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Science

Endocannabinoids Contribute To Runner's High 112

MTorrice writes: After a nice long bout of aerobic exercise, some people experience what's known as a "runner's high" — a feeling of euphoria coupled with reduced anxiety and a lessened ability to feel pain. For decades, scientists have associated this phenomenon with an increased level in the blood of beta-endorphins, which are opioid peptides thought to elevate mood. Now, German researchers have shown the brain's endocannabinoid system—the same one affected by marijuana's 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—may also play a role in producing runner's high, at least in mice.
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Endocannabinoids Contribute To Runner's High

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  • by Anonymous Coward

    I always have the munchies after a long run!

  • by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 07, 2015 @06:58AM (#50678091)

    In a bid to short cut the supply lines of those "runners" getting high, the DEA has announced a maximum speed limit for unpowered human locomotion: 2mph. Those caught in pedestrian speed traps going over the 2mph speed limit will be jailed a minimum of 7 months.

    Kingpins of cartels like the Running Room and gyms will face stiffer penalties due to their "intent to traffic" and could face up to 8 or more years in federal prison.

    • by Anonymous Coward

      In a bid to short cut the supply lines of those "runners" getting high, the DEA has announced a maximum speed limit for unpowered human locomotion: 2mph. Those caught in pedestrian speed traps going over the 2mph speed limit will be jailed a minimum of 7 months.

      Kingpins of cartels like the Running Room and gyms will face stiffer penalties due to their "intent to traffic" and could face up to 8 or more years in federal prison.

      This should have been rated Insightful due to the fact it makes just as much sense as outlawing a fucking harmless plant.

      Ironically, treadmills kill more people every year than cannabis ever has.

    • And a $10 million reward for bringing in Usain Bolt.

    • And both feet must simultaneously be in contact with the ground during each stride when switching from one foot to the other. Otherwise, you also go directly to jail.

  • Hmmm ... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 07, 2015 @07:10AM (#50678147)

    So if our brains are hardwired with receptors for this stuff, maybe it's time to actually look at it and evaluate it for what is is instead of this bullshit moralistic prohibition which is there to keep a bunch of religious assholes happy?

    Maybe start by stopping treating marijuana as a narcotic, when in fact it's nothing of the sort?

    The scientific facts have never matched the bullshit claims by the "just say no" crowd, so let's start making some actual evidence-based policy.

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      So if our brains are hardwired with receptors for this stuff, maybe it's time to actually look at it and evaluate it for what is is instead of this bullshit moralistic prohibition which is there to keep a bunch of religious assholes happy?

      Um, Puritanism is the State Religion in the USA. They offer platitudes about separation of Church and State, but all the evidence points in the other direction.

      Puritanism is also considered Satanic by some serious theologists (assuming the premise).

      Put that in your pipe a

      • Re:Hmmm ... (Score:5, Insightful)

        by XxtraLarGe ( 551297 ) on Wednesday October 07, 2015 @11:17AM (#50679761) Journal

        Um, Puritanism is the State Religion in the USA. They offer platitudes about separation of Church and State, but all the evidence points in the other direction.

        If drugs were illegal in the U.S. merely for puritanical reasons, why would they also be illegal in places like China, North Korea or Vietnam? The religion they all have in common is statism.

        The reason for outlawing them is simple: You belong to the state, and if you're taking illegal drugs, you're not being a productive member of society. If you're selling illegal drugs, you're not contributing to the welfare of the state in the form of taxes. It all goes back to statism. Of course, most statists don't like to admit this.

        Saying this as a pro-legalization Christian who also doesn't like puritanism/legalism/statism...

        • by dj245 ( 732906 )

          Um, Puritanism is the State Religion in the USA. They offer platitudes about separation of Church and State, but all the evidence points in the other direction.

          If drugs were illegal in the U.S. merely for puritanical reasons, why would they also be illegal in places like China, North Korea or Vietnam? The religion they all have in common is statism.

          The reason for outlawing them is simple: You belong to the state, and if you're taking illegal drugs, you're not being a productive member of society. If you're selling illegal drugs, you're not contributing to the welfare of the state in the form of taxes. It all goes back to statism. Of course, most statists don't like to admit this.

          Saying this as a pro-legalization Christian who also doesn't like puritanism/legalism/statism...

