Runners...when does the high hit?

[SedonaSun]

Hey all you runners out there... I'm curious about the 'runner's high' and when it kicks in for you. Being a newbie runner, I've never experienced it, but am curious as to what it feels like and when in a run it kicks in for you.

I imagine it hits everyone differently, but is it vastly different? Do some of you get it after a few minutes or a mile or does it take 20 minutes or 5 miles or what?

Looking forward to my own someday.... :rolleyes:

[Conscious Midwife]

My daughter who is a runner. Doesn't get the high unless she is running over two miles in a non competitive situation. She's a 1/4 and 1/2 miler buy also contends well in cross country.

She says for her it'sthe combination of lots of breathing plus a clear mind that kick it up a notch after the inital 1-1.5 mile warm up and getting into the zone.

I wish I could get it just running down the block. Never had it , but if it's equivalent to the oxytocin high I got while breastfeeding, then I'm game :D

[DeadNutrition]

9 MPH is my high

[yeahbethany]

I've never had "runners high." As I understand it, the "high" kicks in only after the body is in pain, and releases endorphins to dull the pain.

So, following this logic, would it be a good sign never to have a runners high? Would it mean that you are being intelligent about not pushing your body past it's limit, and that you were recovering/training well?

Just a thought...wonder if it has any merit....

On that note, I'm runninig my second marathon tomorrow! Hope it doesn't kick in then. =P

[michigan roman]

it hits when your about 2 years into it and you start always wearing light man made material hiking boots and pants that are hemmed up higher than your boots so at any time you can efficiently take off on a sprint or a jog . for instance you go to a big shopping mall and park as far away as possible so you can sprint the several hundred feet to the door .

or when you buy a nice tight fitting back pack and are at home and need something from store and instead of driving you put on pack and run to store , on that run to store youll be real high with the feeling of greater self sufficiency and health .

so to me once you get in shape its a constant high of feeling WAY better about self .

though there is a feeling after you find groove / stride when you get several minutes into a run you start to concentrate on your stride and breathing which feels good to be completely focused on your body state instead of work , bills , etc . so you get away from the daily mental grind and get a high off of having your mind clear of it and working on improving your health .

ps - oh i just read others talking about the pain - endorphine high which i was unaware of . i had my own version of runners high going on in my mind .

[Conscious Midwife]

I've never had "runners high." As I understand it, the "high" kicks in only after the body is in pain, and releases endorphins to dull the pain.

So, following this logic, would it be a good sign never to have a runners high? Would it mean that you are being intelligent about not pushing your body past it's limit, and that you were recovering/training well?

Just a thought...wonder if it has any merit....

On that note, I'm runninig my second marathon tomorrow! Hope it doesn't kick in then. =P


My daughter is seldom in any pain

Besides I could have use that endorphine/ high response when giving birth but errrr huh it didn't happen.... the glorious discomfort persisted!!!

[SedonaSun]

Michigan Roman, I like your perspective on it! ;)

It just occured to me that I used to get into a 'zone' while bike riding many years ago. It was being in the groove of the ride and not particularly paying attention to things around me. I never got it riding in the city because you have to keep from getting killed, and I never got it when I was mountain biking and pushing myself to make it up hills and avoid rocks and stuff, but I remember some rides outside of town where it was fairly flat and I could just GO

[Jul]

I never get a "runner's high" from running. I do think I get it from Bikram yoga and from spin class.

I have run in pain before - actutually many times! Great this is that pain has not been around since I've switched to a raw diet! But still no "high" oh well.

Bethany - I'll be running Chicago tomorrow as well. My first "raw" marathon. Best of luck to you! If we get a chance my daughter wants to put "Running Raw Rocks" on the back of my shirt. Are you part of the Runraw team?

[michigan roman]

ya you put it better sedona with the ZONE .

i love the bike zone your talking about too ,
but here in metro detroit with all the people / cars i spend more time avoiding the road kill zone ;) .

[Forever Young]

For me it takes at least an hour of hard running to feel invincible. Forever Young :cool:

[dogmd]

Hi.. I have run 4 marathons and have walked one marathon. :)

I usually get runners high around mile 6 after I am completely warmed up. When it happens it is a truly wonderful experience. I find that my mind is drifting toward everything around me...the air, the ocean, the birds, the waves etc.( I run by the beach). I usually find myself running without any effort when I am in the zone, it seems as if I can go on for hours and hours.

