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Does anyone have a good online running log they can recommend?
I've been using mapmyrun.com to plot out my runs and it's a fantastic site in that respect. And it does keep a training log too, but the functionality of it isn't so great.
I'm looking for something that lets me easily see my week, month, and year distance totals. And do some statistical/graphical analysis of different workout types, average pace over time, etc...
I can make this in excel, but i figured in this day and age there has to be some good stuff already out there available for my use. I did a quick search and came up with a lot of results, but they all make you sign up for an account to use the software and I figured if anyone knows of a good one it'll save me all that research time!
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I currently use www.runnersworld.com 's training log function. It has an option to set your primary sport (such as running, biking, swimming etc) and that sport appears easily in some graphs and you can make your own graphs with whatever values you want in it. Changing your primary lets you change what you can make graphs of.. (I believe... but I haven't done that much with all that)
If you have something like a garmin gps thing those are compatible with certain log programs and come with their own I think? (having something like that eliminates the need for you to enter data/ keep track of it specifically each time, but that's a different issue).
So anyway, I've had no qualms with the runnersworld training log, also you can search there for discussions about this. You can also back up your records on there to excel or some other external source for security of information (so you don't lose it if their site explodes or something).
Posts: 655 | Registered: May 2005
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Speaking as a runner, this sounds like an intriguing idea. When I've kept track, I've always just used paper and pencil or a text file on my computer. Unfortunately, I have no recommendations.
Thanks for the pointer, Starsnuffer. What I want to track is quite simple, so I doubt I'll bother with runnersworld. I might just build my own little web app to do it. Posts: 1813 | Registered: Apr 2001
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Years back I had a running log in excel. It was very basic, i.e. - time, distance, pace per mile, and weekly distance totals.
I did find this site that has an excel log available for download. the log is pretty extensive. can handle two workouts a day, tracks different shoe usages and mileage, keeps weekly mileage statistics as well as your weight, caloric intake, heart rate, and sleep if you choose to enter that stuff. As well as some other features.
The only thing it doesn't have, and i've noticed no running logs ever have this for some reason, is spots to put your actual mile splits. I like to know the pace of course, but i also like to be aware of my actual mile times. With mapmyrun I always work out in advance where the mile markers are and keep track. A friend of mine has one of those gps things for when he runs, it's very neat. And the stuff you can do with it is really fun. But it's a bit expensive.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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I agree. When I kept records, I did try to maintain stats on splits (especially for days when I ran intervals of any sort.) I've charted out almost all my running courses to determine mile and half-mile markers.
Yes, those GPS watches are quite expensive. Besides that, I'm not a good enough runner to benefit from such a fancy device.
Posts: 1813 | Registered: Apr 2001
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The only thing I ever really make graphs of is mile pace vs distance. It's interesting to see how it declines with increasing total mileage on a run. That and average mile pace over time, to see if there's been an average improvement, etc.
Those watches are really expensive, but yeah.. neat. I'll stick with my drug store watch for now, it plus knowing how far i went works thus far.
Posts: 655 | Registered: May 2005
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quote:The only thing I ever really make graphs of is mile pace vs distance. It's interesting to see how it declines with increasing total mileage on a run.
which is exactly why i like to keep track of my splits. One of my strong points in running has always been to keep a really steady pace(which i think helps tremendously in racing and over long distances). Most of my runs the mile splits are within 10 seconds of each other. Sometimes I even increase my speed as the mileage progresses. When I would race people would always ask me how I managed to speed up and keep passing people, and I'd say, "I don't...everyone else just slows down!" Oh wait...that's not what you meant at all! That's fun to keep track of too. What's the time dropoff for you per each additional mile? Is it a relatively steady or does it keep increasing with distance?
And yeah, average pace over time is really nice to keep track of for that reason. Which is also why i want a more detailed log so I can track different kinds of workouts. Hard runs, regular runs, recovery runs, intervals(fartliks too...what a great name), etc...so when i do average pace over time i can separate out certain work out types that would throw off that data.
quote:Yes, those GPS watches are quite expensive. Besides that, I'm not a good enough runner to benefit from such a fancy device.
I wasn't aware that being particularly good or deserving was a requirement for the purchase of fancy devices. Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
The runner's world site has a way to enter intervals and stuff like that if you so desired, you just have to have recorded the data in some way in order to give it to the computer, which is where my downfall comes.
As for looking at average pace/time there is a way to designate runs as whatever kind you wanna call them. long, easy, interval, etc (you can write your own, also)
Internet isn't too fast here(not at home) so I'll leave the graphing to later. Mainly my data isn't complete enough to give a good answer, I'll look some day though
Posts: 655 | Registered: May 2005
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There's a chip you can get which sinks with an iPod nano. Link. It tracks how far you run, and what speeds, and can show you which part of your runs were fastest/slowest. My boyfriend has one and really likes it. It's designed to go with certain Nike shoes, but he just puts it in his laces.
