Blog 21: Independent Component 2

Content: 

LITERAL
(a) “I, Bobbie Rodriguez, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”
(b) Since my main focus for my second independent component was to research how, and if diet effects your training I used a few articles and books about dieting. One that I found particularly helpful was Runners World, The Runner's Diet: The Ultimate Eating Plan That Will Make Every Runner (and Walker) Leaner, Faster, and Fitter. I found this book to be especially helpful because it helps you find a place to start and it target every type of runner and dieter. I found it easy to revolve my independent component around the concepts in this book, such as reducing quick energy snacks.
(c) 43.5 hours
(d) For my independent component I researched different types of running diets and created a dieting plan to use on myself. I wanted to see if I noticed a change in training. I began by creating a log of what I already eat. I did this for about 2 weeks, by doing this I was able to see where my wholes were according to my research and make the correct changes. Once I knew what I needed to change, I created a meal plan using my dietary knowledge. I did this for about 2 more weeks, in addition to my training. Since I am not currently training for a race, my training intensity was less.

INTERPRETIVE 
Here are a few photos from my diet journal.
These are my logged day from my normal eating habits.

These are the log days from my changed diet.

APPLIED
The purpose of my independent component was to help me understand the importance of a runner's diet. By the end of my 30 hours, I realized that even though it is important to eat healthy it's not crucial. When I changed my diet, I noticed that at first I was always hungry, but as the month progressed I noticed how much more energy I had while running. However, it did not actually improve my training. Yea, it gave me more energy and I felt better but I did not feel like it quite answered my EQ. By doing this independent component I realize that it's not going to be one of my answers. Now I know for sure, and from personal experience that running while on a specific "runners diet" does not actually improve your overall marathon running abilities. I found it was more valuable to those who want to lose weight while running. Which was not my overall goal.

Blog 15: Independent Component 2 Plan Approval

CONTENT:
(1) Write a description of what you plan on doing for your independent study component.

For my independent component I would like to train someone else to run a marathon but include a diet portion. While working on my first component I didn't use a diet plan. I can then compare my progress with my subjects progress and see whether or not diet is a viable answer to my essential question. I will train the person up until the project is due, but since it is not a sufficient amount of time to train properly they will probably not complete a formal race. 

(2) Describe in detail how you think your plan will meet the 30 hours work requirement.

I will need to do plenty of additional research on diet and different types of diets. I will have to teach my runner how to adapt each diet, as well as personally train them. I will make them a diet plan and a schedule. And they will keep track of both in a journal. 

(3) How does your independent study component relate your eq?

My eq is, what is key to completing a marathon. Personally I feel diet is very controversial in the running world. But I want to find out whether or not it is important, and if it does make a difference. It can help me come to a possible answer or stray from a not so good answer. 

Blog 14: Independent Component 1

Content:  

• LITERAL
  (a)  “I, Bobbie, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”

• (b) Galloway, Jeff. Marathon. Atlanta, GA:Phidippides Pub., 1996. Print.

• (c) https://www.google.com/calendar/render Oct 28 2012- Jan 13 2013

• (d)  For my independent component I trained to run a half marathon and a full marathon. It was a different experience than if i had just trained for a full marathon alone because it would have involved doing less long milage training. Every weekend I would do long distance miles, no matter how long it took. This helped me on race day because I felt prepared for the long milage ahead of me. My final result was running in the Mickey Mouse Walt Disney World Marathon, and half marathon.
• INTERPRETIVE 
  My project demonstrates 30 hours of work because it takes long hard house to complete, and train for a race like this. In order to build up your milage you must practice and train. Each week you run over 40 miles. Which accumulates a lot of time over several months, especially when the longer miles become more frequent.
• APPLIED
  This helped me understand more of what i already know about marathons. They arent easy, but they can be a fun experience. All the knowledge that I had accumulated prior to the race helped me get through it. It also showed me what I personally need to work on and what other people can work on. It is a clear answer to my EQ. Through my experience I feel i can better answer my EQ by using research as well as first hand knowledge. 

Blog 10: Senior Project Update

(1) What are you currently doing in your independent component? 
Right now for my IC I am training, following along with my set schedule. I keep track of all my runs and injuries in my running journal. I also use that as reference for how to adjust my training.

(2) What is a recent piece of research (article, interview, or audio-visual) that have you reviewed you would say was significant in helping you understand where to go next in your senior project?  The piece of research should be something you reviewed in November.  Please explain what you learned and where are you going next because of this piece of research.
Well, I got to the part in my book, "Marathon" where they talk about proper dieting. From here I can contact a nutritionist to understand their point of view and get a further idea of what a proper running diet looks like. 
(3) Provide evidence from your independent component or the piece of research as something you recently did.  For example, a photo of something you working on for your independent component or your notes from the video you watched. 

Did 13 miles! Fun times. 

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Plan Approval

(1) Write a description of what you plan on doing for your independent study component.

For the independent component I was planning on running a race. The race is referred to as the Goofy Challenge. The goal is to run a half marathon (13.1 miles) on a Saturday morning in January, and on the following day run a full marathon (26.2 miles.) This will have a final product of me (hopefully) finishing the race. I will also have medals, pictures, official time, and a race bib as proof of completion.

(2) Describe in detail how you think your plan will meet the 30 hours work requirement.

Well you can't just wake up one morning and decide to run 40 miles this weekend, so I will be putting in A LOT of hours of training. The average time that should be spent running per week when training for a marathon is 10-12 hours, and by the time the race comes around I'll be sure to have put in over 30 hours of training. As proof of training I will be logging my progress in a running log. In the book I will put information such as my milage for that day, my time, the weather, and how I feel before and after my race. Each week I'll calculate the number of hours I ran. (Also, it will motivate me to train hard for the tough course!)

(3) How does your independent study component relate to your working EQ?  

For my EQ, I was interested in finding the best way to complete a long distance race, (half marathon all the way through ultra marathons.) I think it will help me answer my EQ by giving me first hand experience at the training that is needed to accomplish such goals, and I can also use the training techniques given to me by my coach so I can apply them to others.