Things you should be tracking about your runs

Earlier this year ( back in January) I wrote about a running journal. I bragged about how great this journal was and how I couldn't wait to start documenting my runs.  The Journal was from Gone For  A Run. We even gave one of them away during our runner meet-up at WDW.

Well it turns out that after the wdw marathon 2015 I hadn't done any training runs so therefore, I hadn't  even used that journal!

I started my "official" training for next year's marathon in August ( I know I started a month too late, but I wanted to wait until I was confident that my legs/knees were strong enough).  Anyway, when I started running again is when I decided to use the journal.


The first thing I did was fill out the goals page in the front of the book. I wrote all my goals for the WDW Marathon. Yes, I did an A, B, and C goal ( I just didn't call it that at the time).

Next, I turned to the back of the book and wrote down all the races that I've completed and filled out my finish time for the ones that I could remember.

Then it was time to start filling out the data for my runs.  I use my Garmin on my runs so I just easily transfer all the stats from my watch to the journal. These are the things I am able to track in the journal. There are a few items I don't consistently track.

 Date

Time of day

Weather

Weight ( this option is on the page but I don't use it)

Route

Distance

Type of Run ( This is where I write which intervals I did)

Time (that is took for the run)

Pace

HR  and HR Rest ( I don't use these either)

a 1 to 5 scale to choose how I felt about the run.

Calories burned ( I don't track this either)

Shoes I wore  ( I like to know which shoes I wore on each run just in case I start to feel some pain. Also, I just realized that it was a good way to keep track of how many miles I put on each pair)

Any Additional Notes about the run (I usually fill this section out with more info about how I felt)


 I Have to say I absolutely LOVE this journal. I figured documenting each thing about my run would help me take pause when an injury starts lurking or if I am consistently having bad runs I can look back and see what all the commonalities might be.

I figured this is truly the best way for me to keep track of all my runs. I know that I can always use Garmin Connect to get some of this info but I like the fact that the journal lets me write in other things about the run too.  Do you track all your runs digitally or do you write them down somewhere? -M

We are linking up with TOTR where the theme is about "tracking devices".

33 comments:

  1. I had been looking for a running journal for sometime and most of them did not have anything but blank pages or scenic pictures, didn't seem worth the price tag. Then after you wrote about the running journals from Gone for a Run, I fell in LOVE with their format, I purchased one, and started to journal my runs. I record similar to the way you do with one exception, I record the Humidity as well. Since I live in FL. this is critical as it effects my runs and it has helped me manage my runs better. I know the humidity will have a far more negative effect on me rather than a higher temp. My favorite part of the journal is the inspirational quotes at the bottom of each page as I purchased the Inspirational Journal. Thanks for pointing out the back pages of the journal as i did not look at those before, i will be adding all that info now. I am thinking these would be an excellent Christmas present for my running buddies. Thank you again!!!

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    1. I am so glad that you love your journal and that you found my first review helpful. That makes me smile!

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  2. Oh dang I used to keep track of all my mileage but I haven't in probably... 3 years??? I do a weekly workout update on my blog but after I post it I forget it! I may go back to truly tracking someday but right now I'm just going with the flow.

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  3. I have attempted to keep track of my running a few times and I am really good for a while and then well you know.

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  4. I love this journal, too! I don't keep track of all of my training runs, but I use it to document all of my races!

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  5. I've used Daily Mile for years but I really never go back and look at my entries. This year I've been using a journal from Journal Menu and I've been pretty good about logging each run. I like it!

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  6. This month is the first in quite a while that I'm actually keeping track of some things. I have to keep track of my virtual challenge and so much of what I'm doing now is strengthening my core. I didn't realize how many minutes I've spent doing that to overcome my injury.

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  7. Great tips here and I especially like the one about writing down what shoes you were wearing on that run. It could explain a lot!

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  8. I have a calendar where I hand write what I did. Weather it's a run, bike ride, or the gym. It doesn't really have space like the journals do, but I do make sure I put in what shoes I wore, the temp, and if it was a negative or positive split for the days that I run. I also try and take note if anything hurts, or if I took days off because of a pain. I do like to hand write them more then keeping them in some sort of digital form. Not sure why though.
    @heatherlas

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  9. You know I'm a journal/number nerd. I still keep track of all my workouts with my homemade excel spreadsheets. Always good to look back & see progress or where you're having issues at.
    I like the layout of this journal.

