Yesterday I started checking out different types of running logs.
I currently track my workouts in a special calendar that my coach provides. In it she posts my runs for the week and then I post the details.
My Current Training Log
Usually I just post the distance and my pace per mile, but sometimes I include a paragraph or two about how I felt if it was a particularly good/bad day.
I spoke with someone yesterday though who mentioned a few cool types of training logs that have more features than the calendar that I currently use with my coach.
These include the cool stats and charts that Garmin Connect provides, but can also accommodate treadmill runs (which I have been doing more of lately).
I’m currently checking out Training Peaks and the Runner’s World logs. I like both and am trying to decide which one I want to use long-term.
The cool thing about both is that they include specific areas to log your duration, distance and pace unlike my current calendar (they’re both also free).
Here’s a peak at the log activity screen for Training Peaks:
I love that you can connect your Garmin to this too and not have to manually enter all the data by hand. Convenient for the days that I actually go run outdoors in this heat!
That’s the only thing that I noticed that TP does that the Runner’s World log doesn’t do.
What I really like about the RW log is the area where you can quickly rate a run.
That Additional Info section seems like it would be really helpful when working with a coach.
Both include a dashboard/summary view where you can easily see your stats all totaled up. That’s also something that my current log doesn’t do (although I manually track the numbers anyway).
Overall, I guess I am leaning towards using the RW log going forward…. BUT of course there are ads all over the place and that kind of annoys me. I get that the product is free so it makes sense that they need to recoup money in some way, but that doesn’t stop the blinking banner ads from driving me a little crazy though : )
How do you log your runs? Any recommendations?
I feel so behind…I don’t keep a journal or calendar. I try to jot down what kind of workout I did in my weekly planner, but other than the Nike+ website and Daily Mile, I don’t really do a lot of detail/analysis of my runs. I do love DailyMile though because it emails you a weekly total and you can leave encouragement for people on there. But it doesn’t have a calender/log type layout!
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Given that my work is so driven by analytics I’m a little crazy about numbers and being able to create charts out of them haha. I write my miles down on my normal wall calendar and then I log them online too. I actually used to log them in my calendar, in RunKeeper, in Garmin Connect and in my coach’s log. I’m trying to calm down and start using only one log 🙂
That RW application looks pretty awesome. I have used RunKeeper, Nike+, and now I’m using Garmin Connect. Garmin Connect is my favorite so far but I am starting to do more runs on the treadmill and my Garmin doesnt have a foot pod. So at this point ALL my data is kept on a simple excel spreadsheet lol. I consider that oldschool these days with so many applications out there.
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Garmin Connect is definitely favorite too, but I don’t have the foot pod either so I’m looking for something else… esp. since I have been doing so many treadmill runs lately!
I used to use the runners world one, bit switched to runningahead…its really similar to RW but the ads dont seem to be all over the place.
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I just checked out RunningAhead and I really like it! (Awesome that they have such an easy demo account to play around with!). Thank you!
I have used Endomondo for a few years. There is nothing particularly special about it, except that if I track my run on my phone, I automatically gets logged. Other than that, I am not all that impressed by it. But I can’t give it up since I have used it for so long!
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I know that feeling, I used to use RunKeeper for everything until I got my Garmin. Then I started using Garmin Connect + RunKeeper just so I could keep building on my history in RunKeeper!
I love the old-fasioned pen and paper route hey (although will check out that RW log, maybe I’ll upgrade my ‘technology’ hey). I like to write my plans down in my trusty diary and I LOVE ticking it off when it’s done, and/or adding any changes that I made to the original plan. Haha, sometimes to rate how I feel, there is the highly technical smiley or sad face.
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Ohhh yes I LOVE ticking things off of a to do list! I write one every morning for all the things I need to do that day 🙂
Hahaha the highly technical smiley or sad face – love it! 🙂