Soaring 5 miles on an eagle's back

What really is a performance-enhancing drug anyway?

I mean why is a steroid a bad drug but caffeine isn't? Don't we all somehow modify our habits, foods, sleep patterns, vitamins to maximize our level of effort?

For instance, yesterday, I slept in too long and missed my chance to get to the gym in the morning. This means I had to go after work which I dreaded, especially because I would be there a long time with the run and a PT-like session of weights. I staggered my snacks and meals so that I'd be adequately full (but not too full) when I entered the gym. I had a latte about 2 hours before because I was feeling sluggish and looking to perk up. I also downloaded a few new songs for my i-pod and changed up my playlist. However, I was so tired on my 30 minute drive to the gym that I didn't think anything would power me through 4 miles. I actually pulled into the parking lot, leaned back my driver's seat and snoozed for ten minutes before getting out of my car. I felt beat. I felt this would be one pathetic run.

I lazily stepped on the elliptical for a ten-minute warm up. I slowly went through the motions of a few stretches. Gosh, I even contemplated running a mile and then just leaving the gym. But somehow as I upped the pace on the treadmill, my legs began to rhythmically keep up. I was pumped for the new "Stand Back" Stevie Nicks remix. Those electronic dance beats are like a metronome for my stride. I was rockin to the Coconut Records' "Nighttiming." I wasn't churning out the boring minutes of lackluster songs that I heard 20 gazillion times previously. I felt so energized that I actually ran 5 miles (instead of the planned 4) in about 55 minutes. Holy Honkin' Hallelujah! I think I actually heard birds singing.

So, back to my original thought. Did I owe my success to performance-enhancing drugs? Was it the latte? What about the new songs---could I have been so enthusiastic without my i-pod? Or, really, what about that power nap?

I don't know what the secret yesterday was. I mean I ran for nearly an hour and then did another hour of weights. It was just one of those times when everything seems to fall into place, when my attitude and my body's willingness are connected in a euphoric sense. One thing is certain---with results like these, I'll be duplicating some of these things in the future.