An interpretative phenomenological analysis of 2013 Boston Marathoners’ experience of running a subsequent Boston Marathon

Abstract

AN INTERPRETATIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF 2013 BOSTON MARATHONERS' EXPERIENCE OF RUNNING A SUBSEQUENT BOSTON MARATHON by Allison Grace While trauma experiences have been explored in several sport-related research studies, there is a lack of research on athletes' experiences of a terror attack in sport. The present study qualitatively explored the meanings that 2013 Boston Marathoners ascribed to their experience of returning to the Boston Marathon to compete. Eight participants took part in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were analyzed via interpretative phenomenological analysis. Eight themes emerged and were organized temporally around pre-2013 Boston Marathon experience, 2013 Boston Marathon experience, and post-2013 Boston Marathon experience. Results suggest participants initially had difficulty processing their 2013 experience, but ultimately, several participants had a changed perspective on the sport. Furthermore, results suggest that a return to the Boston Marathon provided an outlet for some participants to demonstrate their defiance to the attackers, display resilience, and achieve a goal that they could not in 2013. The results are discussed within the context of Emotional Processing Theory. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my gratitude to the individuals who assisted me in making this thesis possible. First, I would like to acknowledge my thesis committee chair, and graduate advisor, Dr. Ted Butryn. Dr. Butryn, thank you for your guidance, patience, and confidence in me throughout this project and during my graduate education at San José State University. Thank you for always making yourself available to listen to my ideas, questions, anxieties, and challenging me to be a better student and researcher. Additionally, I would like to express my gratitude to you and to San José State University for seeing my potential and for your confidence in my ability to succeed in this program. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to pursue my graduate education at this institution. To Dr. Tamar Semerjian and Dr. Cole Armstrong, I would like to thank you both for being a part of my thesis committee. I am grateful for your expertise, guidance, feedback, and support throughout this process. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the runners who volunteered to participate in this study. Thank you not only for your courage, but for your willingness and openness in sharing your experiences with me. I am honored and grateful that you chose to share these experiences with me. Without you, this thesis truly would not have been possible. Mom and Dad, thank you not only for your confidence in my abilities to succeed in graduate school, but for your support and reassurance of my abilities to succeed at vi anything I have set out to accomplish. Thank you for all that you do. And lastly, to my neighbors in San José who have become like a second family to me during my time here. Thank you for making San Joséa place I moved to knowing no oneinto a place where I have made lifelong friendship...