Are extreme sports/endurance events/survival training, actually just a form of Masochism?

[Charliefretz329]

www.irishtimes.com/.../...ed-up-as-sport-1.3867511

Yes

No

Explained below

[Lynx122]

I think there's some kind of addiction to it there's endorphins released with these kind of things and so the people that are the most affected by this particular kind of rush will be into it. There's also people who just want to push themselves but it's hard for me to believe that someone would do something like this if they got nothing out of it.

Like a guy who cycled until he fell asleep from exhaustion and crashed on the road and then slept a short time and kept going. If all you got from it was looking back and saying I did that I don't know if it would be enough for people to go through that. I think we're quite affected by the way our minds work I certainly can attest to that from my own experience and you have to be kind of set up to do something like this for no survival reason.

[Charliefretz329]

I was Probably addicted to extreme endurance activities years back. Had to quit once I destroyed my joints… I loved loved loved the “high” I felt unpin completion! It was mental and physical satisfaction. But then I have permanent injuries from certain events as well, so it’s a valid question.

It was also a very effective coping mechanism for trauma, very effective therapy. Advised by a psychiatrist at one point I think it became an obsession. I simply cannot do all the activities anymore but I still push myself to accomplish things that probably aren’t even healthy for my at least physically

[Lynx122]

My mind is the opposite :) I like being in my room, cut off from the world feeling protected from anything. Having some money saved up so my life is stable and I can do whatever I want that's the dream. I do want to travel and do different and new things but I want that base first. I hope you an take care of your body and not be in pain as you get older, that's important too :).

[Charliefretz329]

I want to be prepared for anything! 😊 and yes I do have pain much more than my younger years but I’d rather have pain that regrets. And I have high confidence in my abilities, even if it hurts to do some stuff now

[Lynx122]

thanks for MHO :)

[224466881010]

I think that some athletes could be massochists. But massochism (in my understanding) is about enjoying pain and/or humiliation for its own sake or especially for sexual pleasure.

I think for many athletes it's instead about the satisfaction of achieving a difficult goal, proving to themselves that they're strong or that they're valuable (or other reasons). Pain and hardship are just part of what proves to ones self that the challenge is hard.

I don't know any dominatrix who will tell you to go do a marathon.

[Charliefretz329]

That’s true… and I think it’s where it starts

[DeeDeeDeVour]

135 miles at 129.2 degrees Fahrenheit is "brutal punishment" even for someone like me who has joined marathons and triathlons. They must be "super humans" to complete those kinds of events. Hats off to them.

[Charliefretz329]

Agreed!

[DeeDeeDeVour]

Thanks @Charliefretz329 for the MHGirl pick. :)

[loves2learn]

No. They show incredible strength, endurance and perseverance.

[Charliefretz329]

True! But they purposely push ones body into painful, gruelling, situations for a rush

[loves2learn]

Not just a rush. They desire to push the boundaries of human capabilities.

[Charliefretz329]

Ok, satisfaction and a rush 😏

[loves2learn]

True sense of accomplishment.

[exitseven]

No , I have competed in many endurance events and it is a way to gain confidence as you train hard for an extended period of time before entering the arena. Then you see how effective all your planning was as you push yourself beyond our limits.
It also develops mental toughness.

[Charliefretz329]

I agree there, completely.

[Mango-man]

No, I would say they do it for the good feeling of breaking own limits. After all that is what life is about, overcoming obstacles.

[Charliefretz329]

I agree, but can they be taken too far?

[Mango-man]

Maybe it became the next step after they finished all "easier" trails. Maybe they got "bored of/used to" easier trails and wanted to challenge themselves?
Even I do something similar on much much smaller scale when I do that one extra push-up every once in a while just to see if I can do it.

[Charliefretz329]

True…

[Nomina]

No, I think they're challenging themselves and pushing beyond their limits to see how far they can go. And accept the risks.

[Charliefretz329]

I agree

[bambi_01]

I do long endurance events and my dad used to compete in the ultra Ironman competitions. We aren’t machosists. I do it because i love pushing ourselves and discovering my physical and mental limits :)

[Charliefretz329]

Good for you guys!

