When it comes to “running”, many people will think that it is tiring and boring, how can anyone like such a monotonous and torturous exercise?
However, there is a group of people who really love running and boast about how great it is.
Does running really make people experience this wonderful joy? Or are they just dead ducks?
Scott Douglas fully develops this discussion in his book The Power of Running. He is a veteran American runner of more than 40 years, a former senior editor-in-chief of the leading sports magazines Runner’s World and Running Times, and the author of several best-selling books on the sport of running.
People who love to run may be secretly experiencing the “Peak Experience in Running.”
Those who love to run are really experiencing a marvelous joy – the “runner’s high” (runner’s high).
The “runner’s high” is an imprecise concept that is described differently by different runners:
Is that an otherworldly state that makes you lose track of time?
Is it a feeling of effortlessness?
A state of flow? A feeling of euphoria?
One group of researchers defines it as a change in pain, anxiety, calmness, or a sense of well-being. This post-run “peak experience” is not a figment of the imagination, but is actually based on research.
In 2008, three German researchers performed PET scans on the brains of triathletes two hours after their runs. This is a type of imaging study that is often used to check for cancer and to see how active the brain is.
The results found that the subjects’ prefrontal cortex and other parts of the brain associated with emotions were more active compared to the resting state.
Also, the monotonous, repetitive, and long ordeal of running itself can be doubly exhilarating with a sense of efficacy in pushing one’s limits and constantly overcoming one’s ego – the
I can’t believe I ran the whole 5k!
I ran more consistently than yesterday! Faster!
I can’t believe I lasted another day!
I can’t believe I clocked in a month of continuous running!
Every little goal set and achieved, every little bit of progress, can be a source of joy in running.
In other words, when you see a man sweating, panting, and grimacing as he runs, you think he’s on the verge of collapse, when in fact his brain may be experiencing a marvelous thrill:
“I’m so good! Another lap!”
“I’m so awesome! Another improvement over yesterday!”
“Yeah! It’s great!”
The more I run, the better I feel.
It’s a life-saving skill left behind by our ancestors.
There was an interesting study that specifically measured endogenous cannabinoid levels before and after running in runners, dogs and ferrets. The result: endogenous cannabinoid levels were elevated in both humans and dogs after running, but not in ferrets.
The scientists speculate that this may have something to do with “the role of running in human development”. Because the ancestors of modern humans and dogs had to run to get food, ferrets did not.
“Starting around 1.8 to 2 million years ago, our ancestors led a lifestyle that required high levels of physical activity. Physiological changes because of exercise are likely a product of evolutionary history.”
“Endogenous cannabinoids and opioid-like substances are painkillers or analgesics. During exercise, these neurotransmitters are likely to be activated and used to relieve pain, which causes you to move at a faster pace. This will make you exercise longer than you would without them. Another byproduct is that they make you feel great.”
“Another possibility is that this is a behavior that may have been inspired by natural selection. As a gathering hunter, this behavior doesn’t always seem to be the wisest – you need to expend a lot of energy, and every unit of calories you consume has to be replenished at some point.”
“The way natural selection works is that what improves reproductive success is retained in the gene pool. So if the combination of painkiller effects and neurobiological reward mechanisms make you feel good and make you a stronger forager, that combination is likely to be selected for.”
“Of course, to be a successful forager, you need to be healthy – it’s hard to catch up with an antelope or go out for a 3-hour hunt for food if you’re not willing to get up from your Stone Age ‘couch’. “
In other words, human ancestors evolved to retain genes that are good for “staying alive,” such as allowing the brain to release chemicals that make you feel good during a long trek.
The scientists say this fits well with previous observations that runners and other trained endurance athletes are able to achieve specific mood improvements through exercise.
It’s thought that these brain chemicals, which also include neurotransmitters like serotonin and BDNF, are linked to improved brain function from exercise. Mood is more than a simple reflection of your current brain chemicals. Your body temperature rises when you run.
A slight increase in your body’s core temperature reduces muscle tension, which may make you feel more relaxed and calm, like when you come out of a sauna. After a run, the elevated body temperature can stay elevated for an hour or more, which can create an “aftertaste” effect.
Simply put, running does make your nervous system calmer and your muscles more relaxed. And your brain is quick to pick up on these pleasurable messages, allowing you to perceive it as a good feeling, a state of calm.
In short, people who run regularly are really experiencing some kind of “high” and are really addicted to it!
