Evaluation of Eight Week Run/Walk Program

Evaluation of Eight Week Run/Walk Program

Matthew Levell

Edtech 505-4172/4173

August 1¸2011

Table of Contents

Learning Reflection…………………………………………………………. Pg. 3

Executive Summary……………………………………………..……………Pg. 4

Purpose(s) of the Evaluation……………………………………..………….Pg. 5

Background Information………………………………………………………Pg. 6

Description of Evaluation Design…………………………………………….Pg. 8

Results & Discussion of the Results………………………………………...Pg. 9

Conclusions & Recommendations…………………………………………..Pg. 10

Appendix A……………………………………………………………….…….Pg. 12

Appendix B……………………………………………………………………..Pg. 16

Appendix C……………………………………………………………………..Pg. 17

Appendix D: Time Line………………………………………………………..Pg. 18

Appendix E: EPD……...... …….Pg. 19

Learning Reflection

When reflecting on what I have learned from this course on evaluation I must go back to the structure of a proper evaluation. During my past experiences with the evaluation process it has always appeared to be that the decision makers made their decisions based on assumption, a little observation, and interviews with certain individuals. After going through this course I can see now that evaluation is much more than just that. I have learned that evaluation is a systematically structured process that takes time and planning. From the beginning of the process where the evaluator finds out what are the goals/objectives of the program to the final data collection and analysis, each step is well planned and empirical to help provide data that can help a decision maker make a decision that is based data and not on assumptions and opinions. At the beginning of this course I never considered the differences in research compared to evaluation. I always considered them one in the same, but now after learning more about evaluation I see that they have similarities. There are differences and they are important differences. Research can be an important part of the evaluation process, but research cannot be an evaluation.

The lessons learned over the last several weeks will follow me in my career and provide a very useful set of skills. In whatever I may do in the future in the realm of educational technology having this solid foundation in evaluation will help. Starting this school year I will be on the newly developed technology committee at my school and I plan to use my new skills to assess the current technology we have and look at further improvements in technology for the future. It will also help me in my classroom as I develop more of my teaching using technology, that being internet sites or new smart boards. The understanding gained in knowing that there could be evaluation done by other schools will help me be able to do a better job of informing myself and my school. I will be sharing the WBLE rubric with my school and other professionals I know to help them as well.

Some question I still have about evaluation really deals with skill development. I have always been of the opinion that practice makes perfect and that having a mentor who is willing to help you develop is important. The main question I have is will I have an opportunity to have a mentor that can help me improve my ability to evaluate a program successfully or will I further myself as an evaluator by self-critique and learning as I go? As I have thought about this question I begin to consider whether in my current employment environment I will get an opportunity to use the knowledge I have obtained during this course. Will I get the chance to evaluate and will my knowledge be welcomed by the current administration that oversees the technology program?

Executive Summary

This evaluation was completed on an eight week run/walk program developed for Runner’s World magazine by AmbyBurfoot for the August 2004 issue. The program is designed to have a person go from walking to running thirty minutes without stopping. This goal is completed by using a run/walk program that gradually builds up a person’s running stamina. The reason for evaluating this program is to help determine the usefulness of this program for the local community and YMCA to help further the health of its members. The program’s overall objective is to get a person running for thirty minutes without stopping or walking. Secondary objectives are improving weight loss and overall health. How the objectives were evaluated was by monitoring the participants of the program for an increase in length of time of continuous running without walking or stopping. The runner’s weight and blood pressure was also monitored and interviews were conducted to assess participant’s feelings of continuing with running or other physical fitness habits.

The 10 participants had overall positive results for these three males and 7 females. Two participants were past college athletes. Four other participants were past high school athletes. The males showed an increase in the time they ran; there was a decrease in blood pressure and weight for one male participant. Two females dropped out due to injury. The rest of the female participants had lower weight and one had a significantly lower blood pressure. The group of participants that finished reported through interviews that the program helped with stress reduction. They also enjoyed the sense of comradery due to the knowledge that they had encouragement from others in the group. The participant that was injured is committed to finishing the program and the participant that dropped out is unsure if she wants to participate in any physical activity besides walking. This program results suggest that this running program works for a variety of individuals.

