Attractiveness of running events in forests of Poland and Czech Republic

The article presents the results of a questionnaire survey that aimed at determining social prefer− ences in relation to running as an active form of leisure in the forests. In 2016 the internet survey covered 346 people living in Poland, and 294 people from the Czech Republic, interested in running and jogging. The questionnaire included questions such as: the frequency of running events in the forest and the factors determined the respondent participation in running event in forests. Statistical analysis of the impact of personal characteristics (gender, age, residence) and experience in running on the preferences of respondents was carried out using the chi−square test. The results of research conducted in Poland suggest that men dominated among the respondents. The majority people aged 35−44 and were urban residents. Over half of the respondents declared that they are doing athletic or recreational running for more than 4 years. Among the respondents in the Czech Republic women prevailed. The largest group included respondents in the age of 25−34, urban inhabitants. Over half of the respondents declared that they are doing running from a year to four years. Results from both countries show that forests are an attractive place for running. However people from Poland were able to point out more forest running events on national or regional level and they have taken part in these events more often. The most significant factors determining the attractiveness of running events in forest include: general atmosphere prevailing at the event and the attractiveness of the running route. The preferences significantly varied mainly in terms of gender, age and experience in running. In both countries the longer experience in running, the more respondents were able to indicate a specific sport event and claim they had participated in some sport events, and also the more often they point out ‘general atmosphere prevailing at the event’ as a factor affecting attractiveness of the forest sport events