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Is it All the Mind? Predicting the Performance of Marathon Running

Is it All the Mind? Predicting the Performance of Marathon Running. Principal Investigator: John Bygrave Faculty members: Cindra Kamphoff , Ph.D. Karla Lassonde , Ph.D. Emily Stark, Ph.D. Outline. Marathon facts Purpose of study Participants/Methods

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Is it All the Mind? Predicting the Performance of Marathon Running

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  1. Is it All the Mind? Predicting the Performance of Marathon Running Principal Investigator: John Bygrave Faculty members: CindraKamphoff, Ph.D. Karla Lassonde, Ph.D. Emily Stark, Ph.D.

  2. Outline • Marathon facts • Purpose of study • Participants/Methods • Results • Conclusion • Future research ideas

  3. Marathon Facts • Marathon is 26.2 miles long (half is 13.1 miles) • Olympic event • Ran on the last day, closing the summer games • Both the marathon and half-marathon are growing in popularity in the U.S. and around the world (Lamppa, 2011). • 507,000 marathon finishers in 2010 (US only) • 8.6% increase from 2009 (Lamppa, 2011) • Half marathons seeing even greater increases

  4. Marathon Facts cont. • Fastest Marathon times: • World Record in 1896: 3:45 (8 min. 35sec. Pace) • Mankato 2011: 2:36:18 (5min. 58sec. Pace) • Olympics 2008: 2:06:32 (4min. 50sec. Pace) • Boston 2011: 2:03:02 (4min. 42sec. Pace)

  5. Marathon Runners ?

  6. Why this study is important • Lack of similar research • Masters, Ogles 1995 • Examined different motivation marathons runners used depending on experience level • Understand how runners are able to push themselves to achieve their desired time • Help people interested in running these events to achieve their goals

  7. Purpose of Study • Determine which variables predict marathon performance? • Physical training regimes • Mental strategies (i.e. confidence) • Combination of the two • Share the findings with runners of all levels

  8. Method- Participants • N=37 (20 men, 17 women) • 20 Full Marathoners, 17 Half Marathoners • Age Range: 20-66 years old • Finishing times range: • Half: 1hr 19min. – 3hrs. 34min. • Full: 3hrs. 21min.- 6hrs. 18min.

  9. Method- Data Collection • Mankato Marathon Expo • Participants given pre-survey the day before • Past Marathon experience • Race goals/times • Training methods (mental and physical) • Confidence entering race • Example: “I’m confident because I mentally picture myself reaching my goal” 1 2 3 4 5 Not at all Very much

  10. Method- Data Collection • Participants were given post-survey immediately after completing the race • How they felt the race went • Their actual race time • Satisfaction with their performance • Example 2: “Do you feel that you had a successful race?” 1 2 3 4 5 Yes, definitely No, not at all

  11. Method- Creating Variable • Variables we looked at from surveys: • Mindset • Confidence • Positivity • Examined actual finishing time and race satisfaction • Identified differences in half vs. full marathon training strategies

  12. Results • None of these variables predicted Marathon performance Marathon Half Marathon Trained average 11 week Ran 21 miles per week More Confident before Reported less successful race afterwards Overconfident??? • Trained average 17 weeks • Ran 36 miles per week • Reported successful race afterwards

  13. Results- Training methods Marathons Half Marathons Strength Training Cross Training Easy Runs • Long Runs • Interval/Speed • Tempo Runs • Hill Workouts • Half marathoners also completed more of their training plans than full marathoners

  14. Conclusion • Half marathoner’s may have relied on training plans, underestimated the challenge • Marathoner’s more aware of the difficulty of a marathon, possibly psyched themselves out • Confidence does not equal preparedness

  15. Future Research • Additional research needs to be conducted using a larger sample. • Separate novice from experienced runners • As popularity of running grows so will the interest of science to delve into the minds of long distance runners

  16. References • Lamppa, R. (2011, March 16). Running USA. Retrieved from http://runningusa.org/node/76115 • Masters, K. S., & Ogles, B. M. (1998). Associative and dissociative cognitive strategies in exercise and running: 20 years later, what do we know? The Sport Psychologist, 12, 253-270. • Masters, K. S., & Ogles, B. M. (1995). An investigation of the different motivations of marathon runners with varying degrees of experience. Journal of Sport Behavior, 18(1), 69-69. • BIG Thanks to Mankato undergraduate research center • Dr. Marilyn Hart • Foundation grant recipient • Mentors • Dr CindraKamphoff • Dr Emily Stark • Dr Karla Lassonde

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