Purpose(s) of the Evaluation

The purpose of this evaluation is to evaluate the effectiveness of an eight week running program developed for Runner’s World Magazine by AmbyBurfoot for the August 2004 issue. The program was designed to get non-runners from just walking to running thirty minutes without stopping or walking. The program was evaluated so that the results of the evaluation could be shared with the local community, the Runner’s World Magazine beginner’s blog, and the local YMCA. The hope of the evaluator is for the stakeholders could utilize the program to help the overall health of their members and to educate non-runners so that they may have an opportunity to beginning running as a part of their daily lives.

The objectives being asked through this evaluation is whether the program takes individuals who currently not running as a form of healthy physical activity and move them from non-running to running thirty minutes with stopping or walking. Another objective being evaluated is whether participants’ overall health improves. Examples of individual health improvement are weight loss or reduction in size (inches) of individuals and the improvement of blood pressure and other numbers used to measure one’s health. Other factors being considered as part of health is the participant’s feelings of continuing healthy physical activities and any other positive or negative effects of participating in the eight week running program.

The results of this evaluation should have the most impact on the readers of the Runner’s World Magazine blog. Since the program originated from the magazine it is important to share the effectiveness of the program with the magazine through its blog and allow the readers of the blog to make a sound decision on whether the program is the right choice for them. There will also be an impact on the community as well as the YMCA in that community. Due to the lack of exercise establishments in the surrounding area where the evaluation is being conducted its important to share the evaluation results with the YMCA since it is the only place in the community for individuals to exercise. With this in mind the impact for the findings at the YMCA would be significant because it would give more options and inform more people about the benefits of a run/walk program. As for the impact on the community as a whole the finding could be shared with the school system and provide an important tool for physical education teachers to share with students and help promote a healthy lifestyle option for students.

Background Information

This program was developed by AmbyBurfoot for Runner’s World Magazine’s August 2004 issue. Runner’s World Magazine is a national magazine that is published for the running community. A variety of articles and monthly columns exists these include training, beginning, interests, and gear. This particular program was designed to be included in the beginner section of the magazine. The program is designed for a person who wants to begin running, but is unsure they can. The program begins with walking only and at different points throughout the eight weeks adds running so that by the conclusion of the program a person can run thirty minutes without stopping or walking.

The primary goal of this program is to establish a running program that can get a person who is not currently running as means of exercise to running on a regular basis. The goal is to get each person who starts the program from walking thirty minutes to running thirty minutes without stopping or walking. The secondary goal of the program is to get individuals into a physical fitness routine. The program sets up a program that gives the participant certain days to run and other to walk or cross train (swim, bike, etc.). Another objective that continues in line with this program is health. Things such as weight loss, lower blood pressure, and lower cholesterol are some health factors that can be measured.

There have been running program in the past that use the walk/run method. Some of these same programs would also have time frames as well. One such program was titled Beginner Runner’s Guide from Couch to 5k. This program took an individual through a 10 week program that was supposed to get them from non-running to running a 5k (3.2 miles) race. A person was interviewed and asked if the program worked and it did for them the only concern was that someone who was truly non-active did not have much time to walk. Another program that had a similar walk/run ratio used a 5 week time table and where the other program started off with walking alone with no running. This program went straight to walking and running. What was learned from these past programs when comparing them with the current program that is being evaluated is that the past programs appeared to assume that individuals who would be using the program had a cardiovascular base to begin the program and needed less time walking. The reason why the current program that is being evaluated was chosen over the others for evaluation is because they give more time to build up to running, While giving consideration that individuals may need more time to build up their cardiovascular base.

The individual who originally design the program was Amby Burfoot and it was published in the August 2004 issue of Runner’s World Magazine. Runner’s World is a publication directed toward runners and people who are interested in the running community. The magazine prints a monthly magazine that covers training from beginners to advance. They have articles about the latest news from around the running community and have sections that focus on training, nutrition, and equipment.

