Inside the Pain Tolerance of Ultra-Endurance Women with Britta Maria Sorensen, PhD

How do female ultra-endurance athletes experience, interpret, and cope with pain—and when does pushing through become too much?

Erin Ayala, PhD, speaks with sport psychology researcher Dr. Britta Maria Sorensen about the complex role pain plays in women’s ultra-endurance sport.

Dr. Sorensen explains why pain is more than a physical sensation. Biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors can all influence how athletes interpret discomfort, respond to it, and decide whether to continue or stop.

They also explore the relationship between endurance sport, emotional stress, and past trauma; the difference between harmonious and obsessive passion; and how athletes can recognize when training is supporting their well-being versus becoming a form of avoidance.

This conversation offers practical strategies for managing pain, reducing burnout risk, and building a healthier, more sustainable relationship with performance.

In this episode:

Why pain should be understood through a biopsychosocial lensWhat qualitative research reveals about how women cope with extreme discomfortHow past trauma and emotional stress may shape participation in ultra-endurance sportThe difference between using sport as a healthy outlet and using it as avoidancePractical tools such as body scans, progressive self-talk, fueling, hydration, and properly fitted gearWhy scheduled rest and recovery can help prevent compulsive training patternsHow coaches, therapists, partners, and support systems can help athletes stay balanced

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Dr. Sorenson's Open Access Research Article

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