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Ultra-obligatory running among ultramarathon runners
Martin D Hoffman1,2,3, Rhonna Krouse4
1a Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Department of Veterans Affairs , Northern California Health Care System , Sacramento , CA , USA.
Research in Sports Medicine (Print)
|January 31, 2018
Summary
Most ultramarathon runners would continue running even if told it harms their health. This endurance running appears to fulfill key psychological needs and personal achievement motivations for participants.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Psychology of Endurance Sports
Background:
- Ultramarathon running is a growing sport with potential health risks.
- Understanding runner motivations is crucial for health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate ultramarathon runners' willingness to continue despite known health risks.
- To identify psychological factors associated with this decision.
Main Methods:
- Survey administered to 1349 participants in the Ultrarunners Longitudinal TRAcking (ULTRA) Study.
- Question assessed willingness to stop running if proven unhealthy.
- Motivations of Marathoners Scales used to assess psychological factors.
Main Results:
- 74.1% of runners would not stop ultramarathon running even if definitively harmful.
- Those unwilling to stop were younger, less likely to be married, and had fewer children.
- Lower health orientation but higher scores in personal goal achievement, psychological coping, and life meaning were observed.
Conclusions:
- Most ultramarathon runners prioritize psychological and personal achievement motivations over health risks.
- The perceived benefits of running are highly valued, outweighing potential health detriments.
- Further research into risk-benefit perceptions in extreme sports is warranted.
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