Prediction of 10 km running time by physical and training characteristics in recreational runners

Running is a common exercise that many people perform as their leisure activity. With increasing numbers of recreational runners, understanding the associations between physical and training characteristics and running time would provide useful knowledge for improving running performance. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate whether physical and training characteristics correlated with running time in recreational runners. Sixty recreational runners participated in this study. They were requested to run 10 km on track and provide details of their physical and weekly training characteristics. Relationships between physical and training characteristics and running time were analysed by using Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) and the influence of the physical and training characteristics on the running time was tested by using multiple regression. Results showed that running time was significantly correlated with body mass index (BMI; r = 0.275), training day (r =-0.583), training distance (r =-0.605), training duration (r =-0.446), running experience (r =-0.275), and numbers of participation in mini-marathon race (r =-0.311). These variables could predict 57% of variances in the running time. Among all variables, the weekly training distance showed the greatest effect on running time. It can be concluded that physical and training characteristics contributed to the changes in running time. With long distance and more days of weekly training, recreational runners would achieve a shorter running time. Furthermore, increasing the years of experiences and numbers of running races would provide beneficial effect on running performance.