Is a “Runner’s High" Real?

True runners KNOW a “Runner’s High” is not only real, but also one of their chief motivators. There is nothing quite like the feeling. Well, maybe drug users can understand it, but those who don’t run simply don’t have a concept.

What Does it Feel Like?

Imagine your everyday life and think about your moods. We all have swings of moods from very bad to very good. Think about the good moods. A runner’s high is like having your very best mood you’ve ever had times 2. No, you are not in some drug induced euphoria; it is just a very, very good mood. And it feels very, very good!

First and Second Stages

There are two stages of a runner’s high. The first stage occurs while running and is not as intense as the one which comes afterward. Most people who scoff at the actual existence of a runner’s high have never felt one simply because they have not trained their bodies hard enough to get to a level where it occurs. When my non-running friends who are non-believers in the high have asked me about this in the past, I always ask how far they run. Most have never run farther than a mile or two at once in their life. This simply is not far enough for the high to start kicking in.

So what exactly is the “runner’s high”?

Let’s use an example of a non-runner, one who can only run a mile or two at most without having to stop. As they begin running, their brains are SCREAMING at them to stop and walk. It is just a natural instinct for the brain to think about conserving energy. As they continue running, the discomfort becomes greater and greater. Eventually, the brain wins and the body stops running and begins walking because of the discomfort felt by the brain. The lungs and muscles were sending very strong messages to the brain that this was using WAY too much energy!

Why Most Think it is a Myth

What the novice runner didn’t know was that there was another way to quiet the brain besides stopping. As one continues to run farther and farther the discomfort increases. But the brain has another mechanism which is uses to fight discomfort. Endorphins, or brain chemicals, are released by the brain to fight pain and discomfort. But the brain does not start releasing them right away. It tries the easy way first; just tell the legs to walk. But if one doesn’t give in to that message. If a runner has the will power to push themselves through that initial period, good things will start to happen.

ENDORPHINES!

As the endorphins are released, the pain and discomfort gradually goes away. This is what is called a runner’s “second wind”. At this stage, all the pain and feelings of needing to stop and walk are all but gone. Endorphins are the body’s natural pain killers. They also provide feelings of euphoria. The runner feels like he or she can run forever. And a runner could in fact run forever at this point if normal body mechanics issues didn’t come up.

Depending upon the level of fitness a runner can only run so far without some “issue” cropping up. Most likely it will be a twinge in a knee which develops further into a full fledge pain which forces the runner to stop.
Although the runner’s high during the run feels great, it is nothing like the one soon to come. After about an hour of running (yes an hour!) the brain is producing tons of endorphins. If the runner stops at this point, the endorphins continue being produced for a while.

WOW!

Now the runner is in a state of rest, but the endorphins are still pumping like crazy! About 30 minutes after the run is when the runner really feels the great effects. He is fully recovered and has endorphins are still flowing like crazy! The runner is going to be enjoying his or her “Runner’s High” for the next several hours! And even after that, the lingering effect of the high will remain through the rest of the day!