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The Consistently Good Podcast · March 18 · 56 min

S2E5: The Cognitive Benefits of Running (Science-Based)

Coach gets into what running is doing for your brain beyond just helping you split faster miles. He unpacks why an easy run can feel oddly spiritual, how runner’s high actually works, and why movement can act like medicine for your mind. From endorphins and endocannabinoids to BDNF, brain inflammation, oxygen flow, memory, and mental health, Jeff explains how running can help regulate your nervous system, sharpen cognition, and make you feel a little more like yourself again. Chapters 00:00 Welcome and New Topic 01:59 Why Running Feels Spiritual 05:17 Movement as Brain Medicine 06:46 Runner’s High Explained 08:34 Endocannabinoids and Calm 11:44 Exercise and Mental Health 19:21 BDNF: Miracle-Gro for the Brain 23:17 Microglia and Brain Immunity 27:05 Hippocampus and Memory Gains 29:33 Sharper Thinking on Runs 33:13 Oxygen Boost Explained 44:10 Why Run Clubs Fight Loneliness 47:56 Why Runners Get Creative 50:58 Mailbag: Warmup Question 56:21 Final Takeaways Become a BPN member FOR FREE - Unlock 25% off FOR LIFE ⁠ https://www.bareperformancenutrition.com/collections/performance-nutrition Bat City Track Club is an emerging national class and regionally elite team with a primary focus on distances 5,000m to the marathon. https://www.batcitytc.com/ FOLLOW: IG: @theconsistentlygoodpodcast YT: @theconsistentlygoodpodcast JEFF CUNNINGHAM: IG: @jdcunningham97 BAT CITY: @batcitytrackclub This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal [health or profession] advice. Bare Performance Nutrition (BPN) is not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. This podcast is not intended to replace professional medical advice. This podcast may not be republished without the written consent of Bare Performance Nutrition (BPN) MB01YQPWOYGICAZ

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show notes

Coach gets into what running is doing for your brain beyond just helping you split faster miles. He unpacks why an easy run can feel oddly spiritual, how runner’s high actually works, and why movement can act like medicine for your mind.


From endorphins and endocannabinoids to BDNF, brain inflammation, oxygen flow, memory, and mental health, Jeff explains how running can help regulate your nervous system, sharpen cognition, and make you feel a little more like yourself again.


Chapters

00:00 Welcome and New Topic

01:59 Why Running Feels Spiritual

05:17 Movement as Brain Medicine

06:46 Runner’s High Explained

08:34 Endocannabinoids and Calm

11:44 Exercise and Mental Health

19:21 BDNF: Miracle-Gro for the Brain

23:17 Microglia and Brain Immunity

27:05 Hippocampus and Memory Gains

29:33 Sharper Thinking on Runs

33:13 Oxygen Boost Explained

44:10 Why Run Clubs Fight Loneliness

47:56 Why Runners Get Creative

50:58 Mailbag: Warmup Question

56:21 Final Takeaways


Become a BPN member FOR FREE - Unlock 25% off FOR LIFE ⁠

https://www.bareperformancenutrition.com/collections/performance-nutrition


Bat City Track Club is an emerging national class and regionally elite team with a primary focus on distances 5,000m to the marathon.

https://www.batcitytc.com/


FOLLOW:

IG: @theconsistentlygoodpodcast

YT: @theconsistentlygoodpodcast


JEFF CUNNINGHAM:

IG: @jdcunningham97

BAT CITY: @batcitytrackclub


This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal [health or profession] advice. Bare Performance Nutrition (BPN) is not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. This podcast is not intended to replace professional medical advice.


This podcast may not be republished without the written consent of Bare Performance Nutrition (BPN)


MB01YQPWOYGICAZ

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