Posts: 1547 | Registered: Jan 2004
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So since posting I've mainly used mapmyrun as my running log. I just enter my mile splits in the comments so i have them for my own records. I can also at some later point export all the data as a .csv so I can still do some stuff with it in excel if I ever get motivated.
Just wanted to post an update on my running this summer. I started training legitimately back in april I think it was, and ran my first race some time in mid June. I've run 6 road races so far, 4 of them having been a 5k. My times for the 5ks over this period have been 19:45, 19:00, 18:20, and 17:50. I was unbelievably excited about the 17:50, and had been really pushing hard to break the 18min barrier. I have to thank runnersworld.com for some of this. The training programs and articles on the website are really fantastic and have directed my running over the last two months quite well. The only frustrating part of all this is that while i'm in the best shape i've been in since high school, even with my most recent race i'm still a good minute and a half slower than i was back then. I worry that no amount of solo training without a team or a coach will ever get back to that level, let alone surpass it.
over this same length of time I've also tracked the course of some of my recurring workouts, one of which is a beautiful 10k run on cross country course of the local university. Two months ago I ran it really hard at a 7:05 pace. My regular work outs i was doing it at around a 7:45 pace down to a 7:30 pace. in the last week i've run it twice, both times at 7:10 pace. But whereas two months ago i was pushing myself extremely hard, these last two times i mostly went it pretty easy till the last 1.5 miles or so, and even then i pushed myself just enough to keep up an even pace through the finish.
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Yeah, and like you, I began the running season back in April. However, racing around here takes a nose dive after the 4th of July. The races take a lot of driving to reach, and I'm occupied on at least 2 weekends a month. In order to make the races, I have to plan almost three months in advance. I have no other races planned for this fall. I might go out and run another mile race (against myself) to see if I can get my mile time down a little bit more.
I ran two mile runs, at 6:26 and 5:58, this summer. Breaking the six minute mark was a nice milestone for me. I also ran 5K and two mile races, but my times are not worth posting here.
I've been running and lifting, but I wouldn't say I've been training. Unless I can work out five or six times a week, I'm just working to maintain the status quo. Which sucks. On the bright side, though, the cross country season is starting up, and I'm looking forward to catching a few races as a spectator.
The running season winds down in October and for all intents and purposes, ends in November, for me. During the winter, I'll only run on warm days. I thoroughly detest cold weather.
Posts: 1813 | Registered: Apr 2001
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That sucks that it isn't easier for you to get to races. Around here I can find at least one if not two races within a 30min radius every weekend. That's pretty cool that you have mile races in your area though. I'm better at longer distances, but I think those would be fun to do.
Good job on breaking 6min. I find that setting mental goals like that really aid in motivation to get out there and run and train harder. Maybe set yourself a goal of 5:40 in 5 or 6 weeks. That'll keep you going through mid October, and having the goal may get you out on days you're feeling lazy. I'm not familiar with your running history, so I don't know how realistic that time is, obviously adjust for what you think you're capable of. Also, remember that if you've lifted and done legs anywhere near any of those races that's really going to throw off your ability to run at peak performance.
I tend to follow the same path as you in regards to running over the winter. But my goal this winter is to maintain some semblance of a running routine(maybe supplemented by some swimming and biking if it's easier to motivate myself to do those). Every time I manage to get in shape over the summer I destroy it all by slacking over the winter and basically starting from scratch the next year. Since I've really worked hard this year, I'd like to do my best to keep this a consistent thing. I'd like to work up to longer races, do a marathon in the near future, and compete in some smaller triathlons. My first step along that path will be to STAY IN SHAPE over the winter. I'm a bit worried about my resolve.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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One of my never-ending goals is to maintain some sort of running routine through the winter. I can work out in the weight room, jump rope, and try to use the indoor track if the weather is bad. The indoor track is only 170 meters though, so it takes 10 laps to make a mile. That's a lot of running in a circle.
I should point out that we only had one mile race here. It was a youth track meet open event for adults. Since I was already helping out with the event, I jumped in and ran it. The other mile 'race' was a solo endeavor...I just set a date and ran a timed mile.
Posts: 1813 | Registered: Apr 2001
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maybe use the treadmill instead of the track? Personally, I hate the treadmill, but i've used it on occasion specifically because the alternative of running in freezing cold weather is even worse.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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Heck will have frozen over if I use a treadmill. Though, I admit that I might need to sacrifice this principle of mine in order to meet my goals... Posts: 1813 | Registered: Apr 2001
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trust me, i know how you feel. I used to tell myself I wouldn't be caught dead on a treadmill(or alive!). I sacrificed that principle for a few months two years back. I hated doing it, but i came into the spring time in very decent shape. I then proceeded to ruin it all by being lazy that summer.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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I did a quick search and came up with a lot of results, but they all make you sign up for an account to use the software and I figured if anyone knows of a good one it'll save me all that research time!
