The good news is that if you can train yourself to “have a good possibility” of experiencing runners’ high. While there’s no scientific way of guaranteeing moving euphoria (“it’s not a button that you can switch off and on,” Professor Lane stresses), adjusting your mindset when you run can make all the difference.

Positive mindset

A positive attitude can make just about everything in life better and running’s no different. When you plan your runs or lace up for a jog, focus on how you’re going to achieve your goal and on actually wanting to enjoy the process. That might mean saying to yourself that you want to go running to expend excess energy before bed or because you’re training for an event. The run itself is something that you want to do and that you know you’ll enjoy because it’ll make you feel good and push you further towards your goal.

Self-talk, rehearse and focus

Cringe though it may sound, using mantras to talk to yourself while you run really can make a difference. Professor Lane says that developing self-talk and an inner narrative to play while you run is often helpful. “Mentally rehearsing yourself performing and learning to set goals that focus on the process rather than the result increase the likelihood of experiencing runners’ high,” Professor Lane explains.

Get outside

We know that running outside can have a positive impact on our mental wellbeing so get out and take in all the sights and sounds. According to the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute in Japan, simply being outside can reduce our stress hormone cortisol by as much as 15%, and the positive effects of being around nature increase when we combine that with the endorphin-boosting act of movement.

Adapt but be consistent

Running feels a lot harder if you only do it now and again. Train consistently and regularly to get into the groove. Saying that, be sure to run at different intensities so that you’re not always flogging yourself. “Go at 85% of your maximum heart rate for a short period to put yourself under stress. Your body will adjust to feeling uncomfortable, and that’s when those feel-good chemicals kick in. You may also find that slowing down and going longer might also do the trick,” Emmie suggests.

Eat and sleep well

How you fuel and recover is so important in terms of how you perform and feel while running. Eat a varied, balanced diet that’s rich in carbs and protein and make sure that you really prioritise getting a good sleep. “When you’re tired and lacking in energy, it’s hard to push a little harder,” says Emmie, “so make sure that you’re getting in those seven to nine hours a night.”

Runners’ high: how to train yourself into feeling great while running