That rush of heat and the shiver of muscles twitching in anticipation is regularly sought by adrenalin junkies today. When more of us fought for our very survival, the feeling helped us to get motivated to take action or put us in high gear to get away from a threat. Now there are those who enjoy the feeling under controlled risk circumstances. Certainly there is a slight risk to things such as a roller coaster ride but it pales in comparison to other adventures.

1. Fast Cars and Motorcycles

The thrum of the engine in one’s ears and feeling the raw power of all that horsepower gets our internal motors running. Drag racing is probably the most risky. Going from zero to over 300 miles per hour in about 4.5 seconds is a mad rush. Plus, the risk of that 90 percent nitromethane and 10 percent alcohol fuel going up in a fireball puts an extra edge on the sport. If two wheels are preferred, there are motorcycle races around the world that approach speeds of 200 miles per hour.

2. Rock Climbing

It sounds benign until one sees how high up these enthusiasts go and that they often are not connected to a safety rope. The 20,470 foot Trango Towers rock climb in Pakistan is a tall order for even the most experienced climber. If a commercially made rock wall attraction seems safer, try the Excalibur rock wall in Groningen, Holland at 121 feet.

3. Firefighting

Who puts on a small tank of air and runs into buildings that are hotter than 1,000 degrees at the ceiling? Firefighters do! While everyone else is running away, the firefighters are fighting their way into a burning building to get to the seat of the beast to extinguish it. Even soldiers and police seek cover in battle. Firefighters run right up to their enemy!

4. Horse Racing

Whether watching or riding, horse racing gets the heart pumping. Race horses can weigh in at 1,500 pounds with a rider that is typically barely over a 100 pounds. Horses move down the track at around 35 mph. That is nowhere near as fast as drag racing but the thunder of all those hooves, the dust flying and the crowd holding betting slips high in the air can get anyone’s adrenalin rising.

5. Base Jumping

Last but not least is the sport for crazy people. Okay, one does not have to be officially crazy, but it may help. Base jumping is strapping on a parachute and jumping off a bridge, building or mountain. All the while the hope and goal is to not hit anything and have the chute deploy. The Cave of Swallows in Mexico at 1,200 feet is probably the craziest jump of all.

These are just five examples of what can get the adrenalin going. There are many more out there. However, horse racing is the safest and most fun for the majority of people. It does not require special equipment and everyone gets to go home with all their parts intact at the end of the day.