Abstract
Minimal research has examined psychological processes underpinning ultra-marathon runners’ performance. This study examined the relationships between mental toughness and self-efficacy with performance in an elite sample of ultra-marathon runners competing in the 2019 Hawaiian Ultra Running Team’s Trail 100-mile endurance run (HURT100). The Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ) and the Endurance Sport Self-Efficacy Scale (ESSES) were completed by 56 elite ultra-marathon runners in the HURT100 (38 males, 18 females; Mage = 38.86 years, SDage = 9.23). Findings revealed mental toughness and self-efficacy are highly related constructs (r(54) = 0.72, p < 0.001). Mental toughness and self-efficacy did not significantly relate to ultra-marathon performance (mental toughness and self-efficacy with Ultra-Trail World Tour (UTWT) rank F(2, 53) = 0.738, p = 0.483; mental toughness and self-efficacy with likelihood would finish the HURT100 χ2 = 0.56, p = 0.756; mental toughness and self-efficacy with HURT100 placing and time F(2, 53) = 1.738, p = 0.186 and F(2, 30) = 2.046, p = 0.147, respectively). However, participants had significantly and meaningfully higher mental toughness (M = 45.42, SD = 4.26, medium and large effect sizes) than athletes from other sports previously published. Our interpretation is that these results taken in conjunction, suggest a threshold of mental toughness that performers require to be of the standard needed to be able to prepare for and compete in elite ultra-marathon events such as the HURT100; once this mental toughness threshold is met, other factors are likely to be more influential in determining elite level ultra-marathon performance.
Highlights
Ultra-endurance events have been described as prolonged periods of physical activity covering further distance than the standard marathon (42.195 km) or lasting more than 6 hours, typically involving running, cycling, or swimming [1, 2]
Fifty-five percent of participants had less than 5 years experience of running ultra-marathon, 30% had between 5–10 years of experience, and 14% had over 10 years’ experience of running ultra-marathon
Minimal quantitative research has focused on ultra-marathon runners and the associated psychological factors required for success in ultra-marathon
Summary
Ultra-endurance events have been described as prolonged periods of physical activity covering further distance than the standard marathon (42.195 km) or lasting more than 6 hours, typically involving running, cycling, or swimming [1, 2]. Ultra-endurance and ultra-marathon competition is gaining popularity, with the number of participants growing over the last decade, especially so for women [3]. Globally the ultra-endurance and ultra-marathon participation rates are growing, research that focusses on the people that engage in this unique and extreme form of physical activity is limited. Of the research that has considered ultra-endurance and ultra-marathon, the majority has focused on demographic characteristics [3, 4], physiological demands (e.g., gastrointestinal problems, lower limb injuries, and debilitating muscle cramping, [5]), and changes in diet and physical activity across participants’ lifetimes [6, 7]. There is minimal research that focuses upon the psychological aspects of ultra-endurance and ultra-marathon, examining how these challenging feats of endurance are achieved, with even less research investigating elite level performers
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