What is a Training Diary?
A Training
Diary or Running Log is a book or spreadsheet used to record your running times
and experiences. They are excellent for motivation and provide useful historical
information which you can use to look back on as you improve and see what works
for you.
In a
running log, people might record:
·
how far they ran
·
the time they ran for
·
the time of day that they ran
·
how they felt
·
what shoes they were wearing
·
their average and peak heart rate
·
any other special factors
Some
people also record the weather conditions, their weight, pulse rate, how much
sleep they had, who they ran with, where they ran, their menstrual cycle, and so
on.
Why have a Training Diary?
A Training
Diary will help you track your progress and/or help keep you to a pre-determined
training programme, where you have columns for intended miles to be run and
actual miles ran etc. Over time, it will be a useful source of information to
trace the origins of a period of good running, or of injury / poor health or
boredom. For many runners, keeping a running log is a very important part
of their motivation.
Keeping a
Running Log will also give you information about how often you need to change
your running shoes, early warning of over-training, the relationship between
your performance and your menstrual cycle and so on.
Ways to record the information
Lots of
people keep their running log in a notebook or in their diary. Some use an
electronic diary, such as a Palm Pilot or a Psion Organiser. Some
use a spreadsheet on their PC.
There is
also a wide range of bespoke software available on the internet designed for
athletes to track their running.
Use
whatever is most convenient for you.
