Faculty of Environment, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jun 10;18(12):6268. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18126268.
Recreational road running is growing in popularity and has been linked to numerous mental and physical health benefits. However, we know little about what environmental preferences or concerns runners have regarding participation in the sport, and whether differences exist across age and gender. We conducted a cross-sectional survey on recreational road runners to investigate the type of built and natural environments road runners prefer, as well as the safety and health concerns that may affect runners' choice of environment. Responses were analyzed by age and gender. A total of 1228 road runners responded to the survey; 59.6% of respondents were women and 32.1% of respondents were men. Most respondents preferred to run on asphalt or sidewalk surfaces, and preferred well-lit, tree-lined routes. Major concerns for both men and women include animals and dangerous road conditions. Men and women differed significantly in their responses to the importance of running around others and their primary concerns while running. Results of this study serve to deepen our understanding of recreational road runners' environmental preferences and concerns, providing valuable information for public health officials and city planners alike. This information must be considered if we are to continue to encourage uptake of running as a sport and reap its health effects.
休闲路跑越来越受欢迎，与许多身心健康益处相关。然而，我们对于参与者对于参与该运动的环境偏好或关注点知之甚少，也不知道在年龄和性别上是否存在差异。我们对休闲路跑者进行了横断面调查，以调查他们喜欢的人造和自然环境类型，以及可能影响跑者选择环境的安全和健康问题。根据年龄和性别对这些回答进行了分析。共有 1228 名路跑者对该调查做出了回应；其中 59.6%的受访者为女性，32.1%的受访者为男性。大多数受访者更喜欢在沥青或人行道上跑步，并且喜欢照明良好、绿树成荫的路线。男女双方都主要关注动物和危险的道路状况。男性和女性在围绕他人跑步的重要性和跑步时的主要关注点上存在显著差异。本研究结果加深了我们对休闲路跑者环境偏好和关注点的理解，为公共卫生官员和城市规划者提供了有价值的信息。如果我们要继续鼓励人们将跑步作为一项运动，并获得其健康效益，那么就必须考虑这些信息。
