An Introduction to Understanding Your Runner: Difference between revisions

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== Personality of the runner  ==
== The Personality of the runner  ==
Personality is defined as the sum of characteristics that make a person unique<ref>Weinberg (Weinberg, Robert Stephen), Gould D. Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology: Welcome to Sport and Exercise Psychology; Chapter 2. Personality a Sport. Human Kinetics; 2011.</ref>
Personality is defined as the sum of characteristics that make a person unique<ref>Weinberg (Weinberg, Robert Stephen), Gould D. Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology: Welcome to Sport and Exercise Psychology; Chapter 2. Personality a Sport. Human Kinetics; 2011.</ref> Running is not only a physical task; it influences the personal characteristics of the individual particularly when done professionally.


Studies show that the cognitive anxiety, arousal, self-confidence, motivation and perception of the physical state were the most representative variables of marathon runners psychological state<ref>Zabala E.L., Rueda M.C.P.L., De La Llave Rodríguez A.L. Characteristics of the psychological state of popular marathon runners. Rev. Psicol. Deporte. 2009;18:151–163.</ref>
Different studies that looked at the personality of runners found that marathon runners showed cognitive anxiety, arousal, self-confidence, motivation and perception of the physical state<ref>Zabala E.L., Rueda M.C.P.L., De La Llave Rodríguez A.L. Characteristics of the psychological state of popular marathon runners. Rev. Psicol. Deporte. 2009;18:151–163.</ref>. In addition, hardy personality (i.e., a group of characteristics related to personal perception of control, commitment and challenges), intelligence and imaginations<ref>Hartung GH, Farge EJ. Personality and physiological traits in middle-aged runners and joggers. Journal of Gerontology. 1977 Sep 1;32(5):541-8.</ref> were found to be higher among marathon runners when compared to the general population <ref name=":0">Nikolaidis PT, Rosemann T, Knechtle B. A brief review of personality in marathon runners: the role of sex, age and performance level. Sports. 2018 Sep;6(3):99.</ref>


Compared to the general population, middle-aged runners were more intelligent, imaginative, reserved, self-sufficient, sober, shy, and forthright<ref>Hartung GH, Farge EJ. Personality and physiological traits in middle-aged runners and joggers. Journal of Gerontology. 1977 Sep 1;32(5):541-8.</ref>
Increased pain tolerance was reported to be high in long-distance runners<ref>Freund W, Weber F, Billich C, Birklein F, Breimhorst M, Schuetz UH. Ultra‐M arathon R unners A re D ifferent: I nvestigations into P ain T olerance and P ersonality T raits of P articipants of the TransEurope FootRace 2009. Pain practice. 2013 Sep;13(7):524-32.</ref>


In addition, marathon runners show higher levels of hardy personality (i.e., a group of characteristics related to personal perception of control, commitment and challenges) than the general population <ref name=":0">Nikolaidis PT, Rosemann T, Knechtle B. A brief review of personality in marathon runners: the role of sex, age and performance level. Sports. 2018 Sep;6(3):99.</ref>
Runners achieved high scores on boldness, warmth, conformity, sensitivity, dominance, and high drive with tension, self-discipline and emotional stability<ref>Nudel DB, Hassett I, Gurian A, Diamant S, Weinhouse E, Gootman N. Young long distance runners: Physiological and psychological characteristics. Clinical pediatrics. 1989 Nov;28(11):500-5.</ref>.


Levels of self-confidence and anxiety varied between different types of runners<ref name=":0" />. Long-distance runners showed increased pain tolerance <ref>Freund W, Weber F, Billich C, Birklein F, Breimhorst M, Schuetz UH. Ultra‐M arathon R unners A re D ifferent: I nvestigations into P ain T olerance and P ersonality T raits of P articipants of the TransEurope FootRace 2009. Pain practice. 2013 Sep;13(7):524-32.</ref>
They type of running and the performance level influence on the runner's personality<ref>Jerome W.C., Valliant P.M. Comparison of personalities between marathon runners and cross-country skiers. Percept. Mot. Skills. 1983;56:35–38. doi: 10.2466/pms.1983.56.1.35.</ref>. Periods of intensive training can place high physical and emotional demands on the athlete. A range of food disorders<ref name=":0" /> as well as menstrual irregularity are experienced by female ultra-marathon runners during periods of intensive training due to emotional stresses but their menstrual patterns were normalised once these stresses were removed<ref>van Gend TD. Menstrual patterns in ultramarathon runners. South African Medical Journal. 1987 Dec 1;72(11):788-93.</ref>.
 
