I have determined that my previous plan for my 20% Project is not currently feasible due to financial and time constraints. The new goal of my 20% project is to test my body to see what it is capable of now that I’ve lost 150 pounds. I’ve spent my entire adult life incapable of doing physical activities that normal people are capable of doing and now that I am healthy, I want to test my boundaries. The end goal of my 20% Project will be to successfully complete a distance running event at the Run Through the Vineyard in Temecula, Calif., on Saturday, April 25.
Inquiry Questions
Planning and Research Tools
I will do research on my inquiry online and collect the data on a Pinterest board.
Learning Target
I want to learn enough about running to be able to complete the run, and use my experiences in the preparation and completion of the run to motivate other people to pursue better physical fitness for themselves.
Play, Knowledge, Making
Exercise has become fun for me, so this project certainly fits into play. I’m learning more about running and moving my fitness regimen outside of the sterile, air-conditioned confines of the gym for the first time. I’m going to document my training regimen and research using videos and charts.
Success and Failure
Successfully completing the run on April 25 without dying will be a success for me. If I give up before completing the run or die on the course, I will consider it a failure.
Inquiry Questions
- Should I do a 5K or a 10K? A 5K sounds like it could be too easy. It’s only about three miles; I do that on the treadmill at the gym, but running outdoors is something different entirely; the last time I did an actual mile on a track was in high school and it took me 18 minutes. On the other hand, a 10K might be a much better test of my capabilities, though it comes with a much higher chance of failure.
- What clothing should I wear? My body is weird and I’m on a tight budget, so I need to determine what sort of clothes will work for me in running long distances, balancing comfort and performance.
- What kind of shoes should I have? As with any athletic activity, running requires the proper equipment to be done successfully. I’ll need some kind of running shoes. Special considerations I will have to take into account are the fact that my feet are large (size 13) and that I am on a college student’s budget.
- How much time will I need to prepare? The credential program is stressful and eats up a lot of time. On Mondays and Tuesdays, I am not home before sunset.
- What kind of injuries could I suffer and what can I do to prevent them? I’m old, so my body may not be prepared for this.
- How do I prevent cramping? Cramping up in the middle of a run would suck.
- What dietary changes should I make to prepare? I don’t eat a lot of carbohydrates, but runners seem to really love carbohydrates. I will have to do research on this to determine the dietary changes that will best prepare me for this challenge. Those of you who are learning how to cook for your 20% Projects need to stay the heck away from me!
- How much water do I need to drink? I know that staying hydrated is important, but too much water will cause problems.
- What SPF should my sunscreen have? I am a white person with fragile skin, and I will be running on a sunny day in April, so I will need protection from sunburn.
- What sort of training program and exercises should I use to prepare? There’s a few out there.
Planning and Research Tools
I will do research on my inquiry online and collect the data on a Pinterest board.
Learning Target
I want to learn enough about running to be able to complete the run, and use my experiences in the preparation and completion of the run to motivate other people to pursue better physical fitness for themselves.
Play, Knowledge, Making
Exercise has become fun for me, so this project certainly fits into play. I’m learning more about running and moving my fitness regimen outside of the sterile, air-conditioned confines of the gym for the first time. I’m going to document my training regimen and research using videos and charts.
Success and Failure
Successfully completing the run on April 25 without dying will be a success for me. If I give up before completing the run or die on the course, I will consider it a failure.