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‘Youphoria’: Endorphin high just nine minutes away for average UK adult

Another perk to be a ready runner. YOUPHORIA!

YouphoriaHappy running!

As if there aren’t enough reasons to get you running, a recent YouGov poll by online sports retailer wiggle.co.uk found an average Briton experiences a natural high in under 10 minutes from exercise.

Please don’t let this be a cause for concern. Don’t lock up your little ones, throw away their running shoes for worries they’ll be under the influence. The high comes from a natural product of the body called Endorphins. Endorphins are produced to react to certain stimuli. For runners, this can quite often be pain. Consequently, our bodies treat us to a euphoric state of happiness.

Women achieve this high faster than men. On average it’s 1 minute quicker – 9 minutes and 7 seconds compared to 10 minutes and 20 seconds for men.

Wiggle was keen to investigate the transition in mindset between motivating yourself to exercise and enjoying it once you do.

 

You also might like – How can I stay a motivated runner?

 

The phrase has been coined ‘youphoria’ by leading sports psychologist Michael Cauldfield.

Us runners experience that ‘youphoria’ moment quicker than those who prefer other forms of exercise such as walking, hiking or exercise classes. Runners clock a high at 8mins 28seconds, walkers at 10 minutes 35 seconds and exercise classes at 9 minutes 17 seconds. Gym goers begin to enjoy exercising the quickest, in just 6mins 36secs.

 

You might also like – Get into the gym: Your first few steps to a new you!

 

Unsurprisingly, adults between 18-24 years old experience youphoria quickest in under seven minutes. However, it’s those aged between 35-44 who take up to  12 minutes and 47 seconds. Compare to those aged 45-54 who only take seven minutes and four seconds, 81% quicker.

Improving well-being and health is by far the most popular reason to exercise (78%) for those Brits that exercise regularly. Lacking motivation is the most popular reason not to exercise (33%) across all Brits.

Michael Caulfield, a leading sports psychologist at The Sporting Edge said: “It’s something everyone can relate to in what are now very busy lifestyles. It is often easier to think of reasons not to exercise but there is a very distinct moment where your mindset changes and you take action. Once you do, you never look back at running or exercise and say “I wish I hadn’t done that”.

“Different sports provide different psychological challenges and barriers. People are also naturally wired differently, face different lifestyle and environmental challenges and may have different forms of motivation. Research shows that this self-motivation tends to peak between 18-24, so in fact, millennials are more likely to push themselves to get out there and exercise compared to other age groups.”

Joe Tucker
the authorJoe Tucker
Journalist
Joe is an aspiring fitness journalist looking to get his foot in the industry at jogger.co.uk. A fair-weather runner and sparring sissy who occasionally enjoys rolling down hills ... on two wheels that is. Any story ideas? Feel free to DM him with any ideas.

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