Have you ever succeeded in attaining a runner's high?

Question

Runners: have you ever actually gotten a runner's high while running? I run an average of 4 miles a day/6 days a week (at an even pace) but still have never acheived this feat. Do I need to quicken my pace? Right now it takes me about 40-45 minutes for 4 miles. Am I going too slow? Help!

trijv--ya, it does get rather boring but I do it while my friend's son plays/practices little league. It's a loop track so I don't know what else to do.

ispongebob---well, with a name like that I guess I can't expect a better answer out of you.

Answer 1

I get a runner's high every time I run. Some people have a natural tenacity for running that is either brought on by, or leads to a sort of addiction to this high. This is what motivates runners. Maybe pick up the pace a little, to get a high you shouldn't just be jogging you have to run. I usually go 8.5 miles in 45-50 min. Think of these categories: walking; "shuffling"-slowest run; jogging-about 50-60%; striding-60-75%; running-75-85%; racing-85-95%; sprinting- all out.

Answer 2

I think I've had one; it wasn't during a race, since I normally just hate racing. I was on an 8 mile run down in the valley (what we call this 25 mile stretch of woods near my house) with my cross country team, and I got a bit separated from everyone else, since I'm a bit slower. However, I just kept running and running, and at the end, it just felt so good...it had to have been a runner's high. There's no other explanation for why I felt so good at the end of what was actually a really bad run!

I think it's all personal; it's not about speed, or possibly not even about how far you run. It's about being satisfied with yourself and your run, and just being happy.

Answer 3

I have never personally experience this, but a good friend of mine once explained it to me. She ran about 9-14 miles a day, and said that it usually occurs after you can't go any further. Have you ever ran and thought that you were going to die, and you couldn't go any further? She said that it was after that feeling, that if you push yourself through that, you get the runner's high. She said it was like she could run all day, and feel nothing, the best feeling in the world. I'm not saying to out and run until you collapse, and keep in mind it's different for everybody. I would just keep with your training program, gradually improving your distance...Then, for example, say you can run 4 miles...one day go for 5 or 6, and see what happens.

Answer 4

I have had several and they happen both after races and during and after training sessions.

The races as you can figured saw me extended beyond what I felt I could do. The release of energy was awesome and I sat there with a nice warm glow in my heart and my brain telling me, "You did it."

The training ones came about in a couple ways. A couple were like the movie "Forrest Gump." You remember the scene where he was telling a dying Jenny of all the things he saw while running (and the scenes associated with them)? I had VERY similar experiences. That freaked me out about that movie.

Also, when I was at my peak, and training fast. I had more than a few good-looking ladies come up to me to comment how good I look running and how easy I made it seem. (Needless to say, pumped up my ego. :) )

Also, a couple hard sessions that I needed to puish myself through in order to step up in my progress to be a good runner. One came about that saw me aving to do 6 x 1-mile starting at 5:10, and cutting down 10 seconds such that the last was a "Go for broke. mile" I did the last in 4:22 and talk about a high afterward.

So they do exist. Just relax, enjoy the scenery, and you will find they do come along.

By the way, you might want to alter your training, either the daily miles or pace. Doing 4-miles-a-day at the same pace for 6 days in a row can get boring......

Answer 5

C'mon Rhaps, if all you run for is to achieve a runner's high, then it's like much cheaper to buy a bottle of something. I've run many miles and can't say I've ever gotten euphoric over it.

To me, I was always happy and euphoric just to finish and put that one in the completed column. And if ever I approached a runner's high it was in the afterglow of a long run, being able to continue functioning and enjoyment after the run was over. Yeah this usually was after a race or longer run than normal.

But frankly, in South Texas, we run for 8-10 days just getting thru it just for the one cooler morning when everything falls into place- breathing great, legs strong and light, mind gets clear.....

So in summation, I think for me the "runner's high" was being able to do it regularly, and basking in the afterglow of a good effort. More of a lifestyle thing than a destination.

Good Luck

Answer 6

oh man, runner's high is so cool. u just love running and u absolutely have to run even if it hurts. im not really sure how to achieve except getting urself pumped up for meets. i run 4 miles in about 27 minutes. all i know is when u push pace, just fight it and keep going at that pace. ull get that high.

Answer 7

I used to... back in the day I was running 10k's and half marathons.... It was when I was living in Japan, in the service. Lotsa humidity and I got my second wind in about 6 minutes. I remember three times distinctly floating, not feeling my feet hit the pavement/trail as I went thru the villages/jungles.
Since that was oh... back in 1985, it might just be in retrospect and the deception of memory, but I remember knowing that it was a zen kinda day when that happened. It was a beautiful thing.

Answer 8

To create a self-replicating equipment of bio-mechanical species that removes the want for human involvement throughout this worldwide. it is going to all initiate with DNA getting used as laptop memory...

Answer 9

Ive achieved it on less, but my normal pace doesnt match yours. So Id assume you need to push yourself further.

Answer 10

I achieve it everytime I run.