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Carolyn is preparing to run a marathon - Edexcel - GCSE Physical Education - Question 8 - 2020 - Paper 1
Question 8
Carolyn is preparing to run a marathon. Table 7 shows data collected during one of her training sessions. Mile Time to complete mile (minutes : seconds) Time diffe... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Carolyn is preparing to run a marathon - Edexcel - GCSE Physical Education - Question 8 - 2020 - Paper 1
Step 1
Justify, using the data in Table 7, why Carolyn thinks she should work on her cardiovascular fitness.
Answer
Carolyn runs her first mile in 8:23, which becomes progressively slower with an average decrement in pace throughout the remaining miles. By mile 12, her time has increased to 10:38, highlighting a significant drop in performance. This suggests potential fatigue and a lack of cardiovascular endurance. Improving cardiovascular fitness would enable her to maintain a quicker pace over longer distances, enhancing her overall running performance.
Step 2
Explain one training method that would be suitable for Carolyn to improve her cardiovascular fitness for marathon running.
Answer
One suitable training method for Carolyn is interval training. This involves alternating periods of high-intensity running with rest or lower intensity. For example, Carolyn could run at a fast pace for 1 minute followed by 2 minutes of walking. This method boosts cardiovascular endurance by challenging her heart and lungs while allowing recovery, ultimately helping her maintain speed over distance.
Step 3
Explain one reason why an increase in the number of alveoli would improve Carolyn’s marathon running performance.
Answer
An increase in the number of alveoli in the lungs enhances gas exchange efficiency. More alveoli means a greater surface area for oxygen absorption and carbon dioxide removal. This allows Carolyn to take in more oxygen with each breath, improving her aerobic capacity and delaying fatigue during her marathon runs.
Step 4
State two other long-term training adaptations to Carolyn’s respiratory system.
Answer
- Increased lung capacity, allowing for greater volume of air to be inhaled and exhaled with each breath.
- Improved respiratory muscle strength, enabling more effective breathing during prolonged physical activity.