Runner's "hig" my observations

sevsmom

Clearly didn't pay attention to my spelling above. . .apologies. Looking like an idiot now. . . **shame face**.

While I'm still a new"er" runner (I've been at this about 16 months). . .I have seen people on here asking about "why" runners run and they always say something about "never getting that runner's high" or something to that effect.

To be honest, when I started with a simple goal of continuously running/jogging a 5k. . .I don't recall a "runner's high" during any of my training. Routine runs didn't seem to produce this supposed euphoric effect that many people talk about.

Flash forward to race day. . .after I stopped feeling like I was going to vomit. . . there it was! This ridiculously fun, happy, proud, energetic "high".

Now I find that only with intense effort does this "high" occur. Like right now. . .I finshed a race 2 1/2 hours ago (with a PR I might add) I'm feeling like I could take on the world! But, those long slow runs don't generally produce an out of this world feeling. . .a satisfaction? Yes. A bit of pride at finishing my training? Sure. But the GOOD stuff comes after an intense effort. The kind that make me feel like I'm going to lose it. The cost may not seem worth the pay off, but it's a high that I chase every time I toe up to the starting line.

Anyone else out there have similar (or wildly different) experiences? Maybe we can encourage some "newbies" to keep pushing to experience that fantastic feeling. And, confirm that it really does exist!!

Happy Running!!!

schmenge55

Just like you. Also just finished a 5k a coupe hours ago. Congrats on your PR!!! And I agree, it is the intensity that will pump those endorphins in and give you that high

katemateg

I too get the biggest buzz after a good race but I do like a PB (what is PR?) I assume its the same thing? I run mega miles these days such as 24 miles in the morning. I get a lovely satisfied felling after runs like that but anytime I feel I've one better than I have before will give me the biggest high.

michellekicks

I get my "runner's high" about 75 minutes in to a long run... I end up feeling like I could run for days... just keep going and going and going... I feel like a machine. Sometimes I even hear the Rocky theme song in my head

JingleMuffin

personal record

i get super pumped and high for races too. it also happens to me during training ocasionally and sometimes i just have a plain ol good run. the last marathon I ran i actually never hit a wall.. which was something I was told to expect. it never happend and i thought that was a little funny.

jonnyman41

some days it is torture but other days , often when the sun shines and I am running in countryside, I am really glad I took up running and do get a kick from it. And I am still very much a beginner! longer highs usually come when I have pushed myself to the next level, but then that is still relatively new for me.

BFarnsworth

Considering my size I get that high alot whether its just jogging steady for a long time or doing some sprints. Though i've only been at it for 2 months it could be from just being healthy enough to do it. Either way I love that feeling of accomplishment and high.

IreneAdler221

Beginner here and I've never felt the runner's high either. Running feels easier a couple miles in but I've never felt buzzed or anything. I am pretty slow and haven't run more than a 5k so that might have something to do with it.

TheRealParisLove

Having experienced an actual high that is chemically induced through the use of alcohol and drugs in the past, I don't think an endorphin high can even come close to the kind of euphoric feelings that a couple of beers can produce.

I've done a 100 mile bike ride and trained hard all summer for the ride. Although I found the ride very fun and felt good about my accomplishment by the end, I wouldn't call that a "high" by any means. I was just in a good mood and merrily exhausted from the effort. I've had similar feelings after attending a good movie or concert, so I don't think these feelings can be attributed to exercise alone.

I think the "runner's high" has been way oversold by big companies like Nike as a way to increase profitability. I'm willing to concede that some people may have a euphoric rush of dopamine from exertion, but I think the vast majority of us just have a sunnier disposition due to the stress relief that exercise confers.

Even low intensity exercise is good for stress relief. No need to nearly kill yourself to get mood boosting benefits of exercise.

daylily2005

I always took the term "runner's high" to mean more of like--you could just keep going and going...not necessarily an emotional attachment to it. I thought physiologically it had something to do with accessing glycogen stores. (someone will correct me if I'm wrong, I'm sure)

Going by that definition, I get one (or two or three) after around 4 miles, depending on how far I'm going. I don't feel proud/ecstatic/euphoric unless my run is a longer distance than previous or something that I felt like I couldn't do. First time I ran 6 miles I was almost crying on the side of the road from sheer happiness haha.

uk_ja

For myself it is somewhere around the 10 mile mark that it all just flows together, my pace, form, breathing, it all comes together in perfect unison and I seem to stop thinking and just zone out while still being aware of my surroundings, then miles fly by with a feeling of perfection and that I can run forever.

sevsmom

Having experienced an actual high that is chemically induced through the use of alcohol and drugs in the past, I don't think an endorphin high can even come close to the kind of euphoric feelings that a couple of beers can produce.

Duly noted. . .however, I don't feel hung over the next day!!

Truly, when I go all out, I can say that I feel fantastic for hours afterward. Eventually, I need a nap, but I feel great like nobody's business for awhile.

On long runs, eventually everything settles in. . breathing, stride, attitude and I can take then next 4 or 5 miles like nothing. . .but it's a different sort of positive feeling on the long runs. When I race the 15k or 1/2 marathon I'm pushing hard and feeling it the whole way, but give me 20 or so minutes to stop feeling like I'm going to puke and *whoosh* i'm on top of the world for awhile!!