Assessing the motives of non-elite long distance runners.

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My name is Douglas J John, I am currently undertaking BSC Sports Performance at Hartpury College (UWE). I would like to invite you to take part in a research study looking into how much non-elite athletes are motivated by the physical challenge, potential for an improved body image, or for charity association within long distance running. The questionnaire should not take more than 5-10 minutes to complete.

In this study I will be investigating motives for participation within non-elite long distance running. There is little risk involved with participating in this study as it takes very little of your time and can be completed wherever you like as it is in an online format.

Please note that all information which is collected about you during the course of the research will be kept securely with the researcher. Any information which enters the public domain will be anonymised so that you cannot be recognized from it unless you wish to be publicly acknowledged. Questionnaire data will be held but information will be coded for anonymity. The results will be presented as my dissertation and a paper and electronic copy will be kept at Hartpury College; additionally I aim to publish the research in an appropriate journal.

It is up to you to decide whether or not to take part in this research. By filling out this questionnaire this is indicating your voluntary informed consent to participating in the research and also granting consent for the data obtained from this to be used and analysed over the course of the research study.

If you decide to take part you are still free to withdraw without giving a reason up to when the designated point of withdrawal has been reached (Data processing, commencing on 05/02/2016, by contacting me, Douglas J John, on Douglas.John@hartpury.ac.uk. If you have any concerns, please contact my research supervisor on Richard.collins@hartpury.ac.uk

I can confirm that I am over 18 years old *

Yes

I consent for my data to be used in a confidential manor *

Yes

I can confirm that I have participated in a long distance running event within the last 12 months *

Long distance is defined as a half-marathon or further.

Yes

I have raised money for charity in a long distance running event in the last 12 months *

Yes

How many long distance running events have you undertaken in the last 12 months? *

Of those, how many have you raised money for charity for? *

Which of the following primarily motivates you to complete long distance running events ? *

Giving to charity

Overcoming the physical challenge

Improving your body image

Maintaining/improving fitness levels

None of the above

"In my opinion, I am motivated to engage in long distance charity running events..." *

If you do not feel able to answer a question then please select Not Applicable.

Strongly Agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

Not Applicable

Because Its helps me gain status or recognition

Because I want to improve my body shape

Because I want to obtain new skills

Because that I feel the money I raise by running for charity goes to a good cause

Because I want to improve on my current PB (personal best time)

Because I do more for my fitness than other people

Because I want to improve my cardiovascular fitness

Because I want to be attractive to others

Because I like activities that are mentally challenging

Because I like the challenge

Because I have a personal connection with the charity that I am running for

Because I want to keep up my current skill levels (e.g. repeat my PB (personal best time))

Because I want to be fitter than others

Because I want to maintain weight to uphold my appearance

Because I like activities which are physically challenging

Because I feel unattractive if I am not active

Because I feel that by giving to charity I am achieving something

Because it makes my physical appearance better than others

Because I want to be physically fit

because it allows me to compete with others around me

Because I want to define my muscles so I can improve my appearance

Because I want to lose weight so that I can improve my appearance

Because I want to maintain my physical strength to live a healthy life

Because I want to be the best in the group

Because by running for charity, which makes me feel good about myself

Because I like engaging in activities which physically challenge me

Because by running for charity, which makes me look good in a social setting

Because the charity organisation asked me to

Because a family or friend asked raise money for charity with them

Because I want to have more energy

Because the charity that I ran for benefitted the local community, therefore benefitting myself

Because I want to maintain my physical health and well being

Because I want to improve existing skills (e.g. run a new PB (Personal best time)

Because I want to perform better than others