Persistence is key to experiencing a high while exercising, but maybe that’s not the best way to think about it. We don’t persist so we can get some neurochemical reward; the high is built into our biology so that we can persist. Natural selection has endowed us with a way to chase our goals and keep going even when it’s hard. The runner’s high is the temporary reward that carries us to our bigger goals. For many, the experience of persevering is part of what gives movement meaning and what makes the experience rewarding.
