EMOTIONAL TRANSITIONS OF NOVICE RUNNERS DURING A 7-MONTH MARATHON TRAINING-PROGRAM

The purpose of this study was to focus on the mood states of 34 unfit individuals who had voluntereed to participate in a carefully graded, yet rigorous 7-month running programme leading up to a standard marath on race. Subjects completed the POMS questionnaire at the start of the programme, half-way through the programme and one week after entering the marathon. Utilizing a basic structure display programme several c orrelation bi-plots were generated to interpret the subjects' emotiona l transitions from a sedentary way of life to a physically active life style. It was possible to identify <<drop-outs>>, as well as efficient and inefficient adapters to the marathon training programme on the ba sis of the affective transitions of the participants.