Runner's high

All who exercise, especially those who exercise vigorously, come away with a sensation of elation: call it a runner’s high, a biker’s high.....

(and I’m not talking about the high those guys on the Harleys sometimes have), whatever. If you exercise, you know what I’m speaking of. If you don’t, you likely believe we are simply delusional, or just dishonest about this sensation which accompanies the measurable benefits of lowered heart rate, improved blood pressure, etc. Olympic gold medal swimmer Josh Davis once told me how he just enjoyed swimming laps, training, training, and more training. There’s sometimes a perverse pleasure athletes get from the hurt, but I would bet what drove Josh and drives all other athletes, at all levels, is that endorphin high. And there’s such a sense of accomplishment, too. Combine the high and the satisfaction during and after a workout and we get at the essence of why we exercise and why those who do so wish everyone else would too. We guarantee there would be a lot less workplace stress, probably less crime, never a cloudy day, everyone would find the gold at the end of the rainbow (well, I guess I've gone overboard here) and we surely would all live longer.

See Can Exercise Make Me High?