ES.010
Chemistry of Sports: Understanding How Exercise Affects Your Body
Students apply chemistry knowledge to physical fitness through the study of three sports: swimming, cycling, and running. Classroom component focuses on nutrition, exercise, anatomy, physiology, and the chemistry of supplements and sports equipment. Laboratory component focuses on training for and completion of triathlon competition. Students may earn up to 2 PE points during the term by attending supervised triathlon training workouts. Preference to students in ESG.
Spring 2013 · Chemistry of Sports
Topics
- Science of swimming
- Physics of bicycling–Talk by Steve Lyons
- Cycling aerodynamics–Talk by Kim Blair, Research Affiliate, MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
- Coach Jimmy Riccitello comes and talks about triathlons
- Triathlon preparation
Readings
- Fitzgerald, Matt. Essential Week-by-Week Training Guide: Plans, Scheduling Tips, and Workout Goals for Triathletes of All Levels. Grand Central Life & Style, 2006. ISBN: 9780446696760. [Read Chapters 1 and 2. Optional: read chapters 6–11 according to your specific level and event.]
- McCrann, Patrick. “8 Week Training Plan.” Triathlon Magazine, June 2011.
- Fitzgerald, Matt. “Test Fuel: Can Triathletes Eat Whatever They Want?” Inside Triathlon , 67.
- Fitzgerald, Matt. “Fueling for Weight Loss and Optimal Training.” Triathlete’s Ultimate Fuel Guide .
- Carlson, T. “Inside Dope: So You Think You Know All About Drugs and Triathlon?” Inside Triathlon (2008): 34–40.
- Prasuhn, Jay. “Drag Race: The Secret, Savvy Underworld of Triathlon’s Addiction to the Wind Tunnel.” Inside Triathlon . [unknown volume / issue]
- Prazak, Tawnee. “Under Pressure.” Triathlete , June 2011.
- 13 · Talk with Coach Jimmy Riccitello · Riccitello, Jimmy. “Don’t Call It a Comeback.” Inside Triathlon .
- Watson, Lance. “Olympics-Distance Race-Day Fueling Strategies.” Triathlete’s Ultimate Fuel Guide , May, 2012.
Prerequisites & course information
Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 2-1-3 units
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026–2027
- MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Spring 2013
- MIT OCW readings ↗
- MIT OCW calendar ↗
- MIT OCW syllabus ↗
- Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.