This is my first time hearing the phrase type 2 fun and I LOVE that there is a word for this now. I'm with you - if it's fun, I won't be miserable! A few in my family are avid runners. They say it's their only alone time. They also say it's their best time to bond with friends. It helps them process the stress and the general craziness of life. I get all that. It's not my thing, but I get it. More power to you. But why - Why?! - would you push your body through pain and injury to run marathons? Plural! That's not fun! That's pain!
At the end of the day, it's their body, their time, their choice. I think it's weird as all get out, but people like different things. I just wish the type 2 fun people I know (more than just runners) wouldn't be quite so *evangelistic* about their "fun." You go enjoy your misery. I'll be just fine here crafting, making music, playing games, watching movies ... you know, fun stuff.
Lol, yes, there's something a little bit superior about runners. And I can say that, I am one! (Though extremely slow, grumpy, and nowhere near marathoning)
I think that sometimes the types are mixed. I love cross-country skiing and am lucky enough to live in a fairly ideal place for it, i.e. southern Finland. But if it's below -10 C, my fingers go numb and/or hurt (and hurt like hell when they warm up again). I can't say that's part of the fun, but it is totally overridden by the joy of gliding through a quiet forest and clean air. But I agree that giving things up is good now and then. I've been dropping alcohol during Lent for 22 years now (tried adding going vegan to it last year, which was fine except when I had to travel to Bavaria, which doesn't really grok veganism yet) and I find that I'm surprised how little I miss it - and wonder why I start again, unless the fast is broken with a really nice wine for Easter dinner. There are other things I wouldn't classify as fun, but I do them because they make sense, like brushing my teeth or doing strength training in the gym.
I'm not familiar with the term 'type 2 fun', but I agree, it's a misnomer.
I think there are two different types of things in your opening paragraphs. There are activities we do knowing there will be suffering, and activities where we get caught out. Climbing a hill in potential blizzard conditions is a choice. A flat tyre is not a choice.
I'm doing Dry January. And dry every other month. Dry, actually these past 25 years. So it doesn't count. And I do it because I want to, though some, at least at the start, called it will power. It never was. It was wanting to be free of the grip of alcohol more than to have that one more sherry/cider/beer/whiskey/whatever. Will power is just doing what you want to do most. I have long denied that will power exists. It's just indulgence under a more flattering name.
These past couple of months I've eaten no cheese, no cake, no biscuits, no desserts, no fried food... even at Christmas. Such willpower! Well... no. My cholesterol level was going up. I want that sticky bun, but I want to avoid a heart attack more.
To me these are sound reasons for denial. I'm not sure hoping for some form of enlightenment is a sound reason. Are you sure it's not just doing what you want to do most? In fact, indulgence?
Your description of willpower is interesting. I think a lot of people want to make changes but then struggle in the face of actually doing it. They might say, "Sure I want to lose weight but I also want this piece of cake and..." cue the rationalizations, which are, perhaps, a form of denial.
I do think willpower is easier or harder based on both internal and external circumstances, such as environment. Were there any things you did to prepare yourself to forego those Christmas treats, or was it just your steely internal fortitude?
Believe it or not, the flat tires and blizzards and such I have heard described as part of the "type 2 fun." These outdoorsy types!
Also, chubby bunny was the worst. We also played one where you would spin around with your head on a baseball bat and multiple kids were injured because they got so dizzy and then ran into things. 😂🤦🏻♀️
I’m pretty resistant to fasting (post evangelicalism) but I completely understand what you’re saying! I honestly feel like I have not found my stride yet with just having fun 😅 - my husband does dry January though and always finds it to be enlightening & good for him. Hope it doesn’t make you cranky☺️
But seriously, though, I have always been resistant to fasting of any kind -- for lent, for prayer, for any reason. The only exception is for periodic dry months from alcohol. I always feel so much better after not drinking for a long period of time that it surprises me when I go back to drinking. As I get older, though, alcohol is messing with my body more (inflammation, feeling hung over after one glass of wine) and I may end up quitting altogether.
You know, I think I have a different perspective on Type2Fun, and not just because that’s the name of the trail running team that we assembled to compete at several Ragnar Trail relays and some other trail running relays. For us, Type2Fun IS fun while you’re doing it, but it’s a fun that’s mixed with fear and exhaustion and maybe hunger and risk. For example, getting out of your tent at 3AM, taking a chairlift to the top of a mountain, and running down the mountain in the darkness, the trail lit only by a headlamp ... insane, exhilarating, occasionally frightening, but an experience I would not trade for anything. That’s Type2Fun. I want more of it.
I was wondering about this - I have one child who would absolutely LOVE playing soccer in a typhoon and another child who would rather die than do something so risky 😂 type 2 fun sounds like it could be really fun depending on how risk-averse you are. lol.
Interesting perspectives. Maybe it IS a difference in wiring? I will say I pushed myself to finish Anna Karenina while 9ish months pregnant even though I hated it--maybe there's something perversely fun about a challenge?
This is my first time hearing the phrase type 2 fun and I LOVE that there is a word for this now. I'm with you - if it's fun, I won't be miserable! A few in my family are avid runners. They say it's their only alone time. They also say it's their best time to bond with friends. It helps them process the stress and the general craziness of life. I get all that. It's not my thing, but I get it. More power to you. But why - Why?! - would you push your body through pain and injury to run marathons? Plural! That's not fun! That's pain!