          Marijuana is not illegal in North Korea. You can buy weed in the supermarket in most areas of North Korea. It is illegal in Pyongyang only, and the reason for that is primarily because it is seen as "a drug for the lower classes". They also don't want to become known as a marijuana haven. Given all their other reputation issues, they don't want the "Amsterdam" reputation also. Although the only thing they have to worry about is most likely that their weed is very weak.

          Meth is also seen as an acceptabl

          • Drugs in the US are mainly illegal for racist reasons.

            Yup. Making LSD illegal sure penalized that black guy, Timothy Leary.

            • Not all hatred is based on skin color. LSD was banned because it was a favored drug of those "dammed dirty hippies" who were against war.
    • The scientific fact is that most "recreational" drugs attach to certain receptors, which are meant for internal communication only. The euphoria you get from drugs is due to them being in far higher dosage than what the receptors normally expect.

      This abuse leads to desensitisation, making it difficult for drug users to feel good naturally.

      Besides, the argument that the brains are hardwired is kind of stupid. Your stomach is hardwired to be filled with hydrochloric acid, but that doesn't mean you should drin

      • Your stomach is hardwired to be filled with hydrochloric acid, but that doesn't mean you should drink it.

        Oh, bollocks...

  • Mice (Score:5, Funny)

    by Stephen Chadfield ( 7971 ) on Wednesday October 07, 2015 @07:14AM (#50678165) Homepage

    Mice get runner's high? No wonder they love those little wheels...

  • by rmdingler ( 1955220 ) on Wednesday October 07, 2015 @07:23AM (#50678227) Journal
    No sir, officer, just finished the morning run.
    • Sorry Sir, you should have a designated driver when you go to the Gym.

      • Although your comment made me laugh, sometimes it's not that far from the truth. Trying to drive a car after an hour plus run can be a little dangerous sometimes. You can be all sorts of buzzy and distracted for well over an hour after it. From dehydration to exhaustion, there are all sorts of reasons driving can be a bad idea.

  • by jeffb (2.718) ( 1189693 ) on Wednesday October 07, 2015 @07:29AM (#50678251)

    So, if you go for (say) an hour's hard run, you're burning many hundreds of extra calories. That translates into "burning" (converting to carbon dioxide and water) a hundred or more grams of carbohydrate and protein, and/or tens of grams of fats. Worse, you need to replenish that energy with food-grade material, which most often has been farmed, trucked, and packaged, all of which consumes more energy. That one-hour run ends up cranking out hundreds of grams of carbon dioxide.

    If, on the other hand, you simply burn through one medium-sized joint, you're only combusting a few grams of plant material. I'll bet the total CO2 output is less than ten grams.

    Admittedly, there are health benefits to running. But at what cost to the health of the planet?

    • "one medium-sized joint, you're only combusting a few grams of plant material"

      but about 30 minutes later you'll still eat food-grade material that most often has been farmed, trucked, and packaged ;-)

    • I expected your comment to be modded funny. Smoke a joint to save the environment. I consider myself environmentally conscious, but (if you weren't actually trying to get a laugh) that argument is ridiculous. I'm sure nobody runs just for the high. They run for their health. Telling people they shouldn't run because it's bad for the environment is wack. Probably modded up by obese people because it justifies not exercising.

      • by GNious ( 953874 )

        There's a "semi-recognized" affliction where people are addicted to exercising - they are not so much doing to become/stay healthy, they are doing it become they are compelled to do so, even to a point of it having a negative impact on health, family/relations, work etc.

        (I use "semi-recognized" since it seems to differ quite a bit from country to country)

    • So, if you go for (say) an hour's hard run, you're burning many hundreds of extra calories.

      Umm... only if your name is Barry Allen or Eobard Thawne..

      • Technically, he would be right. A Calorie is 1000 calories.
        • by Anonymous Coward

          Technically, you're both morons. Trained individual typically burn 10-15 kCals/minute while running, so an hour of running for them is typically burning 600 - 900 kCals.

          And yes, I have both the science and data to prove it.

    • For an even lower carbon footprint, vaporize your material - no combustion at all (if done properly).
    • You're leaving out the energy required to farm and grow the plant. The energy required to manufacture the rolling paper and the adhesive on the rolling paper, including the packaging the papers and marijuana were packaged in (most likely cardboard and plastics). It probably evens out.
    • You must be high dude. No environmentalist would make that argument. Its a fake argument.

      the weed dealer drives around town burning gas to get the weed to you. the grower uses tonnes of electricity because he has to work indoors. the lighter has butane in it. the papers were harvested from virgin forests... and other stupid arguments. You cant extrapolate down so much, your just making fun of the environmental movement.

