An Introduction to Understanding Your Runner
Original Editor - Mariam Hashem
Top Contributors - Mariam Hashem, Kim Jackson, Ewa Jaraczewska, Lucinda hampton, Tarina van der Stockt and Olajumoke Ogunleye
This article or area is currently under construction and may only be partially complete. Please come back soon to see the finished work! (21/11/2020)
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Many people nowadays consider running as a sport. Running is one of the world’s most popular sports and recreation activities with more than 64 million participants in the United States alone in 2016 [1]In the physiotherapy practise, we get to see a range of injuries induced by running. Most of the published evidence has mainly focused on assessing and treating the physical aspects of running. Physical injuries can be influenced by psychological factors
Running a marathon has become a life goal and an important life event for many people. This belief could influence beliefs, behaviours and attitudes in general[2].
Personality of the runner[edit | edit source]
Personality is defined as the sum of characteristics that make a person unique[3]
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[4]
Compared to the general population, middle-aged runners were more intelligent, imaginative, reserved, self-sufficient, sober, shy, and forthright[5]
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 [6]
Levels of self-confidence and anxiety varied between different types of runners[6]. Long-distance runners showed increased pain tolerance [7]
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[8]. Along with a range of food disorders [6].
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[9]
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[10]
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 [11].
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. [12]
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[13].
[14]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
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Hartung GH, Farge EJ. Personality and physiological traits in middle-aged runners and joggers. Journal of Gerontology. 1977 Sep 1;32(5):541-8.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ van Gend TD. Menstrual patterns in ultramarathon runners. South African Medical Journal. 1987 Dec 1;72(11):788-93.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Carter L., Coumbe-Lilley J., Anderson B. (2016). Strategies for working with first time marathon runners. Sport J. 1–7.
