This article addresses the challenge of operationalizing Hartmut Rosa’s concept of resonance by examining how it manifests in the highly charged environment of ultra-trail start zones. Resonance, understood as a dynamic, reciprocal interaction between individuals and their surroundings, can shed light on both the motivating and potentially alienating dimensions of sport. Yet its fluid, subjective nature complicates empirical study. Drawing on phenomenological perspectives, particularly those of Husserl and Merleau-Ponty, we situate the athlete’s body at the core of our exploration. We employ a mixed method approach: ethnographic observations at forty-five ultra-trail events — spanning 10 to 360 kilometers —, semi-structured interviews with nine runners, and an online survey of forty-three respondents. Our findings highlight the starting zone as a liminal space where music, architecture, collective anticipation, and intense emotional states converge to spark moments of deep connection. This resonance appears on a horizontal plane, linking runners to one another, a vertical axis, connecting them to a sense of historical or transcendent purpose, and another axis, called personal axis. We argue that musical cues and embodied rituals create an immersive, socially constructed atmosphere, amplifying emotional intensity and enabling runners to move from mere motivation toward an experience of resonance. However, not all participants respond uniformly; personal history and social context mediate the depth of their engagement. We conclude that implementing Rosa’s concept of resonance requires methodological flexibility – capturing fleeting, affect-laden moments without reducing them to fixed metrics. Such an approach enriches sociological and phenomenological insights while offering new directions for designing transformative sporting events.