Bio Lab Design

From prior background knowledge about running, I believe the runner’s breathing rate will not change too much between the 12 minute mile and the 10 minute mile pace but will get faster than the breathing rate taken at rest.  These two speeds are not as difficult to keep up; it is more of a fast walk.  However, when the runner goes to the 8 minute pace, she will have to go through the motions of running as opposed to walking.  This motion, I think will cause the subject’s breathing rate to increase.            

Materials

The materials needed to complete this lab are:

1. Stop watch
2. Treadmill  
3. Subject (runner)

Safety

The subject needs to have the appropriate running gear on such as running shoes and no loose clothing which could potentially get caught somewhere on the treadmill.  Also the subject needs to have had experience with running on a treadmill or be familiar with how it works; for instance she will need to know how to get on and off and use the appropriate devices on the treadmill to set the pace right.  

 Procedure

1. Begin the process by measuring the breathing rate of the subject at rest.  
2. To do this, count the number of times the subject exhales per minute for a total of three minutes.  
3. Record each measurement per minute.  
4. Set the treadmill to move at the pace of 12 minutes per mile.  
5. Start the timer at two minutes once the subject begins running.  
6. Once the two minutes of running is completed, stop the treadmill and immediately start counting the number of times the subject exhales per minute for a total of three minutes.
7. Record these three measurements.  
8. After the three minutes of measuring the subject’s breathing rate are over, allow the subject to rest for five minutes or until the breathing rate is at the same rate as the initial resting rate.
9. Once the subject’s breathing rate is back to the rate it was at rest, repeat steps 4-8 for two more trials.  
10.  Set the treadmill to move at the pace of 10 minutes per mile.  
11. Start the timer at two minutes once the subject begins running.  
12. Once the two minutes of running is completed, stop the treadmill and immediately start counting the number of times the subject exhales per minute for a total of three minutes.
13. Record these three measurements.  
14. After the three minutes of measuring the subject’s breathing rate are over, allow the subject to rest for five minutes or until the breathing rate is at the same rate as the initial resting rate.
15. Once the subject’s breathing rate is back to the rate it was at rest, repeat steps 4-8 for two more trials.  
16.  Set the treadmill to move at the pace of 8 minutes per mile.  
17. Start the timer at two minutes once the subject begins running.  
18. Once the two minutes of running is completed, stop the treadmill and immediately start counting the number of times the subject exhales per minute for a total of three minutes.
19. Record these three measurements.  
20. After the three minutes of measuring the subject’s breathing rate are over, allow the subject to rest for five minutes or until the breathing rate is at the same rate as the initial resting rate.
21. Once the subject’s breathing rate is back to the rate it was at rest, repeat steps 4-8 for two more trials.  
22. Record all the measurements collected.  
23. Then for the 12 minute mile pace, find the average of all the measurements taken after the first minute of all three trials, then do the same for the measurements collected after the second minute, then do the same for the third minute.
24. Repeat these calculations for the 10 minute and 8 minute mile pace.  
25. Then use these averages to compare to the initial breathing rate to see how it changed, if it did, due to the increase of the speed of the run.