You know that feeling. It’s the mid-afternoon slump, and suddenly you’re scrolling through travel deals for a trip you can’t afford, or maybe you’re eyeing a new PR on your Strava feed. It’s a restlessness. A literal or metaphorical itch. Honestly, it’s because we are always running for the thrill of it, even when we think we’re just trying to get through the work week.
Humans aren't built for stillness. We are biologically wired to hunt, gather, and seek out the next "hit" of novelty. It’s not just a personality quirk; it’s a survival mechanism that got stuck in the "on" position. Evolutionary biologists like Daniel Lieberman at Harvard have spent years looking at why our bodies are designed for endurance and pursuit. We are the "running ape." But in 2026, we aren't chasing gazelles on the savanna anymore. We’re chasing dopamine, career milestones, and the literal runner’s high.
The Neurochemistry of the Chase
Why do we do it? Why can’t we just sit on a porch and be happy with what we have?
Blame the mesolimbic pathway. That’s the brain’s reward circuit. When we engage in goal-directed behavior—basically, whenever we are always running for the thrill of it—our brain floods with dopamine. But here is the kicker: dopamine isn't actually about pleasure. It’s about anticipation.
Neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky has famously noted that dopamine levels in monkeys (and humans) spike the most during the work leading up to a reward, not when the reward actually arrives. Once you get the trophy, the new car, or the finish line medal, the dopamine drops. You’re left with a "reward crash." This is why the thrill is in the pursuit itself. We are addicted to the "maybe."
Think about the last time you planned a vacation. Research shows that the peak of happiness usually happens during the planning phase. The actual trip? It’s great, sure, but it involves delayed flights and overpriced coffee. The idea of the trip is where the magic lives. We are constantly chasing that "ideal" version of the future.
It’s Not Just Physical
Running for the thrill doesn't always involve sneakers. It shows up in:
- Career Laddering: That "if I just get this promotion" feeling that vanishes two weeks after the raise.
- Micro-Dosing Adventure: Why we watch "van life" videos or extreme sports documentaries at 2 AM.
- The Digital Scroll: Every swipe is a tiny hunt for a "thrilling" piece of information or a social validation hit.
The Evolutionary "Mismatch"
Here’s where things get kinda messy. Our ancestors ran because they had to. If they didn't run, they didn't eat. Or they were the meal. This created a high-stakes environment where the "thrill" was actually a survival adrenaline dump.
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Now? We live in a world of extreme comfort. We have climate control, DoorDash, and ergonomically correct chairs. But our brains haven't caught up to the 21st century. We have this massive surplus of "pursuit energy" with nowhere to put it. So we invent finish lines. We sign up for Spartan races. We day-trade crypto. We create artificial stakes because the lack of a chase feels like a slow death to our biology.
Dr. Kelly McGonigal, a health psychologist at Stanford, talks about this in her work on movement. She argues that physical activity—specifically high-intensity pursuit—is how we "re-sync" our brain with our body. When we are always running for the thrill of it, we are actually regulating our mood and reducing anxiety. It sounds counterintuitive. Why would putting your body under stress make you feel better? Because the brain interprets the successful "hunt" as safety.
The Dark Side of Constant Pursuit
Let’s be real: you can burn out.
Always chasing the next high leads to the "hedonic treadmill." This is a psychological phenomenon where you quickly return to a stable level of happiness despite major positive changes. You buy the dream house? Six months later, it’s just the place where you keep your socks. You get the 10k followers? Now you need 50k to feel the same buzz.
If we don't recognize that we are always running for the thrill of it, we risk becoming slaves to the cycle. This is what leads to mid-life crises or "achievement addiction." You see it in high-performers who reach the top of their field and realize they feel empty. They forgot that the thrill was supposed to be a tool, not the entire point of existence.
