The Trinidad Alfonso Foundation (FTA) and the Ivie have designed a web tool that measures the amount of physical effort runners put into sports
For the first time, there is an effort index which shows the work performed in an objective, fact-based manner
How can effort be measured? The Effort Index answers to this question. For the first time, there is an indicator that shows in an objective, fact-based manner and by means of a numeric value, the level of physical effort of runners when doing sports. This index, which has been developed by the Ivie on the initiative of the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation, allows runners to calculate their effort by means of a web tool, as well as to see their achievements and compare them with other runners.
The distance run in kilometers, the runner’s age, the years he/she has been training and the time he/she spends training… The effort index, which has been constructed by Iván Arribas, Ivie researcher and Professor at the University of Valencia, is the result obtained from a mathematical equation that includes all these variables. Rodrigo Aragón, Abel Fernández and Irene Zaera have also collaborated in this research.
Phases of the research project
The construction of the effort index has been conducted in three phases:
- First, a review of the literature on the concept of effort was carried out, as well as personal interviews with the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation staff and specialists from various fields to identify and select the variables to be included in the index.
- Then, the methodology for the construction of the index was developed and tested with the help of information provided by runners.
- Finally, a guide for the implementation of the index for apps developers was prepared.