AUTHOR=Chan Zoe Y. S. , Peeters Rhys , Cheing Gladys , Ferber Reed , Cheung Roy T. H. 

TITLE=Evaluation of COVID-19 Restrictions on Distance Runners' Training Habits Using Wearable Trackers

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

VOLUME=3

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2021.812214

DOI=10.3389/fspor.2021.812214

ISSN=2624-9367

ABSTRACT=<p>The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread disruption to many individuals' lifestyles. Social distancing restrictions implemented during this global pandemic may bring potential impact on physical activity habits of the general population. However, running is one of the most popular forms of physical activity worldwide and one in which it could be maintained even during most COVID-19 restrictions. We aimed to determine the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on runners' training habits through analyzing the training records obtained from their GPS enabled wearable trackers. Retrospective and prospective data were collected from an online database (<ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="https://wetrac.ucalgary.ca" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">https://wetrac.ucalgary.ca</ext-link>). Runners' training habits, including frequency, intensity and duration of training, weekly mileage and running locations were analyzed and compared 9 months before and after the start of COVID-19 restrictions in March 2020. We found that runners ran 3 km per week more (<italic>p</italic> = 0.05, Cohen's <italic>d</italic> = 0.12) after the start of COVID-19 restrictions, and added 0.3 training sessions per week (<italic>p</italic> = 0.03, Cohen's <italic>d</italic> = 0.14). Moreover, runners ran an additional 0.4 sessions outdoors (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01, Cohen's <italic>d</italic> = 0.21) but there was no significant change in the intensity or duration of training sessions. Our findings suggested that runners adopted slightly different training regimen as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. Our results described the collective changes, irrespective of differences in response measures adopted by various countries or cities during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>