Cognitive orientations in marathon running and "hitting the wall"

Area of Science:

• Sports Psychology
• Exercise Physiology
• Marathon Running

Background:

• "Hitting the wall" is a common phenomenon in marathon running, characterized by sudden fatigue and a loss of energy.
• Understanding the psychological factors, specifically runners' cognitions, can provide insights into managing this performance barrier.
• Previous research has explored cognitive strategies, but a comprehensive classification system for marathon runners is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between marathon runners' cognitive patterns and the experience of "hitting the wall".
• To evaluate a novel and more inclusive system for categorizing the thoughts of marathon runners during a race.

Main Methods:

• A post-race questionnaire was administered to 66 non-elite marathon runners following the 1996 London Marathon.
• Participants were recruited via the charity SPARKS, for whom they were fundraising by completing the race.
• Cognitive strategies were assessed based on runners' self-reported thoughts during the marathon.

Main Results:

• The majority of runners reported predominantly internally associative thoughts during the race.
• Runners who experienced "hitting the wall" utilized more internal dissociation, a strategy linked to sensory feedback blockage.
• Internal association correlated with an earlier onset of "the wall", suggesting symptom magnification, while external dissociation delayed onset, likely through distraction.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive patterns during a marathon are significantly associated with "hitting the wall" in recreational, non-elite runners.
• Internal dissociation emerged as a particularly hazardous cognitive strategy linked to experiencing "the wall".
• The findings highlight the importance of cognitive strategies in marathon performance and fatigue management.