- My favorite athletic accomplishment is making it to the Division 1 level for ice hockey. Growing up, it was always my dream to play collegiate ice hockey and playing at the highest level makes the realization of my dream all the more special. Playing hockey has always brought me so much joy and kept me healthy and fit. Throughout my childhood, I had to sacrifice many hours for hockey that could have been spent socially with friends and that was very difficult because at times I felt like I was missing out and getting left behind. Making it to the Division 1 level made all of the sacrifices worth it. To get to play the game that I love while also getting an incredible education is the best combination I could ask for. Further, I have learned valuable skills from hockey, such as discipline and effective communication, and these are part of what makes this my favorite athletic accomplishment because I can apply these skills to many different aspects of my life.
- Exercise physiology can serve as a paradigm for understanding biology because in order to under how the body functions for exercise/in response to exercise, you need an understanding of the biological processes that occur in the body. For example, to understand how a runner most efficiently utilizes their breathing for peak success, you need to understand how respiration works and what biological processes/body systems work together to cause breathing. Further, some people are better suited for different types of exercise/sports so understanding this can serve as a paradigm for understanding selection and evolution of different traits that can contribute to athleticism.
- I can use many concepts that I have learned from previous upper-level courses to contribute to our exercise physiology discussions. One way that I can contribute is through what I have learned in anatomy/physiology courses that I have taken (and am currently taking). The things I have learned about body systems, body composition, and how the body functions can be an asset in class discussion. To add, I can use concepts I learned in evolutionary biology to help piece together why certain traits that may have an influence on body components that contribute to exercise, such as muscles, have been selected for and how they have evolved throughout time.
Bio 375: Exercise Physiology
Spring 2019
1. Really amazing that you are able to balance being a Division 1 Athlete and super-star student! I agree there are so many valuable skills you learn from playing a sport, especially at such a high level. I understand what you mean when you talk about the sacrifices you made to be able to compete at the collegiate level. My best friend growing up went on to play field hockey at Brown. We both played field hockey in high school and on a club team together, though I had no interest (and really not enough talent) to play at the collegiate level. I watched her miss skiing trips, quit lacrosse and travel constantly to be able to reach her goal of playing Division 1 field hockey. She plans to use the leadership skills she gained on and off the field to become a coach herself one day! I am sure you have also learned about effective exercise and proper nutrition from being a division 1 athlete. I think these are two pieces of knowledge that may help in our class discussions.
2. I agree that understanding the biological processes that occur in the body can help scientist understand the responses of the body when we exercises. When we exercise, because our body is under stress certain phenomenon take place that can help scientists understand life. Interesting point you brought up that “some people are better suited for different types of exercise/sports”. I agree there is some type of pattern! I wonder if there is a chart that relates different physical traits to better performance in certain exercises.
3. I am interested to see what you have to say in this course in relation to what you have learned in anatomy and physiology classes because I have little background in that area. You might like Orthopedic Biomechanics! It is a 300 level Bio-Medical Engineering class, focused mostly on bone and joint structure and function. I was also in evolutionary biology last term! I think it was interesting how much we learned about organism structure and their related fitness. I think having a background in evolution will be helpful in this course when talking about shared physical traits among humans and across species. Certain traits made it easier for our distance ancestors to run from predators or escape weather! Natural selection must have preferred those individuals that were faster and stronger.
Jordan: Thanks for the interesting post. It really is something to become a Division 1 athlete and I sometimes forget that aspect for our varsity hockey players. I agree with both you and Maddy that Human A&P, as well as Evolution provide an interesting understanding into exercise physiology. Thanks for the great post.