Summary information

Study title

Wessex Survey of Marathon Runners, 1984-1985

Creator

Barrell, G. V., University of Southampton, Department of Physical Education

MacKean, J., University of Southampton, Department of Social Statistics

Holt, D., University of Southampton, Department of Social Statistics

Study number / PID

2312 (UKDA)

10.5255/UKDA-SN-2312-1 (DOI)

Data access

Restricted

Series

Not available

Abstract

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

To determine how many people take part in full and half-marathon events and to find out how frequently they compete; to describe competitors' demographic, social and sporting backgrounds and their training regime; to discover why such people are involved; to assess the impact on the lives of competitors and their families; to consider competitors' views on the present state and future development of the sport.
A follow-up study of responders was carried out in 1985 to study changes in patterns of participation.
Main Topics:

Variables
Variables related to training, sporting background, reasons for starting and continuing running and competing, effect of competing and training, views on state of sport, family involvement and views, future plans. Demographic variables.

Health behaviourLeisure, tourism and sport

AGEAGE GROUPSATHLETICSATTITUDESCHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONSEDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDEMPLOYMENTEXERCISE (PHYSICAL ACTIVITY)FAMILIESFAMILY INFLUENCEFAMILY LIFEFORECASTING

Data collection period

01/01/1985 - 01/01/1986

Country

England

Time dimension

Longitudinal/panel/cohort

two waves

Analysis unit

Individuals

Subnational

Runners

Universe

Runners who were resident in Wessex and ran an event (marathon or half-marathon) in or just outside Wessex in 1984.

Sampling procedure

Multi-stage stratified random sample

stratified

Kind of data

Not available

Data collection mode

Postal survey

Publisher

UK Data Service

Publication year

1987

Terms of data access

The Data Collection is available to UK Data Service registered users subject to the End User Licence Agreement.

Commercial use of the data requires approval from the data owner or their nominee. The UK Data Service will contact you.

Holt, D., MacKaen, J. and Barrell, G. (1986) 'The design of marathon studies for comparative purpose', 206-211
MacKaen, J., Barrell, G. and Holt, D. (1986) 'Reasons for marathon participation', Sports Medicine, 128-135
Holt, D., MacKaen, J. and Barrell, G. (1986) 'A comparison of the reasons for marathon participation of British and Australian non-elite runners'
Barrell, G., Holt, D. and MacKaen, J. (1985) 'Is there a marathon boom?'