I have never gotten into "the zone" during a race. :mad: My mind is always working on my pace and what time I am due for a drink or food . During a race I have yet to learn to relax and enjoy . :rolleyes:

When I went raw for 30 days (100%), I found myself getting into the zone very quickly (like around mile 2 or so). :) It was great because usually around mile two, I am thinking about stopping because my lungs are on fire and my leg muscles are still trying to figure out if i am going to turn around and go back home or keep on going. ;)

I remember the very first day it happened to me. It was during a saturday training run on Venice Beach in Jan 2004. It was freezing that morning on the beach and we were scheduled to run an 18 miler. Well around mile 8 or so I remember my paceleader yelling that we had 10 more miles to go. Instead of my normal groan, I remember feeling the happiest I had ever felt during a run. It was like someone had given me a shot of happy drugs. I started smiling and singing and had hard time staying in running formation with my group. I just wanted to take off and run forever. I then said to myself "Oh my gosh, I am in the ZONE". I was soo happy. :D :D :D

I remember this clearly, because after we finished the run I kept going over in my head everything I did differently that day so I coud repeat it during my next run. I kept on yearning for that feeling again and again, but it never returned until later on that year. It was the weirdest thing.

Anyway... sorry for the rambling. Good luck running.. HTH

[SedonaSun]

Thanks to all who have replied. Seems to be a very individual thing then. Hmmm...

[NFrawRUNNER]

Hey all you runners out there... I'm curious about the 'runner's high' and when it kicks in for you. Being a newbie runner, I've never experienced it, but am curious as to what it feels like and when in a run it kicks in for you.

I imagine it hits everyone differently, but is it vastly different? Do some of you get it after a few minutes or a mile or does it take 20 minutes or 5 miles or what?

Looking forward to my own someday.... :rolleyes:
I sent you a PM.... :)

[junglejive]

I started running about a year ago . I wanted to train for this marathon and raise money for the american stroke association. At first during my training I never really felt a high. It wasn't until I hit that 16 to 20 mile marker during my training that I started to crave running. I didn't feel right if I wasn't running. So it seems like for everyone it's different.. It can hit while your running or not until a certain point in your training.

[NFrawRUNNER]

I started running about a year ago . I wanted to train for this marathon and raise money for the american stroke association. At first during my training I never really felt a high. It wasn't until I hit that 16 to 20 mile marker during my training that I started to crave running. I didn't feel right if I wasn't running. So it seems like for everyone it's different.. It can hit while your running or not until a certain point in your training.
Are you still running? just curious as I too am on a "Marathon Team"...Happy Trails!

[mershwista]

I run but never get "runner's high". Although it's not uncommon to see me high on life!

[freetarian]

I dont think highs are healthy at all, I even think that the mechanisms of highs are the same whether you take drugs or run or free climb or whatever youre passionate for.

If theres a high, something must be wrong. Highs are the bodies response when it is struggeling with something that is way beyond its capacity...and being beyond ones capacity is not healthy. I dont want to criticize your running efforts or happy feelings, but I think highs are a sign that something is seriously wrong. When youre high you die.

[mershwista]

Don't worry, freetarian, my "high on life" merely means a very peaceful, blissful feeling...and to me, it's an INDICATOR that I'm living an extremely healthy life. Peace.

[Advid]

If theres a high, something must be wrong. Highs are the bodies response when it is struggeling with something that is way beyond its capacity...and being beyond ones capacity is not healthy. I dont want to criticize your running efforts or happy feelings, but I think highs are a sign that something is seriously wrong. When youre high you die.

When you love you die?

[Forever Young]

When you love you die?
Good point! Forever young :cool:

[Conscious Midwife]

but I think highs are a sign that something is seriously wrong. When youre high you die.

:confused: :confused: :confused:
WTF* are you talking about???








*What the fruit

[Forever Young]

Sorry folks I have to warn you no more orgasms are allowed, maybe dangerous to your health, you could get high. :D Forever young :cool:

[NFrawRUNNER]

I must be dead! :rolleyes:

[L6A2N6]

I used to be an avid runner.
Used to run 8 K everyday... and actually got better at it through time. Were moments where I finished it in 20 minutes or so.

And though it did make me feel better to run, I've never heard of a 'high' nor experienced one.

I find it strange hearing about this.

[dogmd]

I must be dead! :rolleyes:


Me too! :rolleyes: