Naomi Cook

Brett Sipes
English 1201
January 19, 2019

Research Topic Proposal

I chose the question “How does caffeine affect runners/running?” for my research topic. I wasn’t

quite sure what topic to choose for this project, or the general idea and theme of it. There are

many questions I would like to be able to understand and answer. Sadly, many of them cannot be

answered through study and research.

This question seemed like a good fit for me, due to my love for things containing

caffeine, such as coffee, and the need of mine to work out. I don’t necessarily love running, but I

do enjoy working out because it allows me to feel okay about eating unhealthy. I would like to

know if caffeine does have an effect and if it improves this activity or makes it even less

enjoyable than before.

I feel this question could open up many more areas of study, including how the quantity

of caffeine makes a positive effect, or the results of caffeine running versus running with no

caffeine. I do not necessarily feel and/or hope that this research will go one way or another. I am

interested in the results though, and feel it will give me a better understanding on the effects of

caffeine.

I think this is a good question, even for those who do not run or drink caffeine. It helps

bring about understanding on both sides of the question, and can be beneficial either way. I

think, prior to research, that caffeine logically would have an effect on running. It would make

sense to effect it positively, and provide the runner with more energy to complete exercising. The

results of this project will lock in my final opinion.

Naomi Cook
Brett Sipes
English 1201
January 19, 2019

I believe this topic will give me a good amount of information, and should provide

enough research to cover and explain a good amount of why caffeine does or does not have an

effect. As I stated prior, I believe caffeine will have an effect on running, I am unsure, however,

if the effects will be positive to the runner or not.

I already know that caffeine tends to give people more energy or alertness. I know that

running is tiring, and the two of those things combined could be beneficial to people. I know

nothing of the actual effects of caffeine on people while they are exercising, so I have a lot to

research on this topic.

Considering I know a minimal amount of information related to my topic, there are many

things I still need to learn. I need to figure out who has tested this, what their results were, and

how does that compare to other results that have done the same or similar. I need to see what

specific caffeine effects running, how much, and how long they effect it. I need to know the

answers to “How does caffeine effect the body?” and “Does caffeine boost energy or improve

physical performance?”. I can do some research even just generally on the internet to find some

information on those two questions, which will in turn help me begin to have an understanding

of my topic and what the answer is.