What is pain?

I am about to embark on another long distance race tomorrow, and events of this week in my personal life make me wonder once more about what constitutes good pain. Pain and suffering are subjective, of course, and can be soul building experiences. To endure, to accomplish, to come out of gruelling activity is a rite of human passage. When we choose the contexts and contours of our pain and suffering it becomes even more meaningful. But, we also need to stop and listen to the body when need be; and, to be compassionate with ourselves in order to eventually prepare our bodies and minds for rigour. I was reminded of that lesson this week in one of the most grave ways possible. To me, the bioethics of sport and physical activity must involve central questions about and connections with the ways in which we can help each other suffer and find pleasure in pain, while protecting one another from pain and injury which threatens rather than enlightens.