Modelling risk factors related to the performance of two oceans half marathon runners between 2012 and 2015

Abstract

Limited literature is available on the effect of factors associated with the improvement in performance of Two Oceans Half Marathon (TOHM) runners. This study examined factors associated with the improvement in performance of a runner over a 4-year period for the Two Oceans Half Marathon through the application of a linear mixed model. A subset of data was identified that according to the literature had an impact on the performance of a half marathon runner. Univariate analysis was conducted to identify factors that had an impact on the performance of the runners and a linear mixed model was applied to the model adjusted for age, gender and body mass index (BMI) containing interaction effects to determine the extent to which these factors influence the change in performance of the runners.