1. Finally, High on Life
Runner's high is the common term for a state of calm or even euphoria experienced by seasoned long distance runners after an undetermined amount of running. For years, researchers believed that the cause of runner's high was the release of body chemicals called endorphins, which are associated with natural pain reduction in the body. Today, however, runner's high is thought to be more a product of the natural, rhythmic motion of running and the mental calm caused by the meditation-like focus of long distance runners.
2. It's a Completely Legal High
Even though the link between the meditative state of running and runner's high has strong anecdotal backing, researchers are finding that runners who experience the high have elevated levels of a chemical that's in the same family as the chemical that causes a high from marijuana. The natural, legal runner's high chemical, anandamide, is a lipid molecule that produces feelings similar to those produced by the active chemical in marijuana, THC.
3. The Long Road to Fighting Depression
Habitual exercisers who report having felt runner's high or similar sensations are also known to have much lower rates of depression and anxiety than people who don't exercise regularly and fairly intensively. The exact reason that exercise fights depression is not known, but some researchers speculate the active relaxation that accompanies exercise has something to do with it. So, even if you don't get a short term high from running or doing other exercise, lots of exercise is likely to help you steer clear of bad vibes.
4. Mind Over Matter
Ultrarunning (super long distance) star Yiannis Kouros, who is as familiar with runner's high as anyone, explained that for him the high came from the mind elevating over the body. Kouros, who regularly ran races in excess of 50 miles, said that near the end of a super-marathon, his body was so "dead" that the only way he could keep going (and possibly the only way for him to survive) was to take an active lead with his mind over his body and the situation he was in. The result was a state that most lifelong devotees of meditation can only dream to attain.
5. Harder, Faster, Higher
Research shows that it's not just runners who report the feeling called runner's high, but all athletes who engage in prolonged, intensive exercise. The upside of this is that you now have another motivation to do rigorous exercise in whatever field or sport you choose. The downside, of course, is that you can't simply go out for a 10-minute jog and get high, but, instead, you have to put in hours of grueling labor before you start to feel the natural high.
