Exercise and company

Fitter with friends

Exercising in a group can be more effective by making things easier

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Readers' comments




The article is supposed to be about the release of endorphins, but they didn't measure endorphin levels. They measured athletic performance and perceived pain levels, and assumed that that changes in each were related to endophin levels. I find that highly dubious, when other factors related to how people behave in groups are likely to mask if not entirely dominate any supposed endorphin effects. Yes, people exercise harder and ignore pain more in groups (or in the presence of cheerleaders), but I find it much easier to attribute those effects to cultural effects (competition and the desire to impress makes us want to try harder) than to biochemistry.


As a marathoner and iron man level triathlete, I can confirm the findings - it's much easier to do if you're training with one or or more partners - men or women. My favorite training partners are the ladies... part of it is you're depending on each other and don't want to let your partner down, the other is that you have someone to chat with, even if it's only at a rest stop (e.g. a bit difficult to chat while swimming).

So all you arm chair theorists - put on some runners and get out there with some friends.


This wasn't about whether or not men try harder in the presence of other men or cheerleaders, it was about the release of endorphins. It doesn't really surprise me that certain people read things that clearly aren't there. This probably holds true for more than just exercise, however, I won't just make an assumption, I will wait for actual facts and not pretend facts that I have made up in my head.


‘Rocky’, I would like to think, meant to show how perceived unfairness can reflect in one’s actions. By this logic he actually might not been looking for endorphins, but more for an adequate way to ‘externalise’ his [hurt] feelings.

In conclusion, before analysing the relation of [group] performance and endorphins it should be put into context what ‘drives’ the athlete in the first place: joy and belonging or rage and rebellion.


mayim - I don't know if you are sarcastic, but what you seem to be suggesting is kind of mass hypnosis or a mass drill as in authoritarian regimes. What I meant was making time for quiet introspection.


@ Master Mind - excellent point, and imagine the benefits of this type of mind work when in group - as may be experienced in football stadiums, music concerts etc - uniform collaborative state of mind, a more heightened and powerful one. Viewed with this prism, exercising with others may be an excellent idea.


Exercise of any kind is equally about toughening the mind as making the body fit. A long walk or jog has the amazing ability of de-cluttering the mind and improving powers of concentration. Viewed with this prism, exercising in solitude may be an excellent idea.


They seemed to have left one rather obvious element of human personality out. Men compete with each other, especially athletes, even when there is nothing to be gained through competition. They try harder when there are others around. And their pain tolerence is much higher if another man is in the room, because they do not wish to appear weak. After this ground-breaking experiment they can test to see if men try harder when the cheerleading squad is brought in to watch them exercise. Duhhhhhh.


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