Does The Body Make Itself High

Despite what Bruce Springsteen would have us believe, some scientific studies have attempted to prove that humans simply weren't born to run. We are, after all, bipeds -- we stand and move on two legs. Cheetahs, pumas and other lightning-fast sprinters of the animal kingdom have the advantage of two extra legs to propel them. And as humankind has evolved and advanced over time, we seem to have even fewer reasons to move quickly. Hunting weaponry resolved our need to chase after fast-moving prey. Trains, automobiles and airplanes eliminated the problem of traversing long distances on our own two feet. And now, texting and e-mailing co-workers rather than moseying two cubicles' distance to share a message can keep us stationary nearly all day. As a group, marathoners are disciplined, resilient people. As individuals, marathoners have many perspectives about the sport. For some, the marathon is a competitive race. For others, it's a test of mental endurance -- or even a social event where they can meet like-minded fitness enthusiasts.



And for the improperly trained, it's 26.2 miles of muscle-aching torture. While this article is by no means intended to be your training guide to what is one of the world's most popular endurance events, it should demystify certain aspects of the marathon. It may even get you thinking about whether you can attempt this athletic feat. And Alpha Surge Male performance booster you wouldn't be alone in these grandiose considerations. Many marathoners approach the event with modest hopes: They dream of simply finishing the race. What is it about a marathon that inspires unlikely runners to shape up and lace up their sneakers? Is running a marathon really something anyone can do? Smear on some anti-chafing balm and Alpha Surge Male supplement support take your mark: On the next page, we'll learn about the history of the marathon. Special thanks to Jeff Galloway, U.S. Olympian, running coach and Alpha Surge Male formula founder of the Galloway Run-Walk Method, for his assistance with this article. The late fifth century B.C. The Greeks relied on fleet-footed messengers during wartime.



These messengers covered the rocky and mountainous terrain and served as informational diplomats. Around 490 B.C., he was sent from the army's stronghold at Marathon to Sparta, where he asked for the Spartans' help fighting off the Persians. The trek likely took him a day and a half -- and the Spartans' answer had been a disappointing "no." Phidippides returned to Marathon a day and a half later. The Athenians eventually outmaneuvered the Persians. Celebration was short-lived: The army had to spread the word to the city. The Athenians were planning to burn their city to elude victorious marauders. Once again, Phidippides hit the ground running. In 1896, the year of the first modern Olympic Games, the marathon was recreated as an athletic event. Pierre de Coubertin was the mastermind behind the games, but it was co-organizer Michel Breal who proposed including a race commemorating Phidippides' legendary trek. The race -- dubbed "marathon" after the messenger's starting point -- was nearly 25 miles (40.2 kilometers) long.



Enthused race supporters called it the ultimate homage to the ancient Greeks, whose minds had conceived of the Olympics. But detractors argued that the race was unsafe: The weather would be too hot and the distance far too long for man to survive it. Nonetheless, the marathon remained on the itinerary -- and the Greeks were favored to win. Their marathon team was carefully selected through trial races over the marathon course. The fastest time among these trial finishers was around 3:18 (Charilaos Vasilakos); and a second trial produced a finisher who clocked 3:11:27 (Mr. Lavrentis -- first name unknown). The Greeks finally chose 13 men for their team -- which made up the bulk of the 17 competitors. He even stopped halfway through the race at Pikermi to have a glass of wine. Vasilakos came in second place. In 1908, when London hosted the Olympic Games, the marathon track was extended to its current 26.2 miles at the behest of King Edward VII's wife, Alexandra, who asked that the course start by the palace.



Her request was obliged, adding 1.2 miles to the already trepid distance. A course of 26.2 miles is no simple feat. Next, we'll discuss some factors to consider when deliberating the distance. It's not hard to be inspired by this legendary distance -- and it's not uncommon to be intimidated by it. When you think of a marathoner, do you imagine the stick-thin man in teeny-tiny shorts leading the pack? He represents only a fraction of the marathoning demographic. People assumed that the marathon was a dangerous feat and that only the most elite athletes could participate. When was the turning point? While many opted for male enhancement leotards, leg warmers and Alpha Surge Male official site Jane Fonda's aerobic workouts, others discovered the economic practicality of running. As Boston University Athletic male enhancement Center (BUAEC) chairman Noel Vigue, M.Ed., explains, running is an inexpensive and effective way to stay in shape. As more people took up running for health and sport, road racing became popular. These races spoke to people's competitive natures and offered an opportunity for runners to socialize with one another.