It's a fitness-related phenomenon that almost sounds too good to be true: can running make you feel so awesome, it's like you're on drugs? Exercise physiologists say yes—but it's not exactly clear why. One theory is that running, or any long-duration endurance workout, like a miles-long bike ride or even a marathon cardio session—triggers the release of brain chemicals called endorphins that kick in while you're exercising and bathe your brain in an intense euphoria. It could also be the result of a surge in adrenaline at some point during a long workout that helps energize you mentally and physically, says Richard Cotton, an exercise physiologist and national director of certification for the American College of Sports Medicine.
Why it happens isn't the only thing about runner's high that remains a mystery. It's also experienced very differently from person to person, and some endurance exercisers don't get it at all. Again, no one is totally sure why. "It can have almost a meditative aspect to it, like you're in a zone where your breathing and pace all line up and makes your run feel effortless," adds Cotton. Other runners report that on rest days when they don't hit the track or trail, they feel less focused and low-energy. Says Susan Paul, exercise physiologist and program director for the Orlando Track Shack Foundation: "The one day a week I rest, I feel foggy all day, like I just woke up . . . I don't have that endorphin high." Whatever's behind it or however you feel it, runner's high is a nice side effect of a tough workout—if you experience it, enjoy it!
For tough workouts that'll give you a rush, check these out:
The Total-Body Workout You HAVE to Try
5-Minute Fat-Blaster: Crush Calories with This Quick Workout
15-Minute Workout: 4 Strengthening Isometric Moves to Tone and Tighten
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