This project sought to explore identities used by leading competitor master level runners
in order for them to continue down the road of success. The following research question was
explored: How do leading competitor masters level long distance runners describe their life as a
runner, in relation to today, and the context they are training in? The participants were three
leading competitor master level athletes (age 50+), who all reside in Sudbury, Ontario. Artefacts
brought the project to a deeper level. An inductive thematic analysis was carried out. Themes
and sub-themes highlighted specific ways each masters’ athlete navigated their running journey
to allow them to maintain their competitiveness as a leading competitor. In conclusion, the study
discussed the importance of the athletic identity: how it functioned, shifted, and changed over
time to allow the athletes to navigate their other identities and go through processes such as
identity management.
