THE FUSE

The NYC Marathon of 2026 recently took place, and I’m always amazed by the perseverance and stamina of long-distance runners. Experiencing a “runner’s high” is an added bonus, which is described as an emotional state during and after exercise that results in euphoria, decreased anxiety, and reduced pain sensitivity (Weiermair et al., 2024). It sounds appealing, but do we need to pound the pavement to achieve this pleasant sensation? Since aerobic exercise has long-term mental health and cognitive benefits, it’s worthwhile to consider other ways to reach this blissful state. Less talked about is the “dancer’s high,” which provides a similar state of rush and euphoria, but in a more creative realm.