The program itself is an eight week walking/running program. In the very beginning of the program it states that if an individual struggles with walking thirty minutes straight at a reasonable speed the person should work their way up to that before beginning the program. Once an individual can walk for thirty minutes without stopping and feel like they are not struggling they begin walking for thirty minutes four days a week for week one. The second week they will begin by walking two minutes and running one. The third week the time running increases while the time walking decreases. When the reach week eight the program participants should end the week running five day out of the week and be up to thirty minutes at a time. Please see Appendix A for the full program. It is important to note with this program that there is not a predetermined pace that one must run. Each individual can adjust their pace or running to meet their desired level and outcome.

Description of Evaluation Design

The evaluation model used for this evaluation was the goal-based model because the evaluator was looking just at the specific goals/objectives that were stated for the reasons for evaluating the program.

Ten individuals volunteered to participate in the evaluation of the eight week run/walk program. Seven of the participants were female. Three of the participants were male. The age range was 27 to 35. All participants varied in athletic ability and running experience. Some participants are sedentary or have never run. Others were experienced runners or athletes. Before beginning the program each participant was assessed to see if they were able to walk for thirty minutes without stopping. Each individual was given a copy of the program and a question and answered session was completed. All participants had contact information for the evaluator if any questions came up during the course of the program. All participants gave base numbers for weight, blood pressure, and an interview (see Appendix B) was conducted to establish an overall view of the individual views on health and exercise.

The participants began the program on July 1, 2011, and the evaluator checked in on measurable data every two weeks. In the first two weeks of the program the participants went from walking thirty minutes to walking 1 minute and running four minutes for thirty minutes. Evaluator made contact during the first two weeks to check on participants and answer any questions that they may have had. Then over the course of week three through four, the participants went from alternating running four minutes and walking one minute to running 11 minutes and walking one. At the end of the 4th week the participants had blood pressure numbers obtained and weight measured. Another interview was conducted to check if the program had any effect on participants. This two week check in period will continue until the end of the eight week program ending on August 26, 2011.

Results & Discussion of the Results

The data was collected over a four week period. The initial quantitive data collected on the participants’ weight and blood pressure. This data shows overall that each participant that is currently in the program has had some form or weight loss. The data on two participants is not complete due to one participant being injured and having to drop out before starting the running portion of the program. The second participant dropped out in the third week of the program. The results for the data on blood pressure currently is inconclusive the overall blood pressure number fluctuated for each individual. These fluctuations stayed close to the original numbers except for two individuals. These individuals’ numbers began high and dropped and stayed down.

The qualitative data collected showed that several individuals had once been athletes in high school and college. Other considered themselves active and only one considered themselves as a non-athletic or sedentary. Other results showed and overall positive view of exercise in a positive light. Many participants stated that they were runners in the past, but no longer and could see themselves becoming runners again. Other stated they could see themselves making running a part of their lives in some way. One individual did not see themselves as a runner/jogger in anyway. The overall mood was a positive one for 90% of participants. A number of them reported that running had become a stress reliever.

Conclusions & Recommendations

Conclusions may be drawn from the data collected. First, the objective for getting individuals to go from not running to running thirty minutes is possible. Due to the fact that the group is half way through the running/walking program, but each person is currently on schedule and reportedly doing well. Each participant’s health indicators of weight and blood pressure have improved. Those that have not improved are those participants who have dropped out of the program. The mood and overall impression of running as form of exercise seems to be positive for those who have continued with the program. From interviews that have been conducted the use of this running program in the local community has been positive. It appears that this program can be used by everyone, but people who have an active lifestyle or have a past history of being an athlete will have a better time adapting. This may be due to the fact that ex-athletes have in the past been used to pushing themselves physically. The participants had mixed reaction for the rigidness of the schedule, but enjoyed the idea of having it in front of them. It appears that having a group who met to run helped improved buy in of the program and help with accountability to stay with the schedule for running/walking.