Defining Ultra-Endurance: A Survey of Athletes and Coaches to Achieve a Consensus Definition

Spenceley, Kate; Humphrey, Richard and Lingam-Willgoss, Candice (2017). Defining Ultra-Endurance: A Survey of Athletes and Coaches to Achieve a Consensus Definition. Scope (Health and Activity), 1 pp. 171–179.

Abstract

The original starting point for this research was to investigate ultra-endurance sporting activities with a focus on the psychological, rather than physiological, preparation and fortitude of athletes. A literature review was undertaken in order to identify a working definition of ultra-endurance for the purpose of the planned psychological study. This initial literature review failed to retrieve a suitable definition. The definitions that were identified defined ultra-endurance in the light of what each specific race or discipline that was being studied. Thus the majority of the literature reviewed for the prospective research was consequently rejected, despite having considerable value and interest, as no all encompassing definition of ultra-endurance in terms of time, distance, specific physical training or race preparation could be found. In order to construct a comprehensive understanding of psychological ultra-endurance preparation and fortitude across a spectrum, a generalisable definition needs to be constructed.

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