Modeling preference time in middle distance triathlons

Modeling preference time in triathlons means predicting the intermediate times of particular sports disciplines by a given overall finish time in a specific triathlon course for the athlete with the known personal best result. This is a hard task for athletes and sport trainers due to a lot of different factors that need to be taken into account, e.g., athlete's abilities, health, mental preparations and even their current sports form. So far, this process was calculated manually without any specific software tools or using the artificial intelligence. This paper presents the new solution for modeling preference time in middle distance triathlons based on particle swarm optimization algorithm and archive of existing sports results. Initial results are presented, which suggest the usefulness of proposed approach, while remarks for future improvements and use are also emphasized.Comment: ISCBI 201

Coaching tools for high-performance driving

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2002.This project aimed to develop new tools to present and analyze data collected from race cars for the purpose of driver coaching. The tools developed are designed to quickly bring pertinent information to the surface and to further analyze the data for information that is not readily apparent. The working environment for the project was the Barber Dodge Pro Series, an entry-level professional racing series. A data viewer program called DataWizard was developed as a test-bed for new coaching tools, based on interviews, observations and feedback at Barber Dodge events. A method of track segmenting was developed as a new framework for organizing racecar data. Data from each lap is broken up by the section, turn, straight and brake zone, greatly improving the speed and ease of navigating though the data. A summary of vital statistics is created for each segment to bring key information to the surface. Two methods of displaying information about the driving line were also developed. One uses color overlaid on a track path to depict the path radius, the other method uses icons to mark turn-in, track-out and apex points along a track path. A racing GPS system was tested and suggestions are made as to how GPS data can be utilized along with data already commonly collected.by James Isaac Meyer.S.M

More than a pretty girl: resistance, community and group identity among female triathletes

This study examines women's use of leisure as politics, especially as related to leisure as resistance, leisure and social worlds, and women's body image. Interviews were conducted with fifteen participants and coaches in two all-women's triathlon training groups in Austin, Texas. Both training groups prepared women for participation in the Austin Danskin Triathlon. Qualitative methods, grounded theory and constant comparison guided the interviewing and data analysis process. It was determined that Danskin trainees formed a social world which allowed them to redefine their bodies and redefine the tenets of organized sport. This finding centered around three major areas: initial involvement, community building and resistance. Most participants became involved initially for social reasons even though they often were out of shape or had not previously participated in athletics. Several participants experienced barriers to involvement commonly discussed in gender leisure studies including weight issues, "ethic of care" concerns and fear of not deserving leisure time. During participation in their training programs, the majority of trainees formed a community with their fellow participants which provided them with a safe place and a support structure. As a result, many Austin Danskin triathlon trainees were able to communally resist cultural and societal norms surrounding women's bodies and competitive athletics. As a group, trainees redefined the way women should look and placed function above form. Furthermore, they reclaimed sport from the male norm and instead demanded that it go beyond bigger, better, faster or stronger and instead focus on community, support and teamwork. The results of this study urge leisure providers to create programs that appeal to the whole person - not just the physical. As a result of the data, several hypotheses may be suggested for future study: Do women's only recreation programs provide a crucial link between social world formation and leisure as resistance? What other programs may produce similar results and why

Use of Emerging Technology as Part of the Experiential Learning Process in Ultradistance Cycling: A Phenomenological Study

Technology is well entrenched as part of our everyday lives and formal learning settings. The role technology plays as part of informal learning of sports and physical activities has not been explored as thoroughly. This study examined the use of technology by ultradistance cyclists as part of their experiential learning process. Data collection was through semi-structured interviews of 10 cyclists who routinely utilized technology in preparing for and participating in ultradistance events. Emerging themes were organized utilizing NVIVO software. While identified themes were similar to the phases of the Kolb (2014) experiential learning model, there was also a strong temporal component. Technology usage themes prior to an event included Abstract Conceptualization, Route Planning, and Training. Technology usage themes during an event included Active Experimentation, Concrete Experience, and Coping with Equipment, Mental, or Physical Challenges. A technology usage theme after an event included Reflective Observations. Participants also expressed preferences in technology characteristics; themes included Record and Display information, Easy to Use, Syncing Between Devices, and Reliability. Kolb and Kolb (2005) identified a number of features that enhanced informal experiential learning spaces in higher education. Technology could replicate these features to enhance the experiential learning process in ultradistance cycling

The role of congruecy within the participant sport involvement and loyalty process.