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  10. I really love my believe journal and am such a documenting freak. The format of this journal sounds great and I can see why you like it!

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  11. Running journals are awesome! Even elite athletes use them, or at least their trainers use them for them. They are so helpful to go back and pinpoint problems, to know how your body handles added miles extra training. I used to use them often when I first started running. Eventually (whenever I can get back to running) one day I'd love to attempt to train for a BQ, and I know a journal will be my best chance to keep record so I can make sure I am doing all I need and not need to get there!
    Great post!

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  12. Great idea about tracking the shoes you wore!

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  13. I am now working on log book number 3 tracking my runs/exercise workouts each day. I started this in October 2010, just after I began running! I don't include heart rate since I do not use a monitor, nor do I include amount of calories burned. During marathon training, I struggle to keep my weight on.

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  14. Good ideas on tracking. I always wear my TomTom watching to track my run and upload it to mapmyfitness.com and look at my average pace but beyond that I don't note much. It's such a good idea to note more specifics because it's so weird how a run can vary so much by other factors.

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  15. I track online and with pen and paper. It's fun to look back! Although, I will admit... Since coming back from injury last fall, it is kind of frustrating to feel so behind my PR days when I look back at training logs. Slowly getting stronger though!!

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    1. That is exactly how I feel. I miss that I can't run as fast as I use to since my injuries but I am making progress bit by bit.

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  16. I've been keeping a training journal for about six years now. I love sitting down to log in my run soon after I finish. I do also use Garmin Connect, and that's where I keep track of my shoe mileage. But I still like a paper journal, too.

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  17. I used to use the Runners World Online Training Log, but they shut it down earlier this year. Now I use www.running-log.com. I am militant about tracking! It's so inspirational to see the miles adding up, and seeing visible progress over time. It's really helpful to track the miles on each pair of running shoes, too!

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  18. I used a few pages in my running journal- I need to get more specific- it can only help! I knew that journal had more pages for something!

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  19. I probably should invest in a running journal. At the moment, I just log what I eat and what I do for exercise. But it probably would be good for me to start adding in my times and how I felt during the runs too.

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  20. Sometimes writing things down in a journal is the best way to go. I like using my Nike+ watch, and I also record my runs on Final Surge, that is reviewed by my running coach.

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  21. I use Lauren Fleshmen's Believe journal. I loooooove it. So helpful!

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  22. I have written in an annual running journal and have documented every single solitary run I have taken since March 2005 when I began training for the NYC Marathon. Sometimes it is just something like "4m on TM at 10 min/mile pace throughout" but speedwork gets a longer entry, and longer runs and races are more descriptive. That's how I keep track of shoe mileage as well.

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  23. This is such a great idea, and something I wish I had been doing all along! I've tried journaling before, but I can never seem to keep up with it on a consistent basis...kind of like my blogging (*womp, womp*). I'm sure it can be SUCH a powerful tool in your training. Glad you've found something that's working for you! :)

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  24. How cool is this?! I have the Runner's World Log and find it really helpful, but it's not as cute or as detailed as yours!

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  25. So very smart to be tracking your runs. I track all min in a google doc.

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  26. I track my runs through my coach's website, but I also use dailymile and my blog! I've found I can easily go back and see what happened and how I felt, which has made it quite convenient. But there's something to be said about journaling, so I will definitely consider this an option for future training.

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  27. In the past, I only recorded my mileage. That was it. While training for Chicago, I've recorded my paces and made notes of things that were out of the ordinary. So, I'm getting a little better at least. I can see where reviewing the journal would be very beneficial!

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  28. I guess I look at my blog as my running journal. My mileage is tracked on Garmin Express. I have looked back on last year's training and that's been helpful. But nothing formal here!

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  29. I have to keep track in a paper journal as well on on garmin connect. It's this OCD thing I have about data :)

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  30. I usually keep track of my miles and which shoes in my planner, but it's too cluttered to do anything else! Love this option!

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  31. I have a journal, but haven't written in it! I guess since I've been journaling it here, but I know there are sections in the journal that can be captured there that I don't normally blog about (fueling, etc).

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