Digitalization in Trail Running: Digital Tools as Sustainable Outdoor Infrastructure

Orsolya Czegledi (), Simon Beaucousin, Daniel Caballero-Julià and Philippe Campillo
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Orsolya Czegledi: Faculté des Sciences du Sport et de l'Éducation Physique (FSSEP), University of Lille, 59790 Ronchin, France
Simon Beaucousin: Prosport Group, 80480 Pont-de-Metz, France
Daniel Caballero-Julià: Grupo MOVERE, Departamento de Didáctica de la Expresión Musical, Plástica y Corporal, Escuela de Magisterio de Zamora, University of Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
Philippe Campillo: URePSSS Research Laboratory (Multidisciplinary Research Unit for Sport, Health, Society), University of Lille ULR 7369, 59000 Lille, France

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 14, 1-15

Abstract: Studies focusing on the territorial impact of outdoor activities rarely take into account the use of digital tools, such as digital mobile devices and applications. However, these digital tools can serve as sustainable outdoor infrastructure. While digital technology is not universally embraced by trail runners today, consumer studies confirm a growing usage of digital equipment. To provide a concrete example of how digital tools are used and their potential, our study aimed to understand the patterns of digital use among trail runners in France. Through an online questionnaire study (n = 699), we found four main logics of digital use: (1) playful visit, (2) tourist discovery, (3) performance analysis, and (4) social use. Among all forms of use, the most commonly mentioned applications used by respondents during their trail runs were Strava, Garmin, and Suunto. Overall, trail runners demonstrated a high proficiency in digital use, with 95% reporting the use of these applications.

Keywords: digitalization; digital tools and applications; trail running; sustainable infrastructure; outdoor infrastructure; France (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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