In the early 80’s I was an avid road runner, numerous 5 K’s 10 k’s and two marathons. I averaged about 10-12 miles per run a day . The first marathon was OK -I did better than I thought I would. The second one was brutal- 3 plus miles of a long winding grade through a thunderstorm. It was challenging mentally and physically as are all marathons but it was not suffering. Why? Because I had a choice- I could quit at any time. I was not under duress or any circumstances truly beyond my control. In retrospect, I’m always glad I ran those races as the personal reward for meeting the challenge or exceeding your own expectations is wonderful. They come with a price however in time ,energy spent and physical wear and tear. That’s a personal calculation that’s different for everyone .