Ultrarunning as Moral Practice: Perceiving, Talking About, and Justifying Pain

Abstract (English)

Pain is often an inevitable and normalized aspect of “sports cultures.” This ethnographic study explores how recreational ultrarunners in Estonia articulate and cope with self-inflicted pain and suffering through what could be termed as “moral language.” Drawing on narrative interviews, blog posts, and participant observation, the paper demonstrates that ultrarunners frequently engage in reflective and self-directed discourse that helps in justifying pain as meaningful rather than senseless. The perception of pain is thus reframed: it is no longer perceived simply as a negative bodily sensation but becomes a catalyst for self-transcendence, personal growth, and existential reflection. Through narratives of pain and self-talk during the races, runners construct the moral meaning of pain by aligning their endurance with values such as discipline, resilience, and transformation. This discursive process enables the ultrarunners to interpret pain and suffering as affordances — meaningful experiences that reinforce a distinct identity and communicate a valued self-image to others. The study situates this phenomenon within broader socio-cultural contexts, linking ultrarunning to ideals found in religious asceticism and neoliberal self-optimization. Ultimately, the paper argues that moral language allows runners not only to cope with but also to elevate their pain and suffering into a realm of ethical and existential significance.