At the end of the day, it's their body, their time, their choice. I think it's weird as all get out, but people like different things. I just wish the type 2 fun people I know (more than just runners) wouldn't be quite so *evangelistic* about their "fun." You go enjoy your misery. I'll be just fine here crafting, making music, playing games, watching movies ... you know, fun stuff.
Lol, yes, there's something a little bit superior about runners. And I can say that, I am one! (Though extremely slow, grumpy, and nowhere near marathoning)
I think that sometimes the types are mixed. I love cross-country skiing and am lucky enough to live in a fairly ideal place for it, i.e. southern Finland. But if it's below -10 C, my fingers go numb and/or hurt (and hurt like hell when they warm up again). I can't say that's part of the fun, but it is totally overridden by the joy of gliding through a quiet forest and clean air. But I agree that giving things up is good now and then. I've been dropping alcohol during Lent for 22 years now (tried adding going vegan to it last year, which was fine except when I had to travel to Bavaria, which doesn't really grok veganism yet) and I find that I'm surprised how little I miss it - and wonder why I start again, unless the fast is broken with a really nice wine for Easter dinner. There are other things I wouldn't classify as fun, but I do them because they make sense, like brushing my teeth or doing strength training in the gym.
Maybe, for you, numb fingers are the "price of admission" for cc skiing. That I can understand.
I'm not familiar with the term 'type 2 fun', but I agree, it's a misnomer.
I think there are two different types of things in your opening paragraphs. There are activities we do knowing there will be suffering, and activities where we get caught out. Climbing a hill in potential blizzard conditions is a choice. A flat tyre is not a choice.
I'm doing Dry January. And dry every other month. Dry, actually these past 25 years. So it doesn't count. And I do it because I want to, though some, at least at the start, called it will power. It never was. It was wanting to be free of the grip of alcohol more than to have that one more sherry/cider/beer/whiskey/whatever. Will power is just doing what you want to do most. I have long denied that will power exists. It's just indulgence under a more flattering name.
These past couple of months I've eaten no cheese, no cake, no biscuits, no desserts, no fried food... even at Christmas. Such willpower! Well... no. My cholesterol level was going up. I want that sticky bun, but I want to avoid a heart attack more.
To me these are sound reasons for denial. I'm not sure hoping for some form of enlightenment is a sound reason. Are you sure it's not just doing what you want to do most? In fact, indulgence?
Looking forward to reading what you find.
Your description of willpower is interesting. I think a lot of people want to make changes but then struggle in the face of actually doing it. They might say, "Sure I want to lose weight but I also want this piece of cake and..." cue the rationalizations, which are, perhaps, a form of denial.
I do think willpower is easier or harder based on both internal and external circumstances, such as environment. Were there any things you did to prepare yourself to forego those Christmas treats, or was it just your steely internal fortitude?
Believe it or not, the flat tires and blizzards and such I have heard described as part of the "type 2 fun." These outdoorsy types!
I love your version of Type 2 fun. Like Type 2 Diabetes? It’s something that can actually be controlled?
I’m dry all the time so let me know if you need someone to commiserate with.
Great piece.
LOL type 2 diabetes
Also, chubby bunny was the worst. We also played one where you would spin around with your head on a baseball bat and multiple kids were injured because they got so dizzy and then ran into things. 😂🤦🏻♀️
I’m pretty resistant to fasting (post evangelicalism) but I completely understand what you’re saying! I honestly feel like I have not found my stride yet with just having fun 😅 - my husband does dry January though and always finds it to be enlightening & good for him. Hope it doesn’t make you cranky☺️
I love type 2 fun!!
--From, a marathon runner :)
you marathon runners *shakes fist into the sky*
But seriously, though, I have always been resistant to fasting of any kind -- for lent, for prayer, for any reason. The only exception is for periodic dry months from alcohol. I always feel so much better after not drinking for a long period of time that it surprises me when I go back to drinking. As I get older, though, alcohol is messing with my body more (inflammation, feeling hung over after one glass of wine) and I may end up quitting altogether.
Well the year is only 10 days old and it's already unraveling, so I think I'll just start referring to it as Type2Fun 2024! LOL
LOL oh noooooo
You know, I think I have a different perspective on Type2Fun, and not just because that’s the name of the trail running team that we assembled to compete at several Ragnar Trail relays and some other trail running relays. For us, Type2Fun IS fun while you’re doing it, but it’s a fun that’s mixed with fear and exhaustion and maybe hunger and risk. For example, getting out of your tent at 3AM, taking a chairlift to the top of a mountain, and running down the mountain in the darkness, the trail lit only by a headlamp ... insane, exhilarating, occasionally frightening, but an experience I would not trade for anything. That’s Type2Fun. I want more of it.
I was wondering about this - I have one child who would absolutely LOVE playing soccer in a typhoon and another child who would rather die than do something so risky 😂 type 2 fun sounds like it could be really fun depending on how risk-averse you are. lol.
Absolutely! For our group, “suffering” was considered something you were seeking. It was part of the fun.
Interesting perspectives. Maybe it IS a difference in wiring? I will say I pushed myself to finish Anna Karenina while 9ish months pregnant even though I hated it--maybe there's something perversely fun about a challenge?