Is there really such thing as “runner’s high” or are they just exhausted and delirious?

It’s real.

The human body produces it’s own opium-like compounds to fight pain (“endogenous opioids“) and runners “who reported the highest levels of euphoria after running also had the highest levels of opioid release.”

Via The Compass of Pleasure: How Our Brains Make Fatty Foods, Orgasm, Exercise, Marijuana, Generosity, Vodka, Learning, and Gambling Feel So Good:

The researchers found that this long run was associated with researchers found that this long run was associated with increased opioid release in the runners’ brains, particularly in the prefrontal cortex (a planning and evaluation center) and the anterior cingulate cortex and insula (which serve to interface pain and pleasure with emotions). In addition, those subjects who reported the highest levels of euphoria after running also had the highest levels of opioid release.

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