Attentional Style and Pace Monitoring on Rate of Perceived Exertion and Run Performance

Run-tracking devices are used by athletes and exercisers to monitor various metrics of human locomotion such as pace and distance. This study sought to determine the effects of pace monitoring on run performance and rate of perceived exertion (RPE). Participants were 41 (17 male, 24 female) recreationally fit runners, age 19-40 years (M = 22.4, SD = 4.4), who completed the Test of Attentional and Interpersonal Style (TAIS) to determine individual attentional focus. They then completed an associative condition (AC) 1-mile time trial and a dissociative condition (DC) 1-mile time trial 24-36 hours apart. Individual, independent t-tests compared completion time means between conditions. The internalizers group (AC) performed significantly faster in the associative condition (M = 496.10, SD = 105.05 seconds) than in the dissociative condition (M = 525.00, SD = 109.67 seconds), t(20) = 5.79, p < .001. The externalizers group (DC) performed significantly faster in the dissociative condition (M = 522.70, SD = 97.37 seconds) than in the associative condition (M = 556.90, SD = 116.62), t(19) = -4.92, p < .001. Results support the value of identifying an individual’s preferred attentional focus to place them in the optimal environment for success. While the study showed no significant difference in RPE scores between conditions, there may be practical implications of similar RPE scores when accompanied by significant changes in performance.