[Charliefretz329]

Do you think that some people could become masochists though?

[MrKinktastic]

They are a form of masochism but also give a very potent cannabis type high of their own accord. It also is a stress relieving tool so gets addictive.

[enbyofenvy]

Ok so im sitting here slowly waking up, about to start my wake n bake and what does cannabis have to do with the question, i gotta ask?

[MrKinktastic]

Exercise, especially running in a group releases your endocannabinoids. So the chemicals in your body that hit your CB1 and CB2 receptors like THC in cannabis does

[enbyofenvy]

Omg thats friggin awesome. I never knew the body produces that naturally. Youve given me a lot to look into and research this morning, thanks :)

[MrKinktastic]

Cbd inactivates the enzyme that breaks down your own endocannabinoids so it helps you get more of that feeling

[Charliefretz329]

The high does definitely exist. Cool response

[MrKinktastic]

Thank you 😊

[coffeismytea]

it's a search for strong emotions. It can be an addiction though...

[Charliefretz329]

Agreed

[hahahmm]

Masochism and survival training aren't mutually exclusive.

[Charliefretz329]

Is there a point though when they might become so?

[hahahmm]

Physical skills that make you competitive are potentially survival skills anytime you're in a survival situation. If a skill has wouldn't be useful in a survival situation than it's not a survival skills... But a lot of skills in sports would be useful.

[Charliefretz329]

Very true

[DonkeyDan]

I would think it's more the enjoyment of the adrenaline high.

[Charliefretz329]

Yes! 😏 but you got to admit that both require a certain amount of abuse and pain for that adrenaline high…

[Charliefretz329]

Or, maybe it’s just me… because I enjoy both lmao!

[DonkeyDan]

Maybe yes, I've never done endurance type events so I don't know for sure. I only do regular fitness type stuff.

[Charliefretz329]

You don’t “feel the burn”?

[DonkeyDan]

In the gym yeah but I don't feel like it's pain or anything like that. The workouts in do are mainly for toning so I'm not pushing my body hard just maintaining what I have. Every 3 workouts I do additional weights to ensure I keep my muscle tone. I used to do body building back when I was in my first college but I never went past a certain point, but I guess that was more strenuous on my body as I did use to bench quite a lot, but it was for vanity reasons back then rather than the enjoyment of the exercise. I grew up quite a bit when I moved on to med school and since then only even did maintenance fitness and cardio.

[disgustingweebtrash]

It's man pushing his body to it's limits and it's amazing.

[Charliefretz329]

I do agree! I’m a huge fan

[ChefPapiChulo]

Depends. There are people who do races in the desert. If they’re going to run in the desert, they need to train in the desert to get their bodies used to it.

[Charliefretz329]

True

[more_than_a_guy]

It's for the feeling of success afterwards, making a ✅. The focus is not on the pain, rather the reward.

[Charliefretz329]

Ok! That makes sense

[jasco]

First off extreme sports is fun and depending on why you do it, it can be very fulfilling to. Plus it’s good for ya health to a extent

[Charliefretz329]

Agreed! Agreed! And yes to an extent is true, I’ve injured myself doing such things lol

[Twalli]

Some people enjoy testing their body's limits. It makesctgem feel alive. They don't enjoy pain, but they are adrenaline junkies

[Charliefretz329]

True…

[Rlbrown]

Don't care about sports survival training is essential especially the times that we live in now you never know when you may have to survive off the land when the grocery stores become empty learn how to survive and thrive in the wilderness or live in a cardboard box in an alley

[purplepoppy]

Just people having fun

[Charliefretz329]

Oh, I agree! But masochism can be fun too

[Andres77]

only if there's sex at the end...

[Anonymous]

It makes you stronger tho

[Charliefretz329]

True, if it doesn’t injure you

[stuntbrain]

That's quite a large net you've cast

[Fuentes]

Some people like beating risky goals

[msc545]

They are a form of stupidity.