Training for a Race Study

Given the high rates of injury while training for a race, we are working to better understand how training patterns relate to developing an injury, which could help runners and other race participants avoid injuries in the future. This study aims to identify training-related risk factors for injury in runners and other race participants training for races of 10K distance and longer. It is being conducted by a team of sports medicine doctors and researchers throughout the United States and funded by a grant from the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) Collaborative Research Network.

Individuals are eligible to participate if they are age ≥18 years, U.S. residents, planning to participate in a road or trail running race 10K distance and longer in the next 6 months, and can complete online surveys in English. Para sport race participants are encouraged to participate as well.

Participation involves:

  • Completing a baseline survey about your race experience, health, and training plan (about 10 minutes)

  • Completing health surveys every 2 weeks during training and one week after the race (about 3 minutes each)

  • Logging (or syncing) your training on Strava – activity privacy settings can be public or private.

  • Giving permission for the study team to receive your Strava activity logs

Additionally, the research team has set aside funding to make a limited number of $50 gift cards available to participants as a potential reward for completing health surveys. The research team will randomly select participants who will receive a reward each time a health survey is completed. The research team may make up to 1,000 total rewards available throughout the study. Only the first 5,000 participants enrolled in the study will be eligible to receive a reward and each eligible participant is limited to receiving only 1 reward throughout study participation.

You may contact the study team by emailing RHC@hsc.utah.edu.