Is it true that long distance runners experience euphoria?

Question

I've been long-distance running for around 6 years, and the most I've experienced is a limited amount of numbness and slight blur of vision. How true is this myth?

Answer 1

Not everyone gets a "runner's high", but it does happen to a lot of long distance runners. It also happens to swimmers and bicyclers. Basically, your muscles need to be working continuously for a long period of time.

My first runner's high didn't occur until after I ran about 8 miles, which took about 1 hour 15 minutes. After that, is seems to occur fairly regularly after about 4-5 miles of running. It really depends on the person, but my running buddies usually tell me something similar in that ballpark.

The actual experience is different for each person, but you suddenly feel very great, like you're on top of the world. You feel like you could go on forever, and everything is right with the world. Unfortunately, it does not feel like numbness or a slight blur of vision -- it sounds like you were just tired.

Finally, a runner's high is definitely not a myth, and scientists continue characterizing the phenomenon (see link below). In particular, they try to isolate which neurotransmitters cause the effect in your brain. That is because scientists used to think a particular one called endorphins were the source of the euphoric condition. However, when researchers blocked the effect of endorphins, people still experienced "runner's high". It is now thought that many neurotransmitters cause "runner's high".

If you have not experienced it yet, I highly recommend that you continue your long distance running so that you can run quite a long distance at one time. If you still do not experience it, well, like I said, not everyone experiences it.. Good luck~!

Answer 2

It's not so much euphoria. When your running, you start to feel out of breath, then your lungs ache etc. If you keep going, suddenly, it's like your body gets it's second wind, your endorphines kick in, your breathing gets easier and the pains ease up. You feel like you could run forever. It's called by some, a "natural high". I really enjoyed long distance running when I was younger.

Answer 3

i run long distance in high school. I usually experience pain at first when i get to a certain point then it all goes away and i zone out. Its really wierd and i dont register whats going on around me. i just run.