First Draft Chapter One

The Basic Knowledge of Running

And its

Different Benefits and Motivations

A Research Paper Presented to

Mr. Dustin Celestino of the English Resource Center

Asia Pacific College

Magallanes, Makati

In Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements for the Course

RESWRIT-Research Writing

Irwin B. Ricardo

February 2013

A.      Background of the Study

Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground. The psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi might describe the experience of running as "flow," the state of mind in which you are fully immersed in what you are doing.

Documents about ancient history reveals that early human ancestors use running to hunt their prey or to survive and escape predators, while other ancestors use running as a mean to compete with each other and eventually makes running into a sports. Thousands of years ago, hunters and gatherers like the Tarahumara Indians in Mexico ran fifteen to seventy five miles a day to hunt and gather resources. (http://www.medicinenet.com/running/article.htm) Running as a sport was associated to the Greek messenger named Pheidippides, who have rushed from the scene of the fighting back to the city of Athens to announce the victory over the Persians. (http://www.stridenation.com/2012/1/25/2723397/pheidippides-the-man-who-ran-the-first-marathon)  During plans for the 1896 Olympics, the first modern Games, organizers wanted an event to celebrate Greek history. Greek runner Spiridon Louis won the race—winning Greece’s only gold medal of the Games—and the local excitement over the race ensured that it would be included in later Olympic Games. (http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/sports/2010/april/Myth-of-Pheidippides-and-the-Marathon.html)

In recent years, running becomes one of the trendiest fitness activities of people all over the world. The main reason people run is because of the health benefits it provides. Some of the health benefits of running are healthy heart, battling Osteoporosis, a stronger immune system and to burn unwanted fats to name some.  (http://running.about.com/od/runningforbeginners/a/whatisrunning.htm) Running is a strong outlet to support and live a low stress life. It also provides the health awareness to live a healthy lifestyle. Running changes the lifestyle of people in terms of fitness and well being, running provides a better outlook of a healthy future than those who do not run. Studies show that runners find it easier to sleep at night rather than those who do not run.

The popularity of running worldwide leads to the increasing growth of runners in different age groups. Running can be classified as Casual Running, Treadmill Running, Racing/Competition Running and Trail Running.  Most runners participate in one or some of these running types.  These runners have their own reasons and motivation to start running. Multimedia affects the awareness of people towards running. The Olympics was televised worldwide and Earth/nature awareness runs or marathons are covered by various multimedia outlets. With this much awareness it is not impossible to invite people to run.

Whether people choose to run for health purposes, to make friends or just because running can make people feel good, the fact is that running is a good thing. With the many mental, physical and health benefits of running it is the personal preference of the runner to choose his or her motivation.

This research paper focuses on the different benefits of running, the motivations needed by people to run and how media affects the people to run.

B.      Statement of the Problem

This research aims to answer the questions:

1.       What are the different benefits of running?

2.       What motivates people to run?

3.       Do media affect people to run?

C.      Significance of the Study

Future Runners or Beginners

This research would able to orient future runners as well as the beginners for the basic ideas about running and its benefits. This research expects to encourage future runners to be a fan of the sports and inform them about the possible benefits they will acquire. This research should help distinguish the potential motivations needed for the beginners to get into running.

Casual Runners or Running Aficionados

This research will educate the casual runners about the different benefits they possibly will obtain in running. The running aficionados can further educate themselves about the benefits of running. Familiarity with this research may motivate them to train harder and become athletes in the future.

  

Athletes

This research will help the athletes to further increase their knowledge about the motivations and benefits of running. Athletes have the highest knowledge about running; these athletes are the idols of those people who run. As role models, athletes can help impart the information to their fans about the different motivation and benefits of running. Athletes would benefit from this research because it will help them correct their routine.

Running Instructors and P.E. Teachers

This research will assist running instructors and P.E. teachers concerning the fundamentals of running and impart that knowledge to their students. This research provides information to educate the instructors and teachers about the benefits of running.

Future Researchers

This research can help future researchers as a potential reference due to the given information of this study about running.

D.       Scope and Delimitation

Running is now one of trendiest fitness activities; this research covers the basic knowledge about running and the different motivation and benefits running can provide. This research will also tackle about the connection of multimedia enticing new and casual runners into running.

The research does not cover any other fitness activities or sports not related to running. The surveys and interviews will be conducted in the Philippines only.

E.       Materials and Methods

The information used in this research was based on internet articles which are related to running. The researcher intention is to inform the readers about the fundamentals of running as well as its motivations and benefits.

Surveys and interviews will be conducted to random people with or without experience in running. This is to support relevant and related information about the rise of popularity of running and its awareness to the people.

F.       Definition of Terms