Emotional Intelligence as a Cornerstone of Success in Ultrarunning: A Synthesis of Meta-Analytic Evidence and Psychological Theory

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The sport of ultrarunning, defined as any footrace exceeding the traditional 42.195-kilometer marathon distance, represents one of the most formidable challenges in human endurance.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">1</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> These events often traverse demanding and variable terrains, from mountain trails with significant elevation changes to deserts with extreme temperatures, subjecting competitors to profound physiological and psychological stress.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">3</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Athletes routinely face challenges such as dehydration, insufficient energy intake, sleep deprivation, gastrointestinal distress, and intense, often unwanted, emotional states over durations that can extend from several hours to multiple days.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">5</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> This extreme context pushes participants to the absolute limits of their physical and mental capabilities, establishing a unique environment where psychological fortitude is not merely an asset but a fundamental component of performance.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">1</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">In recent years, a growing body of research has begun to explore the psychological dimensions of endurance sports, moving beyond a purely physiological paradigm to understand what enables athletes to succeed in such grueling conditions.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">3</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Despite a surge in the popularity of ultrarunning, with participation growing over 345% in a single decade, dedicated psychological research has not kept pace, leaving significant gaps in the scientific understanding of these athletes.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">3</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> While the importance of psychological factors is widely acknowledged anecdotally&mdash;often summarized by the maxim that ultrarunning is "90% mind, and 10% body"&mdash;the empirical evidence base remains fragmented.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">1</span> <br style="font-weight: 400;" /><br style="font-weight: 400;" />