Sport as the Basic Contents of Leisure in Biodromal Perspective. An Example of Long-Distance Runners

Abstract

Background. The study analyses sport as the basic contents of leisure in biodromal perspective ad the ascetic
lifestyle of an athlete. Ascetic lifestyle is observed not only as it contributes to the best performances, but also
to lifelong participation including, for instance, long-distance runners with the stage of minimally 20 years of
competition  racing. The  latter  is  the  centre  of  our  attention. The  object  of  the  research  is  sport  as  the  basic
contents of leisure in biodromal perspective. Research aim is to analyse the ascetic lifestyle of an athlete; to map
the real role of asceticism in the sports sphere on example of long-distance runners.
Methods. We researched a special group of long-distance runners with the stage of minimally 20 years of
competition racing (168 athletes). A research questionnaire with this special group was implemented. Descriptive
statistical evaluation was performed.
Results. We found noticeable ascetic features of lifestyle among long-distance runners with the stage of
minimally 20 years of competition racing. They exercise (it is an original meaning of the Greek word askésis)
both body and will in lifelong horizon. They know that running (which is higher level of jogging) is also joined
with some portion of pain and they are ready to sign a specific runners´ motto: “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is
optional.” If the option is “suffering”, the situations open the way to peak experiences.
Conclusion.  Promoting  “reasonable  asceticism”  can  be  one  aspect  of  raison  d´être  of  today’s  sport  in  this
postmodern world with the supremacy of hedonistic orientation.

Keywords: leisure, running, lifestyle, motivation, asceticism.