Most runners have at some stage experienced what has become referred to as the ‘Runners High‘. This 'high' is a experience of well-being and also euphoria that runners may feel whenever running that temporarily enables them to sense much more tranquil as well as calmer when they are on a run. Runners suggest that the high is related to reduced anxiety, an increased sensation of calm along with a reduced ability to feel discomfort. It is not something which is particularly resulting from running and could happen with any kind of aerobic activity for example bicycling or going swimming. There may be, however, a considerable amount of variation among runners in how they experience this and not all runners go through it or go through it on each and every run. Those runners who've been running longer tend to go through it more frequently and it is generally only with the longer runs. Running also has longer term psychological health improvements as do other sorts of regular aerobic fitness exercise and this is often related to the experience of the runners high.

The existence of this runners high may very well be an evolutionary thing. The idea would suggest that when the body release chemicals to lessen the pain sensation that comes with elevated physical exercise when that physical activity was important for looking for food and fleeing from possible predators, then this may possibly increase a person’s probability of surviving. This experience with the modern-day runners high which makes running more gratifying could have been a thing that developed to provide for as a benefit that kept early humans hunting animals and gathering food for their survival.

The actual physiology underpinning what could cause the runners high is certainly not apparent. There are a number of chemical compounds which are higher when you exercise that can account for the physiology. The most common belief is that it was that its as a result of increased release of endorphins that work similarly to morphine, nonetheless there isn't as much support for this hypothesis now as endorphins don't go through the blood-brain barrier to have an effect there. Endorphins still will have an impact on the muscular tissues to regulate pain feelings. Newer studies have proposed the mechanism could well be through the increased discharge of substances identified as endocannabinoids which are very much like cannabis or marijuana which could ease pain and boost feelings. Unlike the endorphins, endocannabinoids do cross the blood-brain barrier. There does exist a bit of current interest in the role of the hormone, leptin, which handles the feelings of food cravings. Research has revealed that mice having lower leptin will run considerably further than mice that have regular levels. The authors of that study propose that this may be because the mice who have less leptin were more prone to experience the sensation of the ‘runners high’. They linked this to the evolutionary theory by suggesting that a fall in leptin amounts raises motivation for physical activity through the benefit from the ‘LINK2%’ as a means to increase the incentive for the search for foods in order to survive.

The simplest way to experience a runners high is usually to go for a run with greater frequency and run over one hour a day. The 'high' should come with running these longer distances.