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09 August 2005
What does it feel like? When you're exercising and you get your second wind, what does it feel like to you?
I can breathe a little easier, I don't feel the burn as much, and my mind gets very still. Also, when it hits, I feel like I could keep running forever. This feeling doesn't last, however, and when I start to come down of my second wind, there is no third wind. Or, at least, I'm too lazy to see if there is...
When I played soccer (and once during sex), when i got my second wind, my hands and feet would 'tingle' and get kinda numb...sometimes the skin on my back would tingle too....
Sure, I get tingly. Sometimes it's a gentle buzzing in my thighs (this is getting a little dirty, eh?) and sometimes it's more of an all-over kind of thing. I think this is totally normal, common even. Endorphins? Circulation thing?
You know jonmc... it's like when you're eating and you think you can't possibly eat another bite, but then you sit back, unbutton your jeans, drink a slug of beer, and start eating again. Second wind.
I think it must be endorphins. Because as Schyler reminded me, it happens sometimes when I have sex too. (There's another question--Do you find sex hard to remember even when you aren't drunk?)
Anyway, I really should stop being such a hypocondriac. But asking my invisible internet friends does seem to clear things up.
(Hi Schyler. You got back home safe, I see. Now come back!)
I was tired from partying with them the night before, then spending all afternoon watching the Duel in the Pool instead of napping. (Man, we whomped the Aussies.)
Funny, I always associated the tingling with the cooling down of the sweat, like from a breeze, and would describe the physical sensation of a second wind more as a pulsing. The clarity of mind, easy breathing, and easier performance (limbs almost seem lighter), I second.
Definitely the feeling that you could go on forever. I get that swimming and running -- the first mile/8 lengths is awful, then you settle down and then 20 minutes or whatever later you are loving it.
It always starts bad for me no matter how fit I am :)
I feel great after runs, too, but I'm not convinced it's the endorphins. Rather more the effects of a good stretch, that nice muscle soreness from use, and a good dose of "thank god it's over".
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