The GuardianThe Guardian

Chasing the runner’s high: The elusive buzz scientists are still figuring out

By Bianca Nogrady

08 Apr 2023 · 4 min read

Editor's Note

Runners often talk about a feeling of euphoria or pure bliss they experience while exercising. The Guardian asks whether it’s possible for non-runners to tap into that same high.

I’m a reluctant runner. Two or three times a week, I stagger around the streets and pathways of my neighbourhood, motivated only by the company of my running buddy and by the anticipation of the food I will enjoy when I get home.

The idea of a runner’s high hovers tantalisingly on the horizon, like a neurochemical mirage. Maybe once on a longer run I felt it, like my feet had grown wings and for the first time in my running life I actually wanted to keep going.

Sign in to informed

  • Curated articles from premium publishers, ad-free
  • Concise Daily Briefs with quick-read summaries
  • Read, listen, save for later, or enjoy offline
  • Enjoy personalized content