The Role of App Use in Preparation of Running Events
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Abstract
Baart de la Faille – Deutekom, Marije and Vervoorn, Cees
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
Background
The use of mobile phone apps to monitor training performance is emerging, especially in individual sports like running. To date it is unknown whether there exist a role for apps in the preparation for a running event. Important question is whether the use of an app is related to changes in training volume or other health and lifestyle outcomes.
Objective
To define the characteristics of app users and to investigate the relation between the use of apps and changes in training volume and health and lifestyle outcomes
Methods
We randomly invited 9058 runners (of 54,000 participants) of a 16-km recreational run (Dam tot Damloop) in the Netherlands to participate in this study. Runners of all levels were invited to participate. Two days after the run participants were requested to complete an online survey. In the survey the following issues were addressed: background variables (age, gender, experience with running), use of app, running physical activity (RPA: measured by amount of trained kilometres per week at three times (before start training phase, during training phase and intention after event)), health and lifestyle (health, self reported bodyweight and length, diet, smoking and drinking behaviour and energy level). The difference in RPA between baseline, training phase and post run was calculated. All participiants were divided into app users and no-app users. Differences between the two groups on RPA and health and lifestyle were assessed.
Results
Of all invited runners 2,969 (33%) runners agreed to participate. Of all respondents 24% was overweight (BMI > 25: based on self-reported length and weight) and 13% smoked. The average age of the respondents was 40 years and 57% was male. A third of the participants (35%) indicated to have used an app in the preparation of the run. App users were slightly often more male (59%) and younger (37 years) than average. Four out of ten respondents (39%) participated in a previous version of the run. App users participated more often for the first time in the run (52% versus 33%), ran less kilometers per week before the preparation phase of the run (56% < 10km/week versus 41% < 10 km/week) and finished 2,5 minutes slower. There existed no difference in BMI and percentage overweight between the two groups. Focusing on differences in health and lifestyle outcomes between the two groups (app users and non-app users) on all measured outcomes showed significant differences. App users increased more often their RPA (62% versus 41%), changed more often their diet (41% versus 28%), felt often more healthy due to training (71% vs 49%) and lowered more often their alcohol intake (29% vs 21%) and smoking behavior (44% versus 31%) (all p-values <0.001). Also corrected for baseline characteristics app users have a 1,9 higher change to increase RPA (p<0.0001)
Conclusion
In this study there appears to exist a relation between the use of an app and change in training volume and other health and lifestyle outcomes.
Contact: m.baart.de.la.faille@hva.nl
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
Background
The use of mobile phone apps to monitor training performance is emerging, especially in individual sports like running. To date it is unknown whether there exist a role for apps in the preparation for a running event. Important question is whether the use of an app is related to changes in training volume or other health and lifestyle outcomes.
Objective
To define the characteristics of app users and to investigate the relation between the use of apps and changes in training volume and health and lifestyle outcomes
Methods
We randomly invited 9058 runners (of 54,000 participants) of a 16-km recreational run (Dam tot Damloop) in the Netherlands to participate in this study. Runners of all levels were invited to participate. Two days after the run participants were requested to complete an online survey. In the survey the following issues were addressed: background variables (age, gender, experience with running), use of app, running physical activity (RPA: measured by amount of trained kilometres per week at three times (before start training phase, during training phase and intention after event)), health and lifestyle (health, self reported bodyweight and length, diet, smoking and drinking behaviour and energy level). The difference in RPA between baseline, training phase and post run was calculated. All participiants were divided into app users and no-app users. Differences between the two groups on RPA and health and lifestyle were assessed.
Results
Of all invited runners 2,969 (33%) runners agreed to participate. Of all respondents 24% was overweight (BMI > 25: based on self-reported length and weight) and 13% smoked. The average age of the respondents was 40 years and 57% was male. A third of the participants (35%) indicated to have used an app in the preparation of the run. App users were slightly often more male (59%) and younger (37 years) than average. Four out of ten respondents (39%) participated in a previous version of the run. App users participated more often for the first time in the run (52% versus 33%), ran less kilometers per week before the preparation phase of the run (56% < 10km/week versus 41% < 10 km/week) and finished 2,5 minutes slower. There existed no difference in BMI and percentage overweight between the two groups. Focusing on differences in health and lifestyle outcomes between the two groups (app users and non-app users) on all measured outcomes showed significant differences. App users increased more often their RPA (62% versus 41%), changed more often their diet (41% versus 28%), felt often more healthy due to training (71% vs 49%) and lowered more often their alcohol intake (29% vs 21%) and smoking behavior (44% versus 31%) (all p-values <0.001). Also corrected for baseline characteristics app users have a 1,9 higher change to increase RPA (p<0.0001)
Conclusion
In this study there appears to exist a relation between the use of an app and change in training volume and other health and lifestyle outcomes.
Contact: m.baart.de.la.faille@hva.nl
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