Brooks Running has built an entire brand around the idea of joyful running with their slogan, Run Happy. At first glance, it might seem like simple marketing, but science supports the message—running has a direct impact on our happiness at a chemical level.

Brooks wasn’t always a running company. Founded in 1914, they started with ballet slippers and bathing shoes before shifting into athletic footwear. By the 1970s, when the running boom hit, Brooks committed to making high-performance running shoes. Their big breakthrough came in 1977 with the Vantage, one of the first shoes designed with biomechanical principles in mind. In 1999, they introduced Run Happy, a simple but powerful tagline that captured the joy of running—not just performance, but the way running makes people feel.

And science supports that message. When we run, our brains flood with neurochemicals that lift our mood, calm our stress, and even make us feel euphoric. Endorphins, the classic runner’s high chemical, act as natural painkillers and give us that post-run glow. Dopamine keeps us motivated, making us crave that next run. Serotonin stabilizes our mood, while norepinephrine helps us manage stress. And then there’s BDNF, a protein that strengthens brain function, helping us think clearer and feel sharper.

It’s no wonder so many runners say running is their therapy. 

On Valentine’s Day, we spend a lot of time thinking about love—love for others, love for ourselves. But maybe today, we should also celebrate our love for running. It gives back as much as we put into it, it makes us better versions of ourselves, and at its best, it leaves us feeling alive and joyful.