But is that really the best I can do with a resolution? Shouldn’t it be something a little more substantial? I think I will have two for the year ahead. One will be another easy, yet beneficial one, and the other I am still working on. I think I need to work on some things on the inside. (And no I don’t mean, cholesterol or whatever.) I just haven’t decided what yet. But something along the lines of not cussing out every car that is going under the speed limit. Which really falls under the stop being so rushed for no real reason.
The easy running themed resolution is to keep a better log of my runs. I basically hit the miles I am supposed to and check them off The Plan. I don’t even think about writing where I was, how I felt, or if I got any faster. Duh right?
In saying that I need you all to help me decide where to store this information. I know some of you use websites, some of you use spreadsheets, other of you use the old pencil and paper method. But, I just can’t decide. Help a sister out will ya?
And for the record, I ran 14 miles this morning on our usual Saturday long run path. I felt tired and must still be suffering from the champagne I had on NYE. (While totally worth it that night, not so much this morning.) I averaged 9:24 miles. (This is how I want my database of running to look. Don’t worry I won’t post this every blog!)
Feedback is most appreciated as you all are a tremendous sounding board.
Cheers!
Well I just started reading, so I don't know if I qualify. But I will de-lurk long enough to mention that I've used at least 4 different logs: Ontri.com, Active Trainer, Trifuel.com, and BuckeyeOutdoors.com. Buckeye is the one I use now. I think it's the most full-featured of all that I've tried. Has space to track workouts of several kinds (run, swim, bike, elliptical, walk, spin, and so on). Can provide reports for end of week, month, year. Has space to track calories, weight, and resting HR.
Active Trainer had the most attractive interface. Trifuel was pretty powerful in terms of features, but also a little old-school. Ontri is good, but not as good as the others (that I remember, anyway). So I suggest BuckeyeOutdoors.com
I use http://www.logthatrun.com/ and love it. You can map your run, it gives charts and graphs for your stats), check the weather, and you can keep a scedule of your intended runs. Great free site!
you need to do what works for you, not what works for us.
having said that, for me, the ol' pencil and paper method works best. I log my exercise in a small notebook.
i have been using http://www.logyourrun.com, and i love it! you aren't restricted to just running, either hiking, biking, swimming, etc., too. there are 2 reasons why i really like it and haven't looked elsewhere:
1) once i have downloaded my garmin data to the garmin web page, i can just type in the 'session' number, and it will pull the data into logyourrun.com very sweet.
2) i can easily have my data posted in the sidebar of my blog, for all the world to see. this helps me be accountable to my runs, because family and friends chide me on my (lack of) progress.
good luck with your research!
geno
http://www.genesoboleski.blogspot.com
I'm a gadget type of guy. I use a Garmin, download the data to my computer and then upload it into TrainingPeaks. This way it is automatically backed up (harder to lose) and others can look at it (if you want them to – like a coach). You can also play with reports and compare performances on the same routes against each other, but what Lisa said is best: You need to find what works for you.
Good Luck and Happy New Year.
Also de-lurking to leave a comment:pPersonally, I'm a fan of a combination of my NikePlus and a simple spreadsheet on Google Docs. When I start a training plan for a specific race, I usually start a new spreadsheet. It's useful because in addition to mileage, I can keep lots of misc. info there (interval paces, whether or not I went to yoga that week, projected race pace) and it nicely complements the things I like about Nike Plus. You could probably do a similar combo with a Garmin.
I'd recommend RunningAhead.com – it does running, cycling, and swimming along with 'other' activities you want to log. It will automatically download data from your garmin and It's free to use all the sites functions. The owner, Eric, will help you download your old logs into his format, and the chat community is very helpful.
As for analysis of data – check out my log off my site. It's very easy to make any chart, graph, and course. Not only is it easy to use, its very easy to intergrate the charts into your Blog posts.
I've triedevery log listed above by other readers but this one is by far the best in ease of use and being able to look at your data the way you want to.
I use logmyrun and love it. It keeps track of the miles on my shoes, all my workouts (swim, bike, run, cross…) and can be synced.