Menstrual irregularity has been experienced by ~40% of ultra-marathon runners during periods of intensive training due to emotional stresses of competitive ultra-marathon running, and menstrual patterns normalised once these stresses were removed<ref>van Gend TD. Menstrual patterns in ultramarathon runners. South African Medical Journal. 1987 Dec 1;72(11):788-93.</ref>. Along with a range of food disorders <ref name=":0" />.
 
One of the few longitudinal studies on marathon runners observed that most runners scored above the 85th percentile on boldness, warmth, conformity, sensitivity, dominance, and high drive with tension, and above the 93rd percentile for self-discipline and emotional stability<ref>Nudel DB, Hassett I, Gurian A, Diamant S, Weinhouse E, Gootman N. Young long distance runners: Physiological and psychological characteristics. Clinical pediatrics. 1989 Nov;28(11):500-5.</ref>
 
The performance level is another factor, recreational runners vs marathon runners. . Compared to cross-country skiers, marathon runners had similar scores on reserved, imaginative, self-sufficient, and independence; however, they appeared more intelligent and tough-minded<ref>Jerome W.C., Valliant P.M. Comparison of personalities between marathon runners and cross-country skiers. Percept. Mot. Skills. 1983;56:35–38. doi: 10.2466/pms.1983.56.1.35.</ref>


== Motivation ==
== Motivation ==

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Introduction[edit | edit source]

The popularity of running as a sport has increased widely over the last few decades [1]. It is not uncommon to hear that someone has got ''running a marathon'' on their life goals or their bucket list of dreams. The belief is running a marathon is an important life event is adapted by many people and could have significant effects on their beliefs, behaviours and attitudes in general[2]

Running is a sport that comes with huge physical and also psychological demands. People run for many reasons, to compete, to get fit, to socialise with other runners, some run to improve their mental health and others just love to run[3].

Running related injuries are part of the running experience. Runners come with a variety of joint injuries including:

However, when it comes to the assessment of injuries, a holistic assessment approach is recommended to understand the needs of the runners and help them to manage their injuries successfully.

The published evidence is heavily focused on the physical aspects of running but the psychological factors also need to be well understood and investigated.

.

The Personality of the runner[edit | edit source]

Personality is defined as the sum of characteristics that make a person unique[4] Running is not only a physical task; it influences the personal characteristics of the individual particularly when done professionally.

Different studies that looked at the personality of runners found that marathon runners showed cognitive anxiety, arousal, self-confidence, motivation and perception of the physical state[5]. In addition, hardy personality (i.e., a group of characteristics related to personal perception of control, commitment and challenges), intelligence and imaginations[6] were found to be higher among marathon runners when compared to the general population [7]

Increased pain tolerance was reported to be high in long-distance runners[8]

Runners achieved high scores on boldness, warmth, conformity, sensitivity, dominance, and high drive with tension, self-discipline and emotional stability[9].

They type of running and the performance level influence on the runner's personality[10]. Periods of intensive training can place high physical and emotional demands on the athlete. A range of food disorders[7] as well as menstrual irregularity are experienced by female ultra-marathon runners during periods of intensive training due to emotional stresses but their menstrual patterns were normalised once these stresses were removed[11].

Motivation[edit | edit source]

Why People Run?

Female marathon finishers exceeded men on the motivational scales for weight concern, affiliation, psychological coping, life meaning, and self-esteem and they scored lower on competitive motivation [12].

Psychological coping:Emotional-related coping and every day life

There was also another interesting split, where health orientation was divided into reduction in disease prevalence and staying fit.

that goal achievement (i.e., personal challenge and the sense of achievement) was runners’ primary motivation. [13]

Social interaction

Weight management

female marathon finishers were more motivated than men by weight concern, affiliation, psychological coping, life meaning, and self-esteem, but less motivated by competition[14].

[15]beginners in marathon running exhibited positive attitudes toward marathon preparations and were well motivated. However, they were often unprepared for the mental and emotional demands of training and competing in a marathon.

