Start a training log! You are only 11 days into 2008. You can probably remember most of your runs, rides, and swims. Now is the time to get it down on paper, online, or in a spreadsheet. Why keep a log? It shows your progress. It gives you a sense of pride. It keeps you motivated. It helps if you get injured to pinpoint why.
How do I keep a log? There are lots of options. Here are a few that I have seen and some I have used:
- Paper Notebook - the old standby. . . Get a spiral bound notebook and start writing. The benefit of a notebook is you can write anything and everything. It almost becomes a personal journal. You can add endless details. The drawback, is it is manual. If you like to total your mileage and calculate your pace, you need to do it on your own.
- Spread Sheet - Using Excel enables you to track what is important to you. If you like numbers you can graph things out to meet your needs. It is completely customizable. The drawback is you still have to do the work. If you want an excel log that is ready to go, here are a few options: Thinnmann or David Hays. Both have lots of neat features. Otherwise, make your own! Whichever you use, keep a backup copy.
- Nike Running Online Log - This is probably my favorite. I had to email Nike to find out how to access it, because it is now hidden and been replaced with the Nike+ log that only works with your iPod Nano. The original Nike log is a pretty cool and very customizable. Here is a link to the new Nike page. This site allows you to add anything you wish to track (swimming, spinning, elliptical, etc.) It also provides lots of cool graphs.
- Running Ahead Online Log – RunningAhead.com is an alternative to coolrunning. It is a free site also with active runner forums. I have not used their running log, but believe it will be similar to most. It is actually the first one that comes up in a Google search.
- Cool Running Online Log – This is one of the most popular online tracking tools. It will give you weekly, monthly, and yearly totals automatically. It is now part of active.com. It tracks sleep, soreness, stress, etc. Plus it can even email you daily reminders of your planned workouts. Visit coolrunning.com and click on “Resources” to find it. The merger of coolrunning and active.com has created lots of problems with logins so I must admit, I have a hard time recommending this option right now.
Dont wait! Get started today!
Just remembered another neat feature of the Nike site. You can select an event and a date, and it will import a training plan you can follow.
ReplyDeleteYou can also track the miles on your shoes (which most sites will do).
You can add regular routes so each time you just pick it from a dropdown box too.
Lots of cool little extras.
i have tried the mapmyrun site, but only tracks total miles-- it doesn't break down miles for biking or swimming... i have gone back to the nike site.
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