1 . Running is often tiring and a lot of hard work, but nothing beats the feeling you get after finishing a long workout around the track.

But while it’s long been believed that endorphins (内啡肽) —chemicals in the body that cause happiness—are behind the so-called “runner’s high”, a study suggested that there may be more to this phenomenon than we previously knew.

According to a recent study published by a group of scientists from several German universities, a group of chemicals called endocannabinoids (内源性大麻素) may actually be responsible for this familiar great feeling.

To test this theory, the scientists turned to mice. Both mice and humans release high levels of endorphins and endocannabinoids after exercise. After exercising on running wheels, the mice seemed happy and relaxed and displayed no signs of anxiety. But after being given a drug to block their endorphins, the mice’s behavior didn’t seem to change. However, when their endocannabinoids were blocked with a different drug, their runners’ high symptoms seemed to fade.

“The long-held notion of endorphins being responsible for the runner’s high is false. Endorphins are effective pain relievers, but only when it comes to the pain in your body and muscles you feel after working out,” Patrick Lucas Austin wrote on science blog Lifchacker.

Similar studies are yet to be carried out on humans, but it’s already known that exercise is a highly effective way to get rid of stress or anxiety. The UK’s National Health Service even prescribes (开药 方) exercise to patients who are suffering from depression. “Being depressed can leave you feeling low in energy, which might put you off being more active. Regular exercise can improve your mood if you have depression, and its especially useful for people with mild to moderate (中等的) depression,” it wrote on its website.

It seems like nothing can beat that feeling we get after a good workout, even if we don’t fully understand where it comes from. At least if we’re feeling down, we know that all we have to do is to put on our running shoes.

After watching my son Todd run in a race, I made my usual comment, “Todd, I can walk faster than those women run.” Todd laughed as he knew I wasn’t a runner. “Mom, how about you running with me next year in this race?” Without thinking, I quickly accepted this challenge. I felt this was going to be a piece of cake!

When it was almost time for the race to occur the next year, Todd had been in hospital for a long time because of a car accident. Todd and my friends started to encourage me to run the race. I decided I should keep my promise to Todd and run the race. The first thing I did was go out and buy some running clothes. I might as well look good even though I hadn’t trained at all.

The day of the race came. I wished Todd could be there with me, but I had to start off alone. It wasn’t long before some racers started to run next to me and talk to me. I wouldn’t like to talk because I wanted to focus on my running. However, one guy was very talkative. He kept saying how tired he was, and that I must be tired too. He talked on and on. The race was over and this guy’s wife won! I didn’t mind this result. I was just happy to finish the race and keep my promise to Todd.

Todd asked about the race when I went to the hospital. I told him what had happened and how this guy would not stop his negative talk. Todd laughed and set me straight, “Don’t you know what this guy was doing? He thought you were the competitor by the way you were dressed. He wanted his wife to win.” Only then did I figure out the truth, so I decided to continue taking part in the race the next year; I wanted to win this time.

The following year I did train. I even bought some tapes called “Win at Sports” and listened to them daily. These tapes gave ideas about staying behind and knowing when to make your move.

When it was time for the race, I was all dressed and ready.       

I stayed behind this guy’s wife in almost the whole race.

5 . As a high school coach, I did all I could to help my boys win their games. I cheered as hard for________as they did. A dramatic incident, however, following a game in which I was a referee(裁判), changed my ________on victory and defeat.

It was a league championship basketball game between New Rochelle and Yonkers High. New Rochelle was________ by Dan O’Brien, and Yonkers by Les Beck The gym was ________, and the noise made it impossible to hear. The game was well played and ________competed. Yonkers was leading by one point as I________ at the clock and discovered there were but 10 seconds to play. New Rochelle, in possession of the ball, passed off and shot. The ball________ around the rim(篮筐边沿) and off. The fans________. New Rochelle recovered the ball, and tapped it in for what looked like victory. The noise was deafening.

I looked at the clock and saw that the game was over. I hadn’t heard the final buzzer(终场哨) because of the noise. I ________with the other official, but he could not help me. So, I________ the timekeeper, a young man of 17 or so. He said, “Sir, the buzzer________ before the final tap-in(托球入篮) was made. Yonkers won!”

I had to tell O’Brien the sad news. His face clouded over. The young timekeeper came up and said, “I’m sorry, dad. The________ ran out before the final basket.”________ , like the sun coming out from behind a cloud, O’Brien’s face lit up. He said, ”That’s okay, Joe. You did what you had to. I’m ________of you.” The two of them then walked off the _________together, the coach’s arm around his son’s shoulder.

All parents know exercise is important for children: It can lower heart risks, control weight,and help kids do better in school. Plus, outdoor activities at an early age can go a long way toward helping children form healthy habits for life. In other words, exercise is needed for healthy development. But don’t expect kids to understand about those things. Some kids just aren’t into exercise, but that shouldn’t mean they have to be addicted to the TV. So parents could do something to help inactive son or daughter fall in love with physical activity.

If parents sit in front of the TV every night, a bag of chips in hand, kids aren’t likely to respect restrictions (限制) you set on their screen time either. So check your own viewing behavior, and serve as a role model by putting physical activity into your everyday life. When you can, walk instead of driving. Regularly participate in activities that you enjoy and let your kids see — and hear about — how much you enjoy them. In this way, they may “do as the Romans do”. Make sure that children’s fitness is included in the family schedule in the same way that school, work, shopping, and family gatherings find their way onto the calendar. You and your children are more likely to stick to an exercise plan if you incorporate it into your life on a routine basis. And your children will begin to expect and accept that Sunday morning usually means a hike ride, and a couple of nights after dinner the family takes a light walk through the neighborhood.

Children who aren’t naturally good at physical activities may be self-conscious about their lack of physical skills and even fear public failure. These kids need all the support and encouragement from parents. Negative comments don’t work and will only serve to make your child feel bad. Remember, acknowledge the effort — choosing to be active or trying to improve a skill — rather than the outcome.

7 . Phys ed (physical education) is making a comeback as a part of the school core curriculum, but with a difference.    1    Instead of learning how to climb a rope, children are taught to lift weights, balance their diets and build physical endurance. In this way, kids are given the tools and skills and experiences so they can lead a physically active life the rest of their life.

    2    In many cases, that may mean not just replacing the old gym-class model with fitness programs but also starting up phys ed programs because school boards often “put P.E. on the chopping block, cutting it entirely or decreasing its teachers or the days it is offered,” says Alicia Moag-Stahlberg, the executive director of Action for Health Kids. The difference in phys ed programs is partly due to the lack of a national standard. “Physical education needs to be part of the core curriculum,” she added.

The wisdom of the new approach has some scientific support. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have showed how effective the fit-for-life model of gym class can be.    3     The researchers also found that teaching sports like football resulted in less overall movement, partly because some reluctant students were able to sit on the bench.

Another problem with simply teaching group sports in gym class is that only a small percentage of students continue playing them after graduating from high school.     4    

The athlete I admire