Having a running log is a key tool of the serious runner. There are lots of ways to keep a running log and it does not have to be complicated:
–An Excel spreadsheet or Word document (your coach has a log on Excel that goes back for years).
–Notes on a calendar.
–A ledger or lab notebook.
–On-line logs exist too.
It doesn’t take much! In addition to tracking mileage in your log, some people keep notes on:
–The route
–Pace or workout type (for example, Intervals, 4×1 mile: 5:30, 5:25, 5:24, 5:16)
–How you feel
–Injuries
–Cross training (for example, 1/2 hour of core work, or swam 2000 yards, freestyle, fast)
It’s also useful to keep notes on races in your log, keeping track of what you ate before the race, how you warmed up, how you felt, and notes on the race itself.
All the notes in the log will help you continue to improve. You might also be able to spot injury causes, and avoid injuries in the future. You can use your log to talk with your coach about how your training has been going and what the plan should be going forward.
And a log can be motivational. You have created some accountability and a goal. If you skip a day of running, you know that a blank spot in your log will be waiting for you! Maybe that is just enough incentive to get you out the door…and lots of days, getting out the door is the hardest part of the workout!
Think about starting to keep a running log. It’s a good thing for a serious runner like you to have!