scowl from Rachael that would make a CEO flinch.

You could not have chosen a better husband or father to the kids thanRichard. He is the most involved and loving parent I have witnessed. The kids adore him and he them - but you knew that. Every morning, I wake-up to the sound of the kid's laughter, as they jump and roll around with Richard in your old bed. He gets as much out of it as they do. I swear!'

Mommy' Richard, that is what I call him - is just as good when it comes time to kiss those 'booboos' better after a slip or fall. Recently, Rachael got a cold, Richard nursed her back to health with all the love and caring our mom gave us to us. He was there at every turn to sooth and to calm her. God, you would have been so proud Michelle.

He cooks healthy meals as per your instructions and he's a good cook at that. I must apologize up front because I occasionally slip the kids sweets. What are uncles for? Now, to the living terror, Christopher; Michelle he's crazy. He is a three-year-old energy bunny. He keeps going and going and going. Remind me to cut down on his sweet allowance! Christopher flies around the house pretending to be a cross between a power ranger and a ninja turtle. He loves his 'Morphin - Power Ranger', the one I got him for Christmas. He takes him everywhere, even out to Tescos.

But mind me Michelle, you cannot take your eyes off Christopher for a minute, otherwise he's off to the races. Speaking of eyes - he still has those bright blue buttons you hoped he'd never lose. He loves his crèche and when I picked him up the other day, his teacher told me he gets along famously with all the other kids. You can relax; it doesn't look like he is going to be the shy and retiring kind! Rachael and Christopher still ask about you in heaven, not as often though. I think you'll agree that is a good thing. Occasionally, Rachael asks me what it was like being your brother. I talk about you until she is bored. Anyway, I must dash. I can hear Christopher calling me, another power ranger stuck between two chairs! You know how it is. I'll keep in touch.

P.S. You did great - no need to worry.

Love

Uncle Charlie.

A Faltering Campaign

It was Bill Clinton who said, "If she wins Texas and Ohio I think she will be the nominee. If you don't deliver for her, I don't think she can be. It's all on you," the former president told the audience in Texas on February 20, when speaking about his wife’s campaign.

Fast forward to February 26 and Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton duked it out in their last debate before the crucial Texas and Ohio primaries. Tuesday’s debate began with a punch. Clinton attacked Obama on mailers his campaign distributed; claiming her healthcare plan did not cover everyone. “I have a great deal of respect for senator Obama, but we have differences, and in the last several days some of those differences in tactics and the choices that senator Obama's campaign has made regarding flyers and mailers, other information that has been put out about my healthcare plan, and my position about NAFTA uh have been very disturbing to me. And therefore, I think it's important to stand up for yourself and you point out these differences so that voters have the information they need to make a decision,” she said. Clinton supports universal healthcare. Obama parried her accusation and after spending 16 minutes on healthcare, the debate wound down to long policy speeches on trade and foreign policy. In the end, the debate was a tie with no one side coming out on top.

Therein lays the problem for Hillary Clinton’s campaign. How does she stop Obama’s momentum before the Texas and Ohio primaries on March 4? The Illinois Senator has won the last 10 primaries and caucuses.

Recent polls show Clinton’s support slipping in both Texas and Ohio. Most polls have Obama with a slight lead in Texas and gaining ground in Ohio. In January, Clinton had a comfortable double digit lead over her rival in both states. Throw into the mix the perception that the New York Senator’s campaign is faltering. Recently, Clinton replaced her chief strategist and lent her own campaign five million dollars. Thursday (02/29), the former first lady’s campaign reported that she raised $35-million dollar for the month of February.

Clinton needed to win Tuesday’s debate convincingly, before Texas and Ohio. She needed to out maneuver Obama; to catch him off guard if you will, and she failed to do that. At this late stage in the nomination race, it is hard to see how she can stop Obama winning the Democratic nomination.

In the past, the Clinton campaign switched tactics weekly with every primary loss. Her ‘Experience’ message, the cornerstone of Clinton’s campaign, failed to catch on with voters. Then her message switched to ‘change’ and finally, she settled on highlighting the differences in policy issues - all for naught.

Clinton’s fall has not been all her own making. Barack Obama the ‘change’ candidate appears to have the right message, at the right time for America. Americans are clamoring for change and that is reflected in the huge turnout of new voters in the primaries.

Texas has a total of 193 democratic delegates up for grabs. Ohio has 141 delegates. The democratic nominee needs to secure 2025 delegates to win nomination. Presently, Obama has 1365 and Clinton has 1265 (incl. Super Delegates).

Don't Write Off Hillary Clinton Just Yet

If Senator Hillary Clinton reads the newspapers or watches television, she cannot help but see the obituaries written about her winning the democratic nomination for president - particularly after losing the last eight primaries and caucuses to Senator Barack Obama. But on Thursday (02/14) workers at a GM Assembly Plant in Ohio, saw a rejuvenated Clinton, who had taken the gloves off as she railed against her opponent’s message of change. In her speech, she accused her opponent of stealing her ideas on creating ‘green’ jobs. She attacked his message of change by calling it ‘talk’ and no action. Despite her hoarse voice, Clinton gave an impassioned speech on restoring American manufacturing jobs and taking on everything from trade with China to the credit card companies.

Armed with the knowledge that the economy is first and foremost on voters minds, the New York Senator promised new manufacturing jobs and help for the struggling middle class, if only she can get past the first hurdle – winning the democratic nomination.

