TAKE
THE HIGH
ROAD
Make your brain give up those
feel-good hormones
NUTRITION MIND+ INJURY
HEALTHFITNESS
WARM-UPS
The TIPS YOU NEED to GET UP to SPEED
IF YOU WANT TO GET that runner’s high,
go hard, but not too hard. In a study
using brain scans, scientists found
that during two-hour runs at moderate
intensity, subjects’ prefrontal and
limbic regions produced endorphins.
These hormones – in essence, our
bodies’ painkillers – are pumped out
in response to physical discomfort,
but that doesn’t mean you should
run yourself ragged to enjoy the
feeling. ‘Most runners I have worked
with experience endorphins when
they are pushing their bodies, but
not usually at max effort,’ says
Cindra S Kamphoff, director of the
Center for Sport and Performance
Psychology at Minnesota State
University, US. So find that
running sweet spot and
welcome the bliss.WO
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MAY 2019 RUNNERSWORLD.COM/UK 013