Enhancing Running Performance Through Focused Visual Attention

Optimizing athletic performance involves numerous factors like training routines, proper nutrition, and refined techniques. However, recent psychological research has identified a fundamental yet often overlooked element: visual attention. A study conducted with nearly 1,600 runners reveals that narrowing one’s visual focus—concentrating on the finish line rather than the surrounding environment—serves as a powerful strategy to improve effort and overall performance.

Lead researcher Emily Balcetis, an associate professor of psychology at New York University, explains that focusing intently on a specific point ahead, such as the finish line, helps runners sustain their effort over the course of a race. This attentional narrowing enables runners to maintain momentum, increase their heart rate, and perform more effectively, particularly in later stages of a run.

The research team, including experts from Creighton and Rutgers universities, found that more experienced and faster runners tend to employ this attentional technique more than casual or slower runners. Instead of a broad focus, they strategically concentrate their attention inward, which acts as a mental tool to overcome fatigue and maintain high performance.

Six studies supported these findings, combining surveys and experimental runs. Surveys indicated that elite and competitive runners actively employed attentional narrowing as they approached their goals. Experimental results showed that runners instructed to narrow their focus during specific parts of a run consistently maintained higher speeds and increased effort levels, evidenced by elevated heart rates.

Professor Corey Guenther from Creighton University emphasizes that this strategy actively enhances performance, offering a low-cost, simple method to boost athletic outcomes. Shana Cole from Rutgers concludes that adjusting attentional focus during running isn't just reactive; it’s a deliberate mental technique that can help athletes push through difficult moments.

This research underscores the importance of visual focus in athletic performance. By honing where they direct their attention, runners can effectively improve their effort and race outcomes, making attentional control a valuable component of training and race strategy.

For more insights, see the original study: Emily Balcetis et al, "Self-Regulation Via Visual Fixation: Effects of Strategic Shifting of Attentional Scope on Running Intensity," published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-runners-narrowing-visual-focus.html