Altering pace control and pace regulation: attentional focus effects during running

Noel E. Brick; Mark J. Campbell; Richard S. Metcalfe; Jacqueline L. Mair; Tadhg E. Macintyre

doi:10.1249/MSS.0000000000000843

Altering pace control and pace regulation: attentional focus effects during running

Noel E. Brick^*, Mark J. Campbell, Richard S. Metcalfe, Jacqueline L. Mair, Tadhg E. Macintyre

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

35 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

PURPOSE

To date, there are no published studies directly comparing self-controlled (SC) and externally controlled (EC) pace endurance tasks. However, previous research suggests pace control may impact on cognitive strategy use and effort perceptions. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effects of manipulating perception of pace control on attentional focus, physiological, and psychological outcomes during running. The secondary aim was to determine the reproducibility of self-paced running performance when regulated by effort perceptions.

METHODS

Twenty experienced endurance runners completed four 3-km time trials on a treadmill. Subjects completed two SC pace trials, one perceived exertion clamped (PE) trial, and one EC pace time trial. PE and EC were completed in a counterbalanced order. Pacing strategy for EC and perceived exertion instructions for PE replicated the subjects' fastest SC time trial.

RESULTS

Subjects reported a greater focus on cognitive strategies such as relaxing and optimizing running action during EC than during SC. The mean HR was 2% lower during EC than that during SC despite an identical pacing strategy. Perceived exertion did not differ between the three conditions. However, increased internal sensory monitoring coincided with elevated effort perceptions in some subjects during EC and a 10% slower completion time for PE (13.0 ± 1.6 min) than that for SC (11.8 ± 1.2 min).

CONCLUSIONS

Altering pace control and pace regulation impacted on attentional focus. External control over pacing may facilitate performance, particularly when runners engage attentional strategies conducive to improved running efficiency. However, regulating pace based on effort perceptions alone may result in excessive monitoring of bodily sensations and a slower running speed. Accordingly, attentional focus interventions may prove beneficial for some athletes to adopt task-appropriate attentional strategies to optimize performance.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	879-886
Number of pages	8
Journal	Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
Volume	48
Issue number	5
Early online date	15 Dec 2015
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000000843
Publication status	Published - May 2016
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Attentional strategies
Perceived exertion
Pacing
Metacognition
Endurance

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10.1249/MSS.0000000000000843

2015 11 30 Brick et al Altering acceptedAccepted author manuscript, 663 KB
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Cite this

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title = "Altering pace control and pace regulation: attentional focus effects during running",

abstract = "PURPOSETo date, there are no published studies directly comparing self-controlled (SC) and externally controlled (EC) pace endurance tasks. However, previous research suggests pace control may impact on cognitive strategy use and effort perceptions. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effects of manipulating perception of pace control on attentional focus, physiological, and psychological outcomes during running. The secondary aim was to determine the reproducibility of self-paced running performance when regulated by effort perceptions.METHODSTwenty experienced endurance runners completed four 3-km time trials on a treadmill. Subjects completed two SC pace trials, one perceived exertion clamped (PE) trial, and one EC pace time trial. PE and EC were completed in a counterbalanced order. Pacing strategy for EC and perceived exertion instructions for PE replicated the subjects' fastest SC time trial.RESULTSSubjects reported a greater focus on cognitive strategies such as relaxing and optimizing running action during EC than during SC. The mean HR was 2% lower during EC than that during SC despite an identical pacing strategy. Perceived exertion did not differ between the three conditions. However, increased internal sensory monitoring coincided with elevated effort perceptions in some subjects during EC and a 10% slower completion time for PE (13.0 ± 1.6 min) than that for SC (11.8 ± 1.2 min).CONCLUSIONSAltering pace control and pace regulation impacted on attentional focus. External control over pacing may facilitate performance, particularly when runners engage attentional strategies conducive to improved running efficiency. However, regulating pace based on effort perceptions alone may result in excessive monitoring of bodily sensations and a slower running speed. Accordingly, attentional focus interventions may prove beneficial for some athletes to adopt task-appropriate attentional strategies to optimize performance.",

keywords = "Attentional strategies, Perceived exertion, Pacing, Metacognition, Endurance",

author = "Brick, {Noel E.} and Campbell, {Mark J.} and Metcalfe, {Richard S.} and Mair, {Jacqueline L.} and Macintyre, {Tadhg E.}",

year = "2016",

month = may,

doi = "10.1249/MSS.0000000000000843",

language = "English",

volume = "48",

pages = "879--886",

journal = "Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise",

issn = "0195-9131",

publisher = "Lippincott Williams and Wilkins",

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T1 - Altering pace control and pace regulation

T2 - attentional focus effects during running

AU - Brick, Noel E.

