Abstract
The purpose was to investigate how a negative life event (NLE) affects perceived psychosocial
stress, recovery and running economy (RE). Competitive runners were monitored in a
prospective non-experimental cohort study over one full training season in which they
experienced the same unplanned severe NLE. 16 runners recorded stress and recovery
scores (RESTQ-Sport) every week. The average scores over 3 weeks before the NLE were
used as a baseline and were compared to scores during the week of the NLE (week 0),
week 1 and week 2. 7 runners completed a submaximal treadmill test before and after
the NLE. Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed that most scores on general stress scales
were increased in week 0 and 1. Of the general recovery scales, “general well-being”
was decreased in week 0 and 1, “social” and “physical recovery” were decreased in
week 0. No changes in the sport-specific stress scales were found. However, 2 of the
sport-specific recovery scales were decreased in week 0. An impaired RE was shown
3 weeks after the NLE. Therefore, it is important to know what is going on in an athlete’s
life, because stressful life events alter RE after the stress and recovery already
returned to normal levels.
Key words
perceived stress - competitive athletes - athletic training - exercise test - major
life event