Getting (runner’s) High in Amsterdam

By Erika Thompson

With the recent completion of the Amsterdam half-marathon, I hang up my finisher’s medal among the rest with pride. It feels like an accomplishment and in that moment, I am invincible and immediately sign up for my next challenge: the Barcelona Half-Marathon in February 2014. But then Monday comes and I wake up with stiffness, aching and soreness as I waddle around the city and grip the railing with white knuckles descending down the staircase. Tuesday comes and I opt for a glorious nap after a long day instead of the obligatory workout. Wednesday comes and my 5km run feels like it will never end… and I think on days like these, why do I intentionally put myself through grueling events like this over and over again? The answer: runner’s high.

Syria’s subtle scream for attention…

by Noort Bakx

 

While the news has been buzzing all week long about the Boston bombings, a picture of the Syrian rebels showed up showing solidarity and support for the victims in the attacks, while simultaneously pointing out that these kind of horrors have become part of everyday life in Syria. This picture makes me wonder about two things. First of all, how does the focus on either putting Boston or Syria in the news work, why do the horrors of Boston get more attention in the news than Syria does? And second of all, what does this picture really represent?