Good Morning Finishers,
Before we get into anything, I must first apologize for my absence last week, and for denying you of Monday Mug Thoughts last week.
Last week was my 24th birthday, and to celebrate I traveled down to Tulum, Mexico with some of my closest friends for three days full of tacos, tequila, and a few inebriated runs back home from the bars š„“
Hereās a small taste of the weekend:
While vacation was an absolute blast, Iām definitely glad to be back with you all, and very excited to teach you a little something about getting high š
What kind of āhighā are we talking about?
Alright, donāt get too excited. The subject of this weekās mug thoughts is not marijuana (at least directly), but a different, all-natural, kind of euphoric sensation. Many believe this phenomenon to be a myth, but Iām here to tell you today that it is 100% a real thing. Any ideas?
Today Iām going to teach you all about the āRunnerās Highā
To describe what Runnerās High really is, let me paint you a picture:
You start your run. For whatever reason, today feels way better than it usually does, and your moving at a great pace with ease. With each stride, you seem to get stronger and faster. Despite all the hate and disgust, you normally feel towards running, you find yourself actually (do I dare say it?)ā¦enjoying your run!
Then your favorite song EVER comes on. Youāre step for step with the beat of the music and your face has the biggest smile on it. The song builds towards the drop, you pick up the pace, and when it finally slaps you find yourself in a full on sprint. You think to yourself, āDamnā¦Running is great.ā
This ladies and gentleman is an example of the Runnerās High.
Runnerās high takes many forms. It could be a blissful sensation triggered by a song, a rush of pride after a record-breaking performance, or a complete sense of relaxation.
Itās different for every person, and usually never the same twice. Some people get it all the time, some people never do. Its unpredictability leaves many to think that the entire thing is a myth. Fortunately, the science is all there to prove them wrong.
Tell me more, Tell me more
So what is the science behind Runnerās High? Well, itās actually complicatedā¦
Some scientists believe that we were destined for the Runnerās High since day one. Our ancestors had to run to catch food, and without doing so, they would starve and die. SO, many make the case that Runnerās High motivated us to run faster and longer as a tool for survival.
Itās been widely believed that this chemical motivation stems from a large group of peptides called endorphins. Endorphins are chemicals produced by the central nervous system and the pituitary gland that essentially make you feel really friggin good.
They are released when you eat a delicious meal, meet the love of your life, discover a new favorite song, or basically any other time you feel happy. Exercise is a huge trigger for endorphins (as explained in Legally Blonde), which is why we believed for so long that this is what was driving this Runnerās High sensation.
Here is where the story gets good though. This entire school of thought was flipped on its axis in 2008. While Endorphins are released during a run, a breakthrough study found that they are in fact too large to pass through what is called the blood-brain barrier. This means that these endorphins canāt actually reach the brain, and are likely not the driving force behind Runnerās High.
Then in 2015, things got even better. A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) found that endocannabinoids could be what creates Runnerās High. Endocannabinoids are neurotransmitters that bind to the same receptors in the brain that THC does, except they are naturally produced.
This realization was made after finding increased levels of a compound called anandamide in mice that ran over 6km as part of the experiment. Now, Iām no scientist and will probably butcher the full explanation of this, so hereās a short video that outlines the experiment.
Runnerās High is the same as Weed High?
So yes, you are reading this right. Runnerās High is very similar to a THC high. See I told you running was cool ;)
Now after reading this, I was even more curious to understand the difference between being high on āThat OG Kushā vs experiencing Runnerās High and this article from Vice did a really great job explaining it.
Basically, chemical highs and natural highs release similar levels of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that helps us feel pleasure. The intensity of the high is pretty much the same, except with naturally occurring highs, the dopamine is snatched up by proteins and stowed away for future use.
When you do drugs to get high, that recycling process is disrupted, and the dopamine just accumulates to create the ultimate feeling of euphoria. So a high is a high, drugs just make it last longer. Now all we have to do is to figure out how we make running achieve the same thing š
Case not closed
Even still, the Runnerās High explanation isnāt completely solved. Other scientists claim that a process called leptin suppression plays a role. Leptin is a chemical that tells your brain whether you are hungry or not, and the argument here connects to the original thought that the hungrier you are, the more motivated you are to run.
All this to say, no one really knows exactly why Runnerās High is a thing. There is plenty of evidence to say that it does happen, but not enough to 100% explain why. You know what though, THAT makes the entire topic even cooler in my book.
Personally, I donāt feel the Runnerās High very often, but I can distinctly point out the moments that I have felt it. Crossing the finish line of the Ironman was definitely the most intense hit of it I ever got, and luckily I can share a small clip of that moment with you.
So here are your takeaways for this week:
Runnerās High is real but very unpredictable
Runnerās High is backed by science, but not entirely explainable
Zack really likes making jokes about Runnerās High š
In all seriousness, this phenomenon is incredibly fascinating. I find it so interesting that you can get it from taking a walk in the park, and also not get it from completing a marathon. Itās not WHY we run, but something that definitely makes the experience very enjoyable.
Iām interestedā¦have you experienced the Runnerās High?
Comment on this post what itās like for you!
Thanks for reading this week guys, and special thanks to my best buddy David for getting me this new mug for my birthday!
Cheers,
Zack
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