DefinePK

Abstract

With the increasing participation of non-elite runners in marathons, it is crucial to assess their training routines to promote effective and healthy training. This study aimed to investigate the training habits of non-elite marathon runners in Pakistan. This quantitative, cross-sectional study recruited seventy non-elite marathon runners using convenience sampling by visiting different colleges, universities, and sports clubs of Sindh province. Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire comprising a demographic sheet and questions regarding training habits. SPSS statistical tests, like descriptives and inferential tests, including Mann-Whitney U tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests, were used to examine the collected data. Out of 70 recreational runners, two-thirds (65.71%) were between 21-25 years, and more than 70% had a normal BMI. The most common surfaces used for training were grass and a treadmill. More than 70% of the runners had worked with or were currently working with a personal trainer. Moreover, the mean best and average finishing times of runners were 222.06 minutes and 231.29 minutes, respectively. The findings also revealed that the participants who cross-trained during marathon training ran significantly more days per week (p < 0.05). The results revealed that the runners who were cross-training when not training for a marathon reported significantly lower best and average finishing times as compared to their counterparts (p < .001). Furthermore, the runners who hired a personal trainer reported significantly lower best and average finishing times and better results on the longest and average mileage covered (p < .001). These findings depict that proper training and professional support are important for recreational marathon runners for stamina building, performance enhancement, and injury prevention.