Why do casual/beginner joggers hype the RUNNERS HIGH to death?

RHJ wrote:

I hear COUNTLESS new, beginner, and ..well, sorry..slow runners go on and on and on about this RUNNERS HIGH

I've been a hobby jogger for a couple decades, have talked running with hundreds of new runners and don't recall anyone ever talking about runners high. But carry on with your ridicule.

Googling letsrun and reddit for "runner's high" I got 1050 and 1060 hits respectively. OP has a point.

LKGLKHB wrote:

Googling letsrun and reddit for "runner's high" I got 1050 and 1060 hits respectively. OP has a point.

So letsrun is slow, hobby joggers.

btw, I get 17,400 hits for "piss" on letsrun. So that proves... ?

Same reason you hype sex. They've never tried it and they're not sure they ever will but they want to keep reassuring themselves it's out there.

It's different. They never go the speed where it starts to really hurt. It is more about the feel good aspect to it. Running slow does release endorphins. You see nowadays it's all how you feel. Feel good everyone happy smiley face culture.

Louwie Vton wrote:

It's different. They never go the speed where it starts to really hurt. It is more about the feel good aspect to it. Running slow does release endorphins. You see nowadays it's all how you feel. Feel good everyone happy smiley face culture.

My quality days feel a lot better than my easy days. Running slow is boring, I just do it because I need to recover in between the days I run fast. Running fast gives me a rush. Maybe not a "runner's high" so to speak, but that feeling of going fast around the track, it's the best feeling in the world to me. I feel like a totally different person on the track. I go from hyper to calm, from anxious to relaxed, from a follower to a leader. It is a complete transformation.

I actually think a lot of newer runners run too fast all the time. I regularly get passed by girls on my easy runs who definitely could not keep up with me during a race, and they are booking it. Before I started running competitively, the idea of an "easy run" was completely foreign to me. And from spending time on Reddit giving advice to newer runners, I've learned that a lot of people when they start running try to push every single run to their max and quickly get hurt and don't understand why.

two times a day - everyday! (30-45 mins is enough) been doing this since i quite running competitively 5 years ago

let's be realistic you're casual and a noob like the rest of this board here, unless your sub 2:10:00 your a noob, so shut it.

Nice arbitrary 2:10:00 choice. Too bad, I'm 2:10:49

yup you are wrote:

let's be realistic you're casual and a noob like the rest of this board here, unless your sub 2:10:00 your a noob, so shut it.

I have never felt a runner's "high" if that's supposed to mean euphoria or some altered mental state.

It is, however, very pleasurable to run fast when you're in shape. There's something physically pleasurable about clipping along at a quick pace and feeling strong and fast, like midway in a tempo or interval session when I'm warmed up but not exhausted.

It's also scientifically proven that exercise - not just running - improves mood and helps with depression. I know I'm always in a better frame of mind after running, at least as long as I'm not injured.

I wouldn't call either of those things a "high." That's overselling things. But running certainly makes me feel good.

I've been running for 40 years and it has always been a struggle. When I had to take 2 months off recently I missed it tremendously. I now understand that I am not addicted to running, but to the feeling I get after I run - that I've accomplished something for the day.

Definitely.

Another factor I really believe contributes to this is that when most people start running obviously they aren't generally in good shape. However, most people's exposure to running is through sports and such, so any muscle memory they have is for quicker paces, probably 6min or faster, so they feel like they are going pretty slow when they run at 8 on 9 minute pace...but it is still way to fast for there fitness. Running at 12 min pace when all you have ever done is 5 min pace feels pretty damn awkward and slow.

For the same reason that new stoners always talk about how awesome weed is, and for the same reason that people who just tried psychedelics for the first time are prone to proselytizing about how LSD will change your life.

I feel decent on easy days and sometimes when I'm tapering. I remember an easy 8-miler deep into a marathon taper feeling good, about 30 years ago. For me, feeling really good occurs when I'm fit and backing off. That said, I totally miss my endorphin fix when I'm injured or sick and can't run. Historically, this running-high stuff stems from Sheehan's musings in early running books such as Running & Being. George could really hammer and he is not to be taken lightly, even though he freights running with existential significance. We all know he was correct, but we are too cool to admit it. We all view ourselves as Ubermenschen. I wish those who obsess about Rupp, Al and NOP would read some Sheehan and the greatest running book ever written, Meditations from the Breakdown Lane, by Jim Shapiro, another tough hombre. We need more Zen and less embittered envy. Recall that running-revolution #1 followed fast on the heels of the sixties, when getting high had a distinctive meaning. Running is what we jaded ex-New Leftists turned to after the sixties ended dismally, with Nixon, Hoover, Weatherman.

Given endorphins are released as a result of pain, it makes sense that newer runners, or those not accustomed to pain would experience "runner's high". So every time these hobby joggers push themselves, they are going to have more of an endorphin response than someone who has been training with a purpose for years.

Gets me high as a kite. Looks like you're just not running hard enough OP. That's okay. Hear your type can get married now so that's something to look forward to.

Often times several hours after I run 8+ miles, things become extremely funny to me. I laugh at everything, sometimes uncontrollably. This was always a runners high to me. It's great. I look forward to the feeling after my runs.

Why does it bother you that casual joggers rave about runner's high? Why stomp on others for enjoying themselves? Don't bash something you don't understand. I get runner's high more than once a week and it's awesome. You enter this euphoric state where amidst all of the panting and sweat-filled chaos, you suddenly have this inner clarity where you're intensely focused on your running and block out all other external stimuli. You're also able to push yourself to new limits. Sometimes it feels like you'll never get tired.

I think it's the reason why many new runners go from hating to loving running. Running becomes this source of positivity, satisfaction, and empowerment in their lives....and above all else, it's one of the few things in their life where they can take full control over it.