Momentum

Barack Obama won in Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington states on Saturday (02/09). He won the state of Maine on Sunday (02/10). He will face off with Hillary Clinton in Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland, on Tuesday (02/12).
To date, Obama has 943 delegates, compared to Clinton’s 895. (A total number of 2,025 delegates are needed for nomination)

After Sunday’s (02/10) win in Maine, Clinton made a change at the top of her campaign management team. Campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle stepped down from running the day-to-day operations and was replaced by Maggie Williams. Both of these women have worked with the Clinton’s for many years.

Momentum – that is the word most commonly used to describe Barack Obama’s weekend sweep. When Obama wins state after state, he receives both more media attention and positive media attention. He comes off as a winner; the most important person in American society is a winner. The newspaper interviews and the television news segments all come with winning. This attention re-enforces his image as a winner in the public’s mind. The media coverage leaves the impression of inevitability - he will win the democratic presidential nomination.

On the other hand, Clinton was the loser coming out of this weekend’s election. Her media attention was mostly negative and was hurt considerably by her organizational change, portrayed as a sign of desperation in the media. Clinton’s changing act, coupled with last week’s five million dollar loan to herself, were acts of desperation in the media.

The combination of Obama’s positive attention and Clinton’s negative attention in the media leads to a downward spiral for the Clinton’s campaign. It will be interesting to see if she can counter Obama’s momentum. One big win in Ohio or Texas could turn that momentum around.

Super Tuesday, Super Bowl

U.S. presidential politics is a full contact sport. It’s a ‘beat ‘em up, drag ‘em down’ contest until there is only one candidate left standing come November. That is what makes Super Tuesday (02/04) such an exciting event for political junkies like me.

Barack Obama is running neck and neck in the polls with his democratic rival Hillary Clinton going into Tuesday’s primaries. This fact alone seemed as improbable as the New York Giants winning the Super Bowl on Sunday (02/03), just a couple of months ago.

Sunday (02/03) saw New York Giants beat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, the American equivalent of the World Cup (without the ‘world’ taking part). The Giants win was considered an improbable event until just before game time Sunday. The Giants were 12 points underdogs going into the game according Las Vegas bookies. The New York team started out the season by losing their first two games. The heartless New York media called for ‘heads to roll’, including the teams coach, Tom Coughlin. Sunday saw the Giants go to Arizona and beat what was championed as the greatest team assembled in American Football History, the New England Patriots. They had won 18 games coming into the Super Bowl and lost none. They even beat the New York Giants earlier in the season, but narrowly.

Here comes Super Tuesday (02/04) and voters in 24 states will go to the polls in what is touted an unprecedented race for the White House. Republicans and Democrats are expected to vote in huge numbers in influential states like California and New York. The two most populous states with their large delegate count will play the biggest role in choosing the next president of the United States in November.

The only certainty in this election year is that American’s want change. It has yet to be seen whether they want to throw the republicans out of the White House and replace them with democrats, or whether they want to see a new republican face at the presidential helm.

A couple of months ago, the Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama was so far behind his rival, Hillary Clinton in the national polls as to be considered an also ran. A couple wins in the early state primaries later and some key endorsements from Ted Kennedy, the Kennedy patriarch, and celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and he is now running neck and neck going into Super Tuesday, according to the latest polls. (A CBS poll has them both at 41 percent).

On the republican side, John McCain, Tuesday’s republican front-runner, is clearly going into Super Tuesday with what looks like an insurmountable lead over his two rivals, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. A CBS poll has McCain getting 46 percent of the votes compared to Romney’s 23 percent and Huckabee’s 12 percent.

Like Sunday’s improbable Giants Super Bowl win, McCain was considered a ‘goner’ when his campaign hit a road block a couple of months ago. He was in financial difficulty early in the election process. He ended up firing his top political advisors and took to the road on his ‘Straight Talk Express’ campaign bus, instead of the preferred private planes used by the other candidates.

McCain’s resurgence can be linked to the progress made by American troops in quelling the violence in Iraq. McCain is closely linked in the voter’s minds to his support for the unpopular military surge proposed by George Bush. Now that Iraq had faded from media headlines and the surge is perceived by the electorate to be a success, McCain has benefited from his earlier controversial decision to support the surge. Also, it doesn’t hurt that the American economy has taken precedence in voter’s minds, leaving Iraq a distant memory.

The only sure thing about this Tuesday is the New York Giants ticker tater-tape parade down Manhattan’s canyon of heroes. So let the games begin.

What a Difference a Day Makes in American Politics

And then there were two - left in the democratic race for president. On Wednesday (01.30), John Edwards ended his campaign where he started, in New Orleans. Speaking from a 'Habitat for Humanity' village in New Orleans, Edwards stuck with the issue that took him to the dance - poverty and class struggle. He did not endorse either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.

In his speech to supporters Edwards said, "I must step aside so history can blaze its path. We do not know who will take the final step to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but we do know the Democratic Party will make history." Edwards had a hard time connecting with voters on key issues. He was overshadowed by the two big stars of the Democratic Party. The writing was on the wall after Edwards, a successful trial lawyer, came in third in his home state of South Carolina. His best showing was second in Iowa. Edwards ran as John Kerry's running mate in the 2004 presidential election.

Rudy Giuliani dropped his presidential bid on Wednesday night after a poor showing in the Florida primary. Giuliani pursued a risky strategy of betting the bank on the delegate rich state of Florida and lost. He came in a distant third to McCain and Romney. In his farewell speech, Giuliani endorsed his rival and friend John McCain.
``You don't always win, but you can always try to do it right, and you did,” Giuliani said.
``John McCain is the most qualified candidate to be the next commander in chief of the United States,'' he said. ``He's an American hero.''

Now, all eyes move to Super Tuesday on February 5, when 24 states hold their primaries and caucuses.