‘Being in time!’. From resonance to embodied experiences of time in ultra-trail and freediving sports

This article discusses the relationship between time and physical activity, focusing on the concept of resonance as developed by sociologist Hartmut Rosa. First, we question the resonance through the lens of a philosophy of re-enchantment, to explore how the social sciences engage with this notion. Time, as a contemporary social critique, leads us to consider sport as an analyzer of processes of acceleration and deceleration, as a space of resonance and singular temporal experiences. Using empirical material collected from the practices of freediving and ultra-trail, we explore resonance in connection with the embodied experiences of time in these two sports. By focusing on the relationship with time as it may be experienced in these situations, we show that, while temporal distortions and ambivalences are commonly observable, they are nonetheless part of complex temporal socializations that reveal incorporations of time. The originality of the article lies in the dialogue between ultra-trail and freediving; between resonance and bodily experiences of time, within a phenomenological approach. The article emphasizes how these activities, though performance-oriented, offer a deeper, more subjective relationship with time—one that is embodied and connected to the present moment, rather than dominated by external, objective measurements of time. Two points are discussed: the existential experience of slowness and the subjective perception of time, which is possibly influenced by external and internal stimuli, as well as cognitive processes. Finally, this research highlights the potential of sports to foster a new understanding of time that challenges contemporary notions of speed and efficiency.