The endurance event industry has been experiencing a recent popularity boom, where number of events produced and event participants continue to reach record levels. Running USA (2013a; 2013b) has reported the number of finishers in the largest 100 timed running events has grown 77 percent in the last 14 years. A major factor in this current boom is the emerging number of non-traditional running events. Nonexistent a decade ago, non-traditional endurance events, such as obstacle-course races and a variety of themed runs, have flooded the market. For example, Tough Mudder, founded in 2009 (Branch, 2010), has grown to over 3.5 million participants worldwide in just its first five years (Widdicombe, 2014). The variety of offerings available in the endurance event market has not only assisted with growth with the endurance event segment of participatory leisure sport, but it has also spurred cross-category competition. Interestingly, while endurance events have never been more popular or more accessible, health behaviors in the United States are at an all-time low (Healthy People, 2013). American society has been plagued with an overabundance of sedentary behavior and other poor health habits resulting in dire consequences. However, mass participatory endurance events, such as marathons and obstacle course events, and their supporting services represent a potential population-based intervention that may have the capacity to offer positive influence on both healthy and unhealthy populations (Funk, Jordan, Ridinger, & Kaplanidou, 2011; Murphy & Bauman, 2007). These events have not only been shown to possess the ability to increase physical activity (Murphy & Bauman, 2007), they also have the potential to promote positive attitudes towards exercise from individuals across a range of fitness levels (Funk, et al., 2011). To further investigate this recent growth and the potential endurance events have to act as a positive health intervention, by attracting and retaining participants, the purpose of this study was to investigate the process individuals undergo while becoming involved in a leisure endurance sport activity and the role self-congruity between individuals and their functional and symbolic associations perceived with the activity plays in this process. Specifically, this study was designed to investigate the associations individuals have toward endurance events and the role these associations have in the process of involvement by developing increased attitudinal and behavioral loyalty. Additionally, constructs of self-congruity with endurance event functional and symbolic associations perceived by non-endurance event participants and participants were analyzed as to how they were associated with different levels of involvement. Data were collected from current members of endurance running groups and undergraduate students in the United States. Results revealed both non-endurance event participants and endurance event participants considered both types of endurance events, traditional and non-traditional, to share obstacles for participation. Additionally, both event types required their participants to demonstrate an array of physical and mental demands, while still finding sources of enjoyment for participation. However, unique obstacles for participation, such as potentially dangerous and unpredictable, in non-traditional endurance events were considered by traditional event participants. Another area where the two event types differed was in the perceived rewards for participation. Both groups considered traditional endurance event participation to be rewarding, but the non-endurance event participant group did not recall any rewards for non-traditional event participation. Results also indicated significant differences were present in each of the four types of congruity (functional congruity, stereotypical user congruity with ideal self, stereotypical congruity with actual self, and brand personality congruity) based on level of endurance event involvement. Overall, scores of congruity grew in coordination with the Psychological Continuum Model level of the individual. Specifically, those within the highest involvement level, allegiance, displayed significant differences between all other levels along each congruity score. No significant differences existed between those occupying the attraction and attachment levels within each congruity measure. Implications of this study are useful for individuals interested in further understanding the process an individual undergoes while becoming involved in a physical leisure activity such as endurance event participation. First, a segmentation strategy utilizing involvement level produced valuable and descriptive points of differentiation which may be used to generate effective marketing strategies. Second, constraints to activity participation should be minimized through marketing efforts to encourage involvement level elevation. Third, highlighting the benefits of activity participation should be used to encourage involvement level elevation. Finally, efforts to increase the overlap of how an individual perceives the activity with their own self-image and the benefits of activity participation should assist with increased involvement

Gettysburg: Our College\u27s Magazine Winter 2018

From the President Janet Morgan Riggs \u2777 Table of Contents Virtual Dissection Tables to Enhance Study of Anatomy Prof Notes: Jennifer Bloomquist (Professor Jennifer Bloomquist) Life\u27s Lessons Learned from Sports & Science (Sarah Hansen \u2717, Alex Posch \u2714) The 411: Allison Meckley \u2705 For the Love of Data (Svet Semov \u2711, Shannon Brobst \u2715) Snapshots They Inquire, They Inspire Gettysburgreat: The Campaign for Our College Media Notes (Professor John B. Zinn) Conversations The Best of Both Worlds Andrew Milone \u2718 Metamorphosis: Professor Kay Etheridge Carina Sitkus Our Endowment and Why It Matters Mike Baker Hope is in the Genes: Louis M. Kunkel \u2771 Carina Sitkus What Students Do: Interns at Cannes (Robert Sharpe \u2717, Nick Merrit \u2718) Work that Makes a Difference: Art Pros from the Gettysburg Network (Laura Elizabeth Barone Shea \u2710, Emily Francisco \u2714, Elizabeth Petersen \u2710, Sarah Parker \u2713, Rebecca Duffy \u2716, Molly Reynolds \u2714) What Makes Gettysburg Great: Actual and Virtual Treasure Save the Dates Class Notes In Memory We Remember President Emeritus Gordon A. Haaland Share Your Dreams & Inspiration (Marion McKenzie ’19)https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/gburgmag/1012/thumbnail.jp