Young long distance runners. Physiological and psychological characteristics

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Pediatric Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Early-onset long-distance running is a growing trend.
• Understanding the long-term physiological and psychological impacts on young athletes is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the physiological and psychological characteristics of children who started long-distance running at a young age (4-12 years).
• To assess the running histories, training volumes, injury rates, and developmental outcomes in this cohort.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal assessment of 16 young long-distance runners (training 30-105 miles/week).
• Evaluation of physiological markers (cardiac dimensions, maximal oxygen uptake, anaerobic threshold) and anthropometrics (bone age, height).
• Psychological assessments included IQ, Grade Point Average (GPA), Cattell 16 Personality Factor (PF), and Human Figure Drawing.

Main Results:

• Athletes demonstrated superior cardiovascular fitness (larger left ventricular diastolic diameter, higher max O2 uptake) and delayed anaerobic metabolism onset.
• No significant growth retardation was observed; bone age and height were within normal ranges.
• Psychological profile revealed high scores in self-discipline and emotional stability, but also noted distorted body image in some, two cases of anorexia nervosa, and one suicide.

Conclusions:

• Young long-distance runners achieve high physical fitness without compromising growth.
• Distinct personality traits and a concerning incidence of severe psychological disorders were observed.
• Psychological screening and ongoing monitoring are recommended for young athletes in strenuous training programs.