Author(s): DE COCK, F., FOSSION, G., ECCLI, C., PAQUOT, Q., JIDOVSTEFF, B., Institution: UNIVERSITY OF LIÈGE, Country: BELGIUM, Abstract-ID: 306

INTRODUCTION:
According to Glazier’s model (2017), self-organization plays a key role in short trail running performance. As a consequence, understanding how trail runners’ particular possibilities for acting, feeling and thinking which are embedded in the race topography, environment and circumstances would be helpful to understand effort management and performance. A qualitative approach using the self-confrontation method would appear to be the most appropriate way to investigate the main effort management processes used by runners during a trail running.
METHODS:
Subjects participating in a short trail race (10 to 30km) were equipped with a GoPro and a Garmin watch in order to record their activity throw GPS data and video recording. In the 5 days following the race, each subject participated in a self-confrontation interview following a thematic analysis. They were asked to describe for each relevant event what they feel, think and the decisions they make according to race chronology. Via a triangulation of researchers, the interviews were transcribed and coded to immerse main management processes.
RESULTS:
The qualitative approach used in this study gave rise to a plurality of experiences and was successful to identify and characterize particular ways of acting in a running situation. Based on Glaziers model (2017), effort management and trail running performance depend on the task, the environment and the organism. We found that runners organize themselves according to the constraints that influence their perceptions, feelings, cognitive processing and decision-making which are particularly influenced by the chronology of the race. We identify strategies influencing the management of effort such as trail recognition, position on the start line, goal setting, management of vitality, nutrition and hydration, motivation and pleasure.
CONCLUSION:
The results of this qualitative research was successful to identify main effort management strategies during short trail running. The data from this study provide a better understanding of how runners coordinate their control throughout the race, especially in delicate moments, and could be used to optimize performance.
References:
Glazier, P. S. (2017). Towards a grand unified theory of sports performance. Human movement science, 56, 139-156.