Update #1

Road to Research

Have you ever watched the Olympics and wondered, how the heck do they run so fast? How they can break world records and set new standards of performance? I have wondered this being a runner myself. And I have also wondered if there is something more than just talent and training behind their success. Being such a fan of track and field, and having experienced racing, I naturally gravitated to something in the field of distance running. It's one of my biggest passions, and when Mrs. Dobos and Mr. McBride said the whole process went smoother when you are researching something you love, I knew I wanted to lock in on something with running. 

I have always loved this sport. Ever since I was a kid, I've loved to exercise. I joined the track team in middle school and continued in high school, running mostly the mile and 3200m and qualifying for state last year. Running has become more than just a hobby for me; it is something I can't imagine my life without. I thought it would be a great opportunity to combine my academic skills with my personal passion, and to learn more about something that I cared about deeply. I started by brainstorming some broad topics that interested me in the field, such as running injuries, nutrition, psychology, biomechanics, and technology. Then I did some preliminary research on each topic, using online sources, mainly from EBSCO and the Rock Canyon databases. I decided to narrow down my focus by using some criteria that I learned from the AP Capstone program. I decided there had to be a gap and also that it was feasible to research in a relatively short period of time. 

Using these criteria, I evaluated each of my broad topics and eliminated some that did not meet them. For example, I ruled out running injuries because they were too common and well-studied, and running psychology because they involved human subjects that required consent and confidentiality. I also ruled out running nutrition because they were too subjective and dependent on individual preferences and needs. I was left with two topics that seemed promising: running biomechanics from watching elite runner form and running technology. Both topics were relevant to me as a runner and to others who wanted to improve their performance or prevent injuries. Both topics were feasible within the project parameters because they involved measurable data and observable phenomena. Both topics were original and innovative, as they involved new developments and discoveries in the field. And both topics were ethical and respectful of human rights and dignity, as they did not harm or exploit anyone or anything. I ended up choosing between these two appealing options. As I researched these subtopics, one thing caught my eye: a shoe. A shoe that I had worn myself this past cross country season. It was called the Nike Next% Vaporfly. I was intrigued by this shoe ever since it came out. I wanted to know more about it. How did it work? What was the science behind it? What was the evidence for its claims? How did it affect the runners who wore it? How did it impact the sport of running as a whole? Was it fair? Was it ethical? Was it the future? That's how I found my topic.

My research question at the moment is: What is the effect of carbon-plated racing shoes, exemplified by Nike Vaporfly, Nike Dragonfly and other "supershoes", on the race times and overall performance of elite athletes in the 8 Olympic distance events over time? AND How does a countries GDP affect access to these super shoes, and sending athletes to the Olympics? I am going to watch all of the races from each year of the Olympics and categorize their shoes and then look at data from their respective country's economy. But, I have run into a roadblock finding a methodology that fits my project. I need to continue to look into things regarding increased performance in order to hopefully find something. I've talked about this with Dobos and McBride and am going to continue to find a methodology that fits. 

I'm super excited to get started on the project. I've never conducted research like this before so I'm going into new territory. Thank you for reading my first blog post!