AU - Campbell, Mark J.

AU - Metcalfe, Richard S.

AU - Mair, Jacqueline L.

AU - Macintyre, Tadhg E.

PY - 2016/5

Y1 - 2016/5

N2 - PURPOSETo date, there are no published studies directly comparing self-controlled (SC) and externally controlled (EC) pace endurance tasks. However, previous research suggests pace control may impact on cognitive strategy use and effort perceptions. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effects of manipulating perception of pace control on attentional focus, physiological, and psychological outcomes during running. The secondary aim was to determine the reproducibility of self-paced running performance when regulated by effort perceptions.METHODSTwenty experienced endurance runners completed four 3-km time trials on a treadmill. Subjects completed two SC pace trials, one perceived exertion clamped (PE) trial, and one EC pace time trial. PE and EC were completed in a counterbalanced order. Pacing strategy for EC and perceived exertion instructions for PE replicated the subjects' fastest SC time trial.RESULTSSubjects reported a greater focus on cognitive strategies such as relaxing and optimizing running action during EC than during SC. The mean HR was 2% lower during EC than that during SC despite an identical pacing strategy. Perceived exertion did not differ between the three conditions. However, increased internal sensory monitoring coincided with elevated effort perceptions in some subjects during EC and a 10% slower completion time for PE (13.0 ± 1.6 min) than that for SC (11.8 ± 1.2 min).CONCLUSIONSAltering pace control and pace regulation impacted on attentional focus. External control over pacing may facilitate performance, particularly when runners engage attentional strategies conducive to improved running efficiency. However, regulating pace based on effort perceptions alone may result in excessive monitoring of bodily sensations and a slower running speed. Accordingly, attentional focus interventions may prove beneficial for some athletes to adopt task-appropriate attentional strategies to optimize performance.

AB - PURPOSETo date, there are no published studies directly comparing self-controlled (SC) and externally controlled (EC) pace endurance tasks. However, previous research suggests pace control may impact on cognitive strategy use and effort perceptions. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effects of manipulating perception of pace control on attentional focus, physiological, and psychological outcomes during running. The secondary aim was to determine the reproducibility of self-paced running performance when regulated by effort perceptions.METHODSTwenty experienced endurance runners completed four 3-km time trials on a treadmill. Subjects completed two SC pace trials, one perceived exertion clamped (PE) trial, and one EC pace time trial. PE and EC were completed in a counterbalanced order. Pacing strategy for EC and perceived exertion instructions for PE replicated the subjects' fastest SC time trial.RESULTSSubjects reported a greater focus on cognitive strategies such as relaxing and optimizing running action during EC than during SC. The mean HR was 2% lower during EC than that during SC despite an identical pacing strategy. Perceived exertion did not differ between the three conditions. However, increased internal sensory monitoring coincided with elevated effort perceptions in some subjects during EC and a 10% slower completion time for PE (13.0 ± 1.6 min) than that for SC (11.8 ± 1.2 min).CONCLUSIONSAltering pace control and pace regulation impacted on attentional focus. External control over pacing may facilitate performance, particularly when runners engage attentional strategies conducive to improved running efficiency. However, regulating pace based on effort perceptions alone may result in excessive monitoring of bodily sensations and a slower running speed. Accordingly, attentional focus interventions may prove beneficial for some athletes to adopt task-appropriate attentional strategies to optimize performance.

KW - Attentional strategies

KW - Perceived exertion

KW - Pacing

KW - Metacognition

KW - Endurance

U2 - 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000843

DO - 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000843

M3 - Article

C2 - 26673128

SN - 0195-9131

VL - 48

SP - 879

EP - 886

JO - Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

JF - Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

IS - 5

ER -

Altering pace control and pace regulation: attentional focus effects during running

Abstract

Keywords

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