Abstract

Objective: Research attempts to understand mental toughness have predominantly focused upon retrospective accounts of elite athletes. To facilitate a broader understanding, we investigated non-elite athlete’s perceptions of mental toughness, and the relationship between mental toughness and coping in a demanding ultra-endurance (100 km walk/run) event.
Design: A qualitative approach was adopted that allowed athletes to describe their coping strategies in situ to reduce concerns over inaccurate recall. An inductive content analysis was used to analyse the data
Method: A two-stage procedure was adopted: First, 12 non-elite sports participants were questioned during the early, middle and later stages of the Trailwalker UK event. Participants reported how they were coping, and the personal attributes that were enabling them to persist. Second, successful participants described the attributes of the ideal mentally tough trailwalker in a follow-up focus group, which was attended by the three men and four women who completed the event. Data was transcribed, and the most important themes to emerge were identified by the research team and agreed with the participants.
Results: All athletes suffered overuse injuries. The main coping strategies employed included compartmentalising the problem, normalising pain, maintaining perspective, thinking objectively, dissociating, detachment, humour, and social support. The ideal trailwalker reportedly possessed tenacity, total commitment to goals, objectivity, humility, confidence, and thrived on challenges.
Conclusions: These results offer support to the 4C’s model of mental toughness. Mentally tough walkers showed exceptional adaptability and flexibility in their coping. The relationship between mental toughness and coping appears complex and requires further investigation.