Abstract
•Runners shift their scope of visual attention in competition.•Runners use wide and narrow visual attention equally during short runs.•Runners use wide, broad, expansive visual attention during long runs.•People who run more vs fewer miles each week use wide more than narrow attention in long races.
We investigated associations between use of visual attention-based styles and running performance. In one quasi-experimental study, we measured self-reported frequency of use of narrow and wide attentional scope during short and long distance runs among individuals competing in foot races. We found that runners reported using wide attention more often than narrow attention in competition; this may be the case more so during long compared to short runs. Preliminary evidence suggests such differences in frequency of use of wide and narrow attention emerged among individuals who routinely ran more rather than fewer miles per week. We discuss implications for visual attention-based interventions to improve exercise for individuals outside of competition.
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