Short run reference points and long run performance. (No) Evidence from running data

What motivates runners to bunch at round finishing times? Is it merely the immediate gratification that time brings, or do athletes set single-stage subgoals help them attain multiple-stage end goals related their future performance? To examine this question, I construct a new panel data covers all times of 7000 major running events different distances organized in Netherlands between 1996–2016. For and age groups, find strong evidence bunching for both genders, but men engage more frequently than women. No relation is found experience. In shorter distance runs, much prevalent when reference ambitious. This no proof not subgoals. It however does suggest meeting just missing such single-race subgoal makes difference runner’s performance terms continuing race, faster longer distances. also suggests excessive amount finishes we observe types races mainly driven by (and possibly status) gives runner.