I absolutely love love love dailymile.com. It's kind of like facebook, but it keeps track of all your running stats. I say it's like Facebook because you can become friends with people and motivate each other. You can log your workouts, join a challenge, talk in the forums, or just post how you're feeling. You can link it with twitter and facebook if you use those, so that your dailymile posts show up on the other sites. It gives you charts of your stats by week, month, year, etc, and you can compare your stats with other people. If anything, create an account and play around with it. I will be your friend, lol!
I use runningahead.com but I haven't been recording how I feel and stuff either. I should start doing that – good idea!
http://www.dailymile.com!!! I LOVE that site! The challenges are super fun and keep me motivated
I use the training peaks with a Garmin as well. However, I don't used my garmin on half of my runs. I log everything into an excel sheet on Google docs. So easy!!
I echo what Lisa said above. I used buckeyeoutdoors.com, didn't like it. I'm now tinkering with Runners World's log and Garmin Connect.
Confused? Well, my job is done here!
Wow, you got a lot of good sites to choose from. I keep it all in my head, so I can forget the and runs! Just kidding, I use Buckeye, road runners and anything else that will make it easy for me to upload my Garmin data.
I also vote for Dailymile. I like Buckeye because it has some other options, but Dailymile seems much more streamlined.
I just started using Dailymile. It won't sync with my Garmin, so I have to re-enter that data manually, but I suspect it will someday. Entering it by hand isn't such a big deal, but I can also track gym workouts there as well.
I also use Garmin connect to keep track of runs and cycling. FYI, I am a Mac person, some of the sites (training peaks for example) don't work on my computer.
I'm hopelessly addicted to SportTracks. It is organized really well once you're used to navigating it, and I like that it's a one time download so that I don't have to have access to the internet to updated it (I do have to be at my real computer though, not just a phone).
i don't make resolutions… i line up some goals for the year for myself. "run #x races", "take a trip to (insert location)", a finance-related goal, etc. i don't verbalize them all out on my blog (for a number of a reasons) so some of them i forget about. goals are much funner – make a few for a few different "areas" of life and knock them off the to-do list! this is all my opinion, anyway.
i used to give up a junk food every year, but i did it randomly in the summer. no reason, other than the fact that i am a PIG with no self-control, but cutting out french fries altogether? apparently i could handle that. after ~4-5 years i, uh, reintroduced all these delicious foods into my diet. need to work on that again 😉
I vote for bacon… wait! what were you asking about again?
dailymile.com is what I use and I like it a lot. It has a "social" aspect to it as well, which is kind of cool.
I'm no help here. I just write down my miles on whatever free calendar comes in the mail. times must be tough, because no free calendar this year . . . I'll actually have to buy one!
I just started using dailymile.com today. I like it so far 🙂 Used to, I'd just use my Nike+ or Garmin stats.
I dunno… I don't like "resolutions", but I LOVE "goals". I guess because goals are more concrete.
Anyway, I do use spreadsheets, seems faster and more convenient than a website or writing it all on paper.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I actually use a running log book. I always buy the one from Runners World. I love how I can actually WRITE something instead of typing it. And it has a place to write the whether, the shoes you wore, how you felt. I think it's about $20 and it's soooo worth it! Happy New Year and great job on the run!
I use runningahead.com and love it. It integrates with my blog and is easy to download into excel.
Good luck!
i'm not a runner, but why not use your blog? like a little section at the bottom of every post.
I go for the ol' paper & pencil method. Paper & pencil is a lost art!
Just remember – goals should be achievable (climbing Mt,.Everest may not be), measurable (like running x miles this year), and time specific (like by the end of the year). Otherwise they aren't goals, they are wishes.
You don't mention whether you re a PC or a Mac person. I'm PC (proud to say *not* the polically correct PC) and use SportTracks at zonefivesoftware.com. It downloads directly from my Garmin and has all kinds of analysis tools. The graphs ans stuf that I post on my log come from SportTracks. The other one I hear a lot of people using is Daily Mile.
Good luck choosing!