The Health Benefits of Running, According to Science!

That euphoric sensation you experience after a long run or a jog around your favorite hometown route (Hi, high school! Hi senior prom date's house!) is legit. People toss around the term "runner's high" casually, but it's a real, scientifically proven thing. That rush of feel-good hormones comes from endocannabinoids, and just 30 minutes of walking on a treadmill can instantly lift your mood. In fact, researchers at the University of Missouri Columbia recently found that running causes the same kind of neurochemical adaptations in the brain that are shared by addictive drugs. Just say nope to dope — and yes to another pair of Nikes.