There’s also the physical toll. Overtraining syndrome is a very real thing in the fitness world. When the "thrill" of the run becomes a compulsion to escape internal discomfort, the body starts to break down. Cortisol levels skyrocket. Sleep suffers. The very thing that was supposed to make you feel alive starts to make you feel brittle.
Finding the "Optimal" Chase
So, how do you handle this? You can't stop the biological urge to seek. You can, however, choose better things to chase.
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Aristotle talked about Eudaimonia, which is often translated as "flourishing" but really refers to the pursuit of excellence. Instead of chasing cheap thrills—like doomscrolling or impulse shopping—you chase things that require skill and provide "Flow."
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (good luck pronouncing that on the first try) defined Flow as the state where you’re so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter. It happens when the challenge perfectly matches your skill level. This is the "high-quality" version of running for the thrill. It’s not about the destination; it’s about the fact that the activity itself is so engaging that the "chase" becomes its own reward.
Real-World Examples of High-Quality Thrills
- Mastering a Craft: Learning woodturning or coding. The "thrill" comes from solving the puzzle.
- Endurance Sports: Not just for the calories, but for the "mental toughness" that comes from the 20th mile.
- Social Causes: Chasing a better version of your community. This provides a long-term "thrill" that doesn't crash as hard because it’s outward-facing.
Why "Rest" Feels Like a Threat
Ever noticed how some people get twitchy on vacation? They spend the first three days checking emails or looking for "activities."
This is because we’ve been conditioned to equate stillness with stagnation. But if we are always running for the thrill of it, we never give the nervous system a chance to recalibrate. True recovery isn't just "not running." It’s active downregulation. It’s teaching your brain that you are safe even when you aren't "winning" something.
The best athletes in the world—people like Eliud Kipchoge or Courtney Dauwalter—are masters of the "chill." They know that the thrill of the race is only possible because of the intense, boring discipline of the recovery.
Actionable Steps to Harness the Thrill
If you find yourself constantly restless, don't fight it. Use it. But do it with a bit more intention than just chasing the next notification.
Audit your "Hits" Spend a day noticing what gives you that little "zap" of excitement. Is it a productive challenge, or is it just a cheap distraction? If it’s mostly digital noise, you’re essentially "running" in a hamster wheel. You’re getting the exertion without the movement.
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Diversify your Pursuits Don't let your career be the only thing you chase. If you "run" for the thrill of a promotion and the company goes through layoffs, your source of dopamine is gone. Have a physical pursuit, a creative pursuit, and a social pursuit. Spread the "thrill" around.
Practice "Threshold Training" for the Mind Try sitting for 10 minutes with zero distractions. No phone, no music. Just your brain. It will feel like physical pain for the first few minutes because your brain is screaming, "Where is the hunt?!" Getting comfortable with that boredom actually makes the "thrills" more intense when you actually go after them.
Set "Process" Goals instead of "Outcome" Goals Instead of "I want to run a marathon" (the destination), try "I want to see how my body feels at mile 10 today" (the thrill of the moment). This keeps you focused on the active part of the chase, which is where the dopamine actually lives.
Understand the "Post-Goal" Blues When you finish a big project or a big race, expect to feel a bit depressed the next day. It’s not because you’re a failure; it’s because your brain has to re-up its dopamine supplies. Recognizing this helps you avoid making impulsive "new" chases just to fill the void.
The reality is that we are always running for the thrill of it because we are descendants of the survivors. We are the great-grandchildren of the people who didn't want to stay in the cave. That restless energy is your greatest asset, provided you don't let it run you into the ground. It’s about choosing the right horizon to move toward.
Pick a mountain that’s actually worth the climb.
Insights for the Long Run
To effectively manage the "chase" instinct, focus on building a lifestyle that values the struggle over the trophy. Prioritize "deep work" sessions that trigger flow states, and deliberately schedule periods of "nothingness" to prevent dopamine receptor burnout. When you do engage in your chosen "run"—whether it’s a literal marathon or a high-stakes business venture—do it with the awareness that the exhilaration is in the effort, not the result.