Psychological Aspects of Running[edit | edit source]

Psychological factors and running injuries

In addition to the physical symptoms, athletic injuries, including RRIs, are known to induce dynamic, individualized psychological and emotional responses that may fluctuate over time, but play an important role in recovery. 34 The psychological effects of RRIs have not been specifically evaluated, but runners are represented in some studies.35 Injury-related emotions, cognitions, and behaviors compose the core themes of the multiple psychosocial factors associated with sports injury rehabilitation.36 Fluctuations are especially evident at transitions in the recovery process, including the return to sport when sport-specific self-confidence is necessary to avert a fear response.36 37 Despite consensus regarding the importance of repeated psychological assessment throughout the entire recovery process, there are no preferred assessments. 34 Multiple assessment instruments are available, but most are too long to be clinically practical.38 Efficient methods to integrate psychological screening into clinical care would be beneficial because positive psychological responses are associated with better outcomes, and interventions for negative psychological responses decrease time lost due to injury.34 38 Running has unique physical and psychological demands. Following injury, the process to return to normal health is accompanied by a variety of physical and psychological symptoms. The consequences of these symptoms demonstrate variability, but the vast majority of injured 6 runners continue to train or compete despite ongoing symptoms. Valid assessments of recovery must incorporate the patient-perspective, and respond to meaningful fluctuations in the factors associated with recovery

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Nikolaidis PT, Rosemann T, Knechtle B. Sex differences in the age of peak marathon race time. Chin. J. Physiol. 2018 Apr 30;61:85-91.
  2. ↑ Gorczyca A, Jankowski T, Oles P. Does running a first marathon influence general self-efficacy and positive orientation. Int. J. Sport Psychol. 2016 Sep 1;47:466-82.
  3. ↑ Nunes D.An Introduction to Understanding Your Runner.Physioplus Course 2020
  4. ↑ Weinberg (Weinberg, Robert Stephen), Gould D. Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology: Welcome to Sport and Exercise Psychology; Chapter 2. Personality a Sport. Human Kinetics; 2011.
  5. ↑ Zabala E.L., Rueda M.C.P.L., De La Llave Rodríguez A.L. Characteristics of the psychological state of popular marathon runners. Rev. Psicol. Deporte. 2009;18:151–163.
  6. ↑ Hartung GH, Farge EJ. Personality and physiological traits in middle-aged runners and joggers. Journal of Gerontology. 1977 Sep 1;32(5):541-8.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Nikolaidis PT, Rosemann T, Knechtle B. A brief review of personality in marathon runners: the role of sex, age and performance level. Sports. 2018 Sep;6(3):99.
  8. ↑ Freund W, Weber F, Billich C, Birklein F, Breimhorst M, Schuetz UH. Ultra‐M arathon R unners A re D ifferent: I nvestigations into P ain T olerance and P ersonality T raits of P articipants of the TransEurope FootRace 2009. Pain practice. 2013 Sep;13(7):524-32.
  9. ↑ Nudel DB, Hassett I, Gurian A, Diamant S, Weinhouse E, Gootman N. Young long distance runners: Physiological and psychological characteristics. Clinical pediatrics. 1989 Nov;28(11):500-5.
  10. ↑ Jerome W.C., Valliant P.M. Comparison of personalities between marathon runners and cross-country skiers. Percept. Mot. Skills. 1983;56:35–38. doi: 10.2466/pms.1983.56.1.35.
  11. ↑ van Gend TD. Menstrual patterns in ultramarathon runners. South African Medical Journal. 1987 Dec 1;72(11):788-93.
  12. ↑ Waśkiewicz Z, Nikolaidis PT, Gerasimuk D, Borysiuk Z, Rosemann T, Knechtle B. What Motivates Successful Marathon Runners? The Role of Sex, Age, Education, and Training Experience in Polish Runners. Frontiers in psychology. 2019;10.
  13. ↑ Summers J. J., Sargent G. I., Levey A. J., Murray K. D. (1982). Middle-aged, non-elite marathon runners: a profile. Percept. Mot. Skills 54 963–969. 10.2466/pms.1982.54.3.963
  14. ↑ Waśkiewicz Z, Nikolaidis PT, Gerasimuk D, Borysiuk Z, Rosemann T, Knechtle B. What Motivates Successful Marathon Runners? The Role of Sex, Age, Education, and Training Experience in Polish Runners. Frontiers in psychology. 2019;10.
  15. ↑ Carter L., Coumbe-Lilley J., Anderson B. (2016). Strategies for working with first time marathon runners. Sport J. 1–7.
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