What Is Runners High?

What Does Running Do To Your Brain? Let’s find out!

Sarah and Mo sit down to answer questions about what effect running has on the brain. Where does the runner's high come from? What part of your brain does running improve? Stay tuned to find out!

↓↓ Have you experienced a runner's high? Let us know in the comments! ↓↓

What’s in this video?
00:00 What does running do to your brain?
00:45 What is the hippocampus?
03:11 True or False: Running Causes Stress?
05:35 Is running better for your brain than cycling or swimming?
08:20 What is the stroop test?
10:55 How long do you need to run for for the brain to benefit?
14:33 True or false: runner’s high comes about through the release of endorphins?

Studies referenced in the video:
Journal of Sports Sciences:

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Thank you to our partners:

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[jhmrem]

You have a point. Misbehaving younger students are sometimes punished by withholding recess. They need more physical activity, not less.

[ollieflj]

The first 2 km of any run I have the Runners Why. Why am I doing this, why am I hating this, why am I so bad at running. Then as I settle into the run, especially a long run, I start feeling good and really enjoy the run, air drumming and taking In the surroundings, then the runners high comes when I press stop on the watch. The eat, sleep, start running again and back to the Runners Why and repeat!

[killerqueen]

As a triathlete get a similar feeling from both running and cycling. Great video again, guys. Well done 😊

[matildami]

I recently re-started an old childhood hobby: horse riding! I realize even better now how insanely good horses are for the brain (assuming you’re not nervous around them of course). Being around a horse just automatically clears your mind from everything else, it’s like a meditation and makes you feel so chill. So that’s my answer.

[jasonm]

This was the #1 reason I got into aerobic excercise and then fell in love with running! The brain benefits are unmatched :)

[AlwaysForwardRunning]

A former cyclist and current runner. I found it very interesting . Love you guys! And you two, are wonderful "head to head". :) And your yellow nails sort of captivated me, early on....Runners high, normaly hits me, between mid and last part of a given run, . So around 30-40 mins in.... But then again, it differs on the distance...

[gazza]

Just run 2 miles today.
Not a lot but haven't been running for about five weeks.
Yes, slightly wrecked but an endorphin rush too. 👍

[hollyandersen]

I do not consider my bike commute to be “exercise” in the same way I think of running or strength training but I ALWAYS feel better and more prepared for the day when I get to work and more relaxed when I get home. I notice that I do not feel as good when I have to drive.

[christiankolstad]

Yes, cycling in the spring and summer - time is simply amazing! Feeling the warm wind on your face as your are going downhill is better than runner's high

[josiegjackson]

I'm usually dancing on a run within 30 minutes of running but it varies on how I feel, sometimes I'm bouncing at the thought of going for a run and sometimes I don't get it at all! I do ultimate frisbee when I lived abroad and loved it alongside running and would take it up as a regular thing this time onwards but I need friends to fly frisbee with! Also the endorphins one reminds me of "explain your job terribly" to be "I shoot about people who release endocannabinoid for fun"

[AlioH]

I get the biggest runners high from runs that I "force" myself to do or when I get past the harder first part of a run and settle in to a rhythm. A guy gave me a double thumbs up when I ran past him the other day (I think in a non-condescending way...!)

[lttweety]

My high comes around the last 5-10 minutes and immediately after when I'm stretching. The muscle fatigue and knowing you've achieved something, anything does it for me.

[fakvachayna]

I'm a 41 year old dad. WFH, natural couch potato. Been jogging on my treadmill for 2 weeks now... Now, dang, I feel like my old 25 year old self already. I feel faster, stronger and more confident. At first I felt like I was gonna die because it was painful, you'd see me do these facial expressions just to ease the pain but that was only in the 1st week. Now, it ain't that bad anymore. Looking forward to getting that runner's high.

[DrMachine]

Golf is, for me, simultaneously one of the most relaxing and most frustrating sports I've played, and I love it. Would recommend. Not the most physically taxing, but if you walk 18, it's usually a 5-6 mile hike or so

[pennysyogaexperience]

I have been telling people for years I run because I an afraid of doing real drugs. I enjoy riding a bike, swimming, yoga and dancing, however running has alway been my choice of drug. Thank you for the fun video.

[rgb]

When Sarah talked about Beau Miles running. Two runners from a totally opposite ends of the sport . Mind blowing..

[JeePsSsS]

I like both swimming and running. But swimming makes me very relaxed, whereas running gives me a lot of energy but also stresses me out a bit, physically and mentally!

[someusername]

I used to do triathlons and would definitely get the same runner's high effect from Swimming. Nowadays I don't swim really but go on multi day bike trips. I get a nice high from the extended time in saddle cycling through the countryside, but it's different to the runners high from pushing yourself.

[karinbroberg]

Great video, and good pronounciation of Karolinska! 👏👏👏👏 Much love from Stockholm 😊

[Estertje]

Not in terms of getting the 'high' but ballet is my true love, running is great but nothing makes me feel like hitting a combination right on the music. Also with ballet there is so much to think about it is truly meditative, whereas running gives space to (over)think.