Running Can Cheer You Up, but Not in the Way You Think.
Contrary to what you (or your coach) may believe, endorphins are not responsible for the dizzying abundance you feel after a long run. That is connected with a sense of demand, really makes you buzz: cannabis.
Specifically, we’re talking about a chemical from the endocannabinoid family. The endocannabinoids, somewhat similar to your traditional cannabinoids (such as THC and CBD) found in marijuana, are produced in the body.
Michael Aranda , host of the SciShow YouTube channel, describes how “runner buzz” can be due to the release of endocannabinoids during exercise.
Endocannabinoids interact with the same systems in your brain as THC in marijuana, but your body naturally produces them. They are involved in things like calming anxiety and reducing pain sensitivity.
The long-held belief that endorphins are responsible for your runner’s high is wrong: endorphins cannot pass through the semipermeable membrane of the brain to reach your head. Endorphins are effective pain relievers, but only when it comes to the body and muscle pain you feel after exercise.
Aranda cites a 2015 study in which researchers put mice on a wheel and found they produced more of an endocannabinoid called anandamide. They then put the aforementioned mice on a hot stove to see how well they would respond to the stress factor.
The running mice had more anandamide in their blood and took longer to get noticeably aroused on a hot stove.
Blocking endorphin receptors in mice did not affect time spent on the hot stove, although blocking the anandamide receptors made mice more anxious on the hot stove, like mice that did not run a brisk three-mile run.
Sure, you won’t get high after a run, but if you’re looking for a little natural jerk, endocannabinoids can help you get past that hump and allow you to truly enjoy your workout. Whether or not you want to vape before your run is entirely up to you .