Running Profiles And Their Associated Behaviors: A Proposal For Chilean Runners
Date
2017
Type:
Article
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Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American College of Sports Medicine
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Abstract
PURPOSE: Identifying different runner profiles may improve running-related injuries (RRIs)
prevention, education, and management. The aim of this study was to determine Chilean runner’s
profiles according to socio-demographic characteristics, motivations, training factors and behaviors
associated with running during 2015-2016.
METHODS: An email and web-based online cross-sectional survey were conducted. Runners from
six different competitions and other running circuits were recruited. The survey collected
information on 6 dimensions: (1)socio-demographics; (2)health; (3)motivations; (4)training factors;
(5)behaviors associated with running; and (6)beliefs and perceptions. Profiles’ construction was
performed through a two-step cluster analysis using Bayesian Information Criterion and linear
discriminant analysis to correctly assess subject classification. All statistical analyses were
performed using SPSS22 with a significance level set at 5%.
RESULTS: A total of 821 runners (46% females), aged 36.6 (±10.0) years were analyzed. Cluster
analysis allowed the generation of 4 groups (n=752) according to years-of-running-experience,
volume (km/week) and hours of training (hrs/week). Main variable for runners’ classification was
years-of-running-experience: “Beginner”(n=163); “Basic”(n=164); “Intermediate”(n=160); and
“Advanced”(n=265). Statistically significant (p<0.05) and clinically relevant variables among the 4
groups were: sex, age, years-of-running-experience, training factors, previous injury(PI) and
technological implements used for running practice. Beginners were mainly females (63.2%), aged
28.5 (±8.4) years, having less than 1 year-of-running-experience, 32.5% reported PI, and
accumulated a training volume of 18.3 (±12.7) km/week. Advanced runners were mainly males
(65.3%), aged 37.4 (±10.9) years, 63.4% with more than 7 years-of-running-experience, 44.2%
reported to have PI and accumulated a training volume of 38.2 (±20.8) km/week.
CONCLUSION: Advanced runners accumulate greater training load per week, were older, and with
higher PI proportions when compared with Beginners. Future work should include a differentiated
classification of runners, in order to identify clinically specific risk factors related to running injuries.
Description
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Citation
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 49(5S):918, MAY 2017
Keywords
Sports, running, Chile, Profiles