Marathon runners often mention they experience something called a “runner’s high,” or an intense feeling of happiness and joy after a good run. But what exactly is this runner’s high, and how does it work?
A runner’s high is a euphoric state triggered by long or intense periods of aerobic exercise. The term may have emerged in the 1970s, during the United States’ first recreational running boom, when people started running for fun in droves.
While exercising, the body releases various chemicals, including several different endorphins. These chemicals essentially act like opioids, just much weaker, relaxing the body and relieving pain. Due to these effects, scientists initially attributed the runner’s high to endorphins. However, decades later, scientists realized that as endorphins do not cross the blood-brain barrier, they shouldn’t directly affect one’s mood.
As such, scientists turned elsewhere to explain the phenomenon. Newer research now points to endocannabinoids as the cause. Chemically related to the active ingredient in cannabis, this chemical has several therapeutic effects and can cross the blood-brain barrier, unlike endorphins. The “feel-good” chemical dopamine may also contribute to the runner’s high as a part of the brain’s reward system.
So, how does one achieve a runner’s high? Exercising at high intensities for long periods is the most obvious answer. However, as everyone’s body is different, the level of intensity required varies. Also, some people don’t experience runner’s high no matter how hard or long they exercise.
Regardless of whether you can experience a runner’s high, aerobic exercise has numerous physical and mental health benefits. And these benefits don’t stop once you finish your exercise. Regular intensive exercise can lead to the growth of new blood vessels and brain cells, improving brain performance and preventing cognitive decline.