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 5b: Science Fair Proposal

1. What is your topic?
Long Distance Running

2. What is the driving problem behind your experiment and the quote by an expert to support that problem? (Expert citation must be MLA format.)

"This can happen when you first begin a sport or activity and try to do too much too soon. If you begin playing tennis and

play for several hours in an attempt to improve rapidly, you are setting your- self up for an overuse injury. This is because you are trying to do too much and do not allow your body adequate time to recover. As a beginner, you may also have poor technique which may predispose you to tennis elbow."

Matava, Matthew J., MD. "Overuse Injuries." N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Nov. 2012. <http://www.sportsmed.org/>.

3. What is your hypothesis? (Must be in If-Then form.)
If a runner has longer legs, from hip bone to the bottom of their shoe, then they final time to complete 3.3 miles will be faster than a runner with shorter legs.

4. Write a paragraph summary of how you will perform the experiment.  Include the tools you plan on using.
I will keep record of 22-25 runners in a certain running group. I will take their initial leg length. Every week i will record their time over the distance of 3.3 miles. To track the mile i will use a garmin watch gps. To measure the length of the runners leg i will use a tape measure. To take the time of each runner i will use a stop watch.

5. Select one of the following Project Categories for your experiment:
Animal Biology & Physiology

Blog 9: Working EQ and Possible Answers

(1) What was the working EQ you used during your presentation?

What are the key elements in completing a marathon?

(2) Did you decide to revise your working EQ after your presentation? If so, write your revised EQ here.

I am not going to revise my EQ at this time.

(3) What are possible answers to your current working EQ? 

Well, a lot of things go into training for a marathon. Some possible answers for my EQ could be: 

• Physical preparation, such as a running program
• Mental preparation, making sure you know where you'll be running
• Proper dieting, to store the right types of fat to burn for energy later
• Proper equipment, the right running shoe for you

Blog 8: Rough Draft of Presentation 1

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cDLbdo87OcBieYpwVBVatgqg2qyy4Jq0VBZ3uvP3dFA/edit

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.

Blog 6: Second Interview Questions

The purpose of the second interview is justify your mentor as an expert in the field.  Thus, you will be asking at least 5 questions about their background and/or the background of the organization or company where they work.


I) How did you end up at Run With Us? What attracted you to it?
II) What is the sole purpose of the Run With Us specialty store?
III) How does this environment differ from a different sports store? Why should runners come here for their running needs?
IV) What did you learn when you first began working here, that you didn't know before? Such as shoe fitting and the effects of a proper fit.
V) What have you personally accomplished as a runner? And what kind of runner would you label yourself as?
VI) What techniques do you use for training others that you use on yourself?

Blog 5A: Problem Statement

1) Long Distance Running

2) Problem in your topic.  What will you do once you solve the problem?
A problem that occurs often in running is injury. Once I solve the problem I will be able to train using techniques that can prevent injury or reduce the amount of injuries long distances runners come across. 

3) Problem in your topic.  What will you do once you solve the problem?
Another problem in running is not having the correct running equipment such as running shoes. Once this problem is solved I will be able to help runners find the proper running shoes for their feet which will also prevent injury.