Phil Lawler, who teaches physical education in Naperville, IL, U.S., let his students run a long distance in P.E. class for their health. Some students were good at running, while others weren’t. In order to improve the ability of students who weren’t good at running, he first tested an eleven-year-old girl’s running ability. When she ran with a heart rate monitor, she had an average heart rate of 187 and peaked at 207 at the finish line. Lawler was shocked when he saw the record. The theoretical maximum heart rate was 220 minus one’s age, so it turned out that she ran with her full speed. It seemed that she was not good at running, but in reality, she ran harder than anyone else.
After the test, Lawler measured the heart rates of the students and designed their running plan according to each one’s level. The students not only became healthier but also improved their learning abilities.