You may not have yet experienced the runner’s high, particularly if you’re new to running. Though studies (as well as numerous first-hand accounts) indicate that the high exists, there isn’t a magic distance or time required to experience it.

Single runner’s experience is unique. Some people experience a runner’s high during their first 30-minute sprint, and others have never experienced it in years of racing.

You do not feel that way after every run until you’ve seen it. You would have to wait a long time for it to happen again.

What Is the Runner’s High?

Runners who have seen the rush explain it in a variety of ways. Words like “calm,” “peace,” “euphoric,” and “blissful” are also used.

Some athletes claim to feel as though they’re flying as if they’re moving weightlessly on air. Minor aches and pains fade away, and runners’ sense of time can fade as well.

Since a runner’s high is similar to the altered state of consciousness associated with painkilling drugs, the term “high” was coined. Most importantly, running seems effortless, and you feel as though you should carry on indefinitely.

As pleasurable as it can be to ride this experience for as long as possible, be careful not to go too far. It’s fine to run a little longer or faster than you intended, particularly if you get a runner’s high on rare occasions. Overtraining can result in overuse injuries.

How Does the Runner’s High Work?

The rhythmic, moderate-intensity nature of distance running seems to add the most to the runner’s high mood (since runners experience it more than other athletes).

When you run, many mechanisms in your body and brain lead to the feeling of being high.

Endorphins

Exercise causes the body to release endorphins in the bloodstream, a feel-good chemical, according to research. They were once believed to function as a pain blocker in the brain.

Endorphins, on the other hand, cannot travel from the bloodstream to the brain. They aren’t likely to be responsible for the runner’s high euphoric emotions, but they help muscles avoid pain.

Endocannabinoids

Endocannabinoids, like endorphins, are metabolic agents generated by the body. However, unlike endorphins, endocannabinoids can function in the brain.

According to scientists, the euphoric sensations associated with the runner’s high are now thought to be caused by these compounds.

Yeah, there is a connection to cannabis: Endocannabinoids are cannabis-like compounds formed in the body rather than obtained by smoking or other forms of cannabis use.

Increase Your Chances of Feeling a Runner’s High

Is it possible to “push” the runner’s high? If you still run the same distance and speed, you will need to vary your routine and increase your effort. To see if this makes a difference, try running a fartlek interval run or increasing the distance. Maintain a high degree of commitment that is also sustainable.

As many track athletes will testify, running outdoors with all the stimulation for the senses boosts the odds of hitting a runner’s high. Some athletes practice mindfulness before and after their runs to make them feel more relaxed. Running with a gang or a friend may also be beneficial. According to an Oxford study, rowers who exercised together had a slightly higher pain threshold (a metric used to estimate euphoria) than rowers who exercised alone.

You may want to listen to music while you’re running alone. According to studies, listening to music that you like will help you feel better. If you’ve never participated in a local road race, you may want to consider doing so. To feel euphoria, you can force yourself to push your limits or witness the excitement of reaching the finish line.

If you’ve already completed a run, choose a new distance or in a new place for you to do something new. Know that even if you don’t experience a runner’s high, you’ll also reap a slew of other perks, including stress relief, increased self-esteem, and improved cardiovascular health.