Kiss the Pain: A Study into Pain Tolerance, Cognitive Coping, Performance Psychology and Running Narratives during Ultra Trail Running

Abstract

Recent research has garnered interest in the physiological and psychological demands of endurance running. Such events are characterized by traversing trails, particularly mountainous ones, over extreme distances. These races impose significant psychological and physical demands due to the stressors encountered enroute. In light of significant gaps in the current research literature, this thesis examines coping with the psychological demands involved in managing crises and performance catastrophes faced by ultra-trail runners. These challenges stem from the cumulative stressors encountered during extended periods of running in training and competition.
Existing research has explored the benefits of coping strategies and psychological skills that ultra-trail runners use to manage stressors of semi-autonomous participation in such races. However, the majority of studies addressing stressors and coping strategies are conducted in laboratory settings and utilise heterogeneous participant samples, with only a minor percentage of participants comprising of ultra-trail runners. Consequently, data pertinent to ultra-trail running is often conflated with that of other sports and participant groups. This overlooks the cumulative effects of fatigue, both physical and mental, as well as pain, nutritional imbalances, and sleep deprivation, among other challenges, that runners endure during prolonged periods of running often spanning hours or days. Female ultra-trail runners are notably absent in this research landscape due to their under-representation in the sport.
Furthermore, extant studies predominantly assess performance through objective metrics such as race position and completion time. Rarely do these studies consider the subjective satisfaction derived from participation in these races. Further, the mental health of ultra-runners is seldom addressed. While their extraordinary physical achievements of the successful athlete are often celebrated, there is limited understanding of the mental toll, struggles, and coping mechanisms related to failure, which is very prevalent in these races. Alternative sources of fulfilment and satisfaction beyond race times are often overlooked. This issue is particularly pronounced for female ultra-runners, who must also navigate societal norms even to engage in training.
To address these deficiencies, this thesis first elucidates the strengths and limitations of existing studies through three empirical investigations. These studies focus on ecological data specific to ultra-trail runners, the experiences of female ultra-trail runners, and the perspectives of participants within a dominant narrative focused on success performance outcomes. It also highlights the detrimental effects of adhering to the belief that enduring pain yields the best results. It demonstrates how an athlete, committed to this narrative that pushes for success despite physical and mental decrements, found an alternative narrative to achieve success.

Date of Award	21 Jul 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Bangor University
Supervisor	Stuart Beattie (Supervisor) & Tim Woodman (Supervisor)