ST. PAUL, Min. — Tens of thousands of runners may still be in recovery mode today after this weekend’s Twin Cities Marathon.
That doesn’t mean they don’t bask in the bliss of finishing a long race. What is ‘runner’s high’? And what happens in our bodies to create this?
It’s hard to match the feeling of winning a marathon, but that doesn’t mean those still miles away from the finish line can’t find joy.
“I started feeling it about 23, 24 miles into the marathon,” said runner Jose Perales.
“It was just pure performance and adrenaline that kept me going until the end,” another runner described.
Some would describe the happiness of running as a high. Chris Lundstrom, associate professor at the University of Minnesota and long-distance running coach, has experienced the unique feeling many times. He said “runner’s high” is a subjective feeling.
“People describe a feeling of euphoria, a feeling of well-being, especially after they finish running,” says Lundstrom.
Do runners have to reach a certain distance to feel the high? Someone told us that she didn’t notice the altitude at all in the first few kilometers, and described that opening stretch as tough.
“That probably has some variability as well,” Lundstrom said. “I think as a general rule it should be more than 20 minutes (of running).”
What happens in the body that causes the high while running?
“The original theory was that they were endorphins that our body produces. These go throughout our body,” says Lundstrom.
Endorphins can help a runner overcome the pain that builds up over long distances, allowing some to run further than planned. But Lundstrom said that thanks to new research, something else appears to be the cause.
“They’ve done a lot of research on endocannabinoids, which have these kinds of effects on the body just like cannabis, but they’re produced in our own bodies,” Lundstrom says.
Exercise increases the level of endocannabinoids in the bloodstream, creating a feeling of calm and euphoria, similar to the effects of THC in marijuana.
“The first time I ever did it, (the high) lasted two to three days,” Perales said.
Exercise is known to improve mood and reduce depression, Lundstrom said.
He adds that runners seem to think the high they feel is unique, especially at the end of the race. That in itself is an achievement, but with bliss as a bonus.
“If you’ve stopped running, notice how great it feels and that’s a really good motivation to get out there the next time,” Lundstrom said.
New runners may not feel very high the first few times. Even experienced runners don’t feel it every time, Lundstrom said.
