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LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS OF RECREATIONAL MARATHON RUNNERS’
PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE ALONG A 16-WEEK MACROCYCLE
E. Larumbe-Zabala1,2 3,4
, & J. Esteve-Lanao
1 Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 2 Sport psychology consultant – eneko.larumbe@ttuhsc.edu
3 All in your mind Training Program, 4ERGO Cardiorespiratory Assessment, Metabolics and Performance
Recreational endurance sports, especially the marathon, have risen in
number of participants, and therefore more psychological counseling is de-
manded from these athletes. Psychological variables such as motivation,
self-confidence, and anxiety have been widely studied with these athlete
populations. However, since the studies have been frequently conducted
close to the race day, less is known about their dynamics over long prepa-
ration periods.
Sixteen recreational runners (8 males and 8 fema-
les), aged M=37.6 years (SD=3.9) trained specifically
for a marathon race. After 3 months of regular training
over shorter competition distances, a 16-weeks ma-
crocycle was conducted under supervision of a coach.
Sixteen recreational runners (8 males and 8 fema-
les), aged M=37.6 years (SD=3.9) trained specifically
for a marathon race. After 3 months of regular training
over shorter competition distances, a 16-weeks ma-
crocycle was conducted under supervision of a coach.
PARTICIPANTS
The participants were asked to answer the Podium
questionnaire (Figure 1) five times along the macro-
cycle as shown in Figure 2.
Motivation, self-confidence, perceived fitness, per-
ceived social support, and somatic and cognitive
anxiety subscales were assessed in VAS format of
response.
PROCEDURE
Figure 1. Podium ques!onnaire for marathon runners (online)
The runners completed the
PODIUM questionnaire electronica-
lly at http://psicologiadeportiva.net
five times during the study. After the
last assessment, a report with
scores of each factor was genera-
ted. A sport psychologist counseled
the athletes and helped them inter-
pret the information.
Figure 2. Timeline and psychological assessment outcomes
One-way repeated measures ANOVAs were used to
analyze the changes across time points. Adjusted
post-hoc pairwise comparisons were performed. Signi-
ficance level was set at 0.05.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
Reference for PODIUM questionnaire
Larumbe-Zabala, E., Pérez-llantada Rueda, M. C., López-de-la-Llave Rodríguez,
A., & Buceta, J. M. (in press). Development and preliminary psychometric characte-
ristics of the PODIUM questionnaire for recreational marathon runners. Cuadernos de
Psicología Del Deporte.
The athletes showed high and firmly established motivation (means ranged 82.7/100
to 91.3/100), and high and stable perceived social support levels (means ranged
83.9/100 to 89.3/100) along the preparation period.
Significantly higher levels of perceived fitness were found as the macrocycle progres-
sed, from 56.7/100 to 84.7/100 (F(4,61)=15.76, p<0.001, η2=0.25).
Self-confidence started at 72.3/100, increased on average 9.8/100 (95%CI=0.3/100
to 19.3/100) fom day -116 to day -88 (t[4]=2.04, p=0.046), and then remained relatively
high until the last asessment (80.7/100).
Although somatic and cognitive anxiety were initially low (44.2/100 and 36.3/100 res-
pectively), a significant increase in somatic anxiety (15.4/100, 95%CI=7.3 to 23.5, from
day -116 to day -11) was found as the race was more imminent (F(4,61)=4.74, p=0.002,
η2=0.10). The same trend, although not statistically significant, was found for cognitive
anxiety (9.1/100, 95%CI=-2.7 to 21.0, from day -116 to day -11).
RESULTS
Means and 95%CI error bars are shown in the figure. Each factor was measured in visual analog scale format from 0 to 100.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Podium VAS averaged value
day
-116
day
-88
day
-60
day
-32
day
-11
Motivation
Social support
Fitness
Self-confidence
Cognitive anxiety
Somatic anxiety
day
-116
day
-88
day
-60
day
-32
day
-11
race
day
assessment assessment assessment assessment assessment
week
1
week
2
week
3
week
4
week
5
week
6
week
6
week
7
week
8
week
9
week
10
week
11
week
12
week
13
week
14
week
15
week
16
training program
These results have practical implications for psychologists intended to work with ma-
rathon runners.
Our data suggest that low anxiety levels and a gradual increase in anxiety would be
expected as runners approach the race day.
Fitness perception should increase progressively, if the training program had no inci-
dents, and self confidence should be high but not excessive.
Motivation should be high and stable over the preparation period.
DISCUSSION