      If you were a runner you would know that it makes you a better walker, you are then able

    • "one medium-sized joint, you're only combusting a few grams of plant material."

      No man, that's what The Big Bambu was for!
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bambu

      Only Cheech and Chong's medium sized joints are "a few grams....."
    • "Insightful"? Okay, I'll admit I was kind of nervous that that might happen.

      No, I haven't seen a joint in a long time, so I'm not sure what one actually weighs. I figured it would be more than a gram, counting paper (which is also plant material that gets burned).

      Yes, I was referring to ignorant-American "Calories" (kcal), not one-water-gram-degree-C calories.

      No, I wasn't serious.

    • So, if you go for (say) an hour's hard run, you're burning many hundreds of extra calories. That translates into "burning" (converting to carbon dioxide and water) a hundred or more grams of carbohydrate and protein, and/or tens of grams of fats. Worse, you need to replenish that energy with food-grade material, which most often has been farmed, trucked, and packaged, all of which consumes more energy. That one-hour run ends up cranking out hundreds of grams of carbon dioxide.

      If, on the other hand, you simply burn through one medium-sized joint, you're only combusting a few grams of plant material. I'll bet the total CO2 output is less than ten grams.

      Admittedly, there are health benefits to running. But at what cost to the health of the planet?

      This is the sort of argument which sounds totally logical when you're high.

  • Comment removed (Score:3, Insightful)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Wednesday October 07, 2015 @08:38AM (#50678573)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • Don't say that.
      I finished the C25K and wanted to start B210K, but then I took an arrow in the knee.

    • by PPH ( 736903 )

      And I have the bumper sticker [etsystatic.com] to prove it.

    • by Rinikusu ( 28164 )

      I ran track in high school and have done C25k a few times (week 7 is where I stop). Your point still stands, though. If I was going to get a runner's high, i'd have gotten one by now. As it is, my "high" is kinda like the Lament Configuration: I'm just so happy when I stop running because I've stopped running.

    • 13 marathons in 5 years, 2 of which were 50 milers, 3 sub 3:00 hours, 5 bostons, 7 bqs, so some running experience...
      but thru it all, still a slashdot reader and a nerd....

      • by trampel ( 464001 )

        13 marathons in 5 years, 2 of which were 50 milers, 3 sub 3:00 hours, 5 bostons, 7 bqs, so some running experience...
        but thru it all, still a slashdot reader and a nerd....

        Here: 13 marathons in 14 years, most just under 4:00 hours.

        anjrober, it seems our running cred and our Slashdot IDs are aligned.

    • I used to jog a lot. I NEVER got a runners high. There was no second wind either. Every minute was difficult, and it got more difficult with every passing minute, and the only way to keep going was either to become numb (ie, like those who stumble over the finish line in a daze) or just keep repeating "one more step" over and over. The only high was when it was over you were elated that you could stop.

      But I do think some people get this high. But being humans, they are prone to assuming that everyone

      • I used to jog a lot. I NEVER got a runners high.

        Once you get the hang of it "jogging" can take little more effort than walking, so you're not going to have the same reaction. I can slowly jog or walk for a couple of hours and just feel pleasantly tired afterwards. I'm not knocking it, it's still good for you, and possibly better in the long term as there's less stress on joints (pun intended).

  • Marijuana makes you feel as though you had just completed a marathon. So they say, "whatever. pass the toke. I'm vegging out". And they get the munchies too.
    • Marijuana makes you feel as though you had just completed a marathon.

      Marijuana causes you to hurt everywhere and be unable to walk?

  • by RogueWarrior65 ( 678876 ) on Wednesday October 07, 2015 @09:33AM (#50678927)

    With mint frosting.

  • We can't subject our kids to something that is akin to smoking pot! On school premises to boot!

    And they want to make it mandatory! Obama wants to make our kids addicts!

    Thinkofthechildren! Ban sports!

  • Just park a food truck with pizza, Twinkies, and Fritos at the end of any marathon you can find.

After all is said and done, a hell of a lot more is said than done.

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