As I sit here at the start of a new year, I have two running log books sitting on the desk before me. One is full and offers reflection of the past year, a chronical of the miles completed and races run; and the other is empty, nothing but clean white sheets that hold the promise of many more miles to come, some long and slow, others that will end with the gasping of breath. Some will be lonely, solitary miles of contemplation, while others will be shared with my best friends.
I have always found it best when embarking on a new year or season to take full stock of the one just completed. Before I plan where I am going, I need to know where I have been. What did I learn this past year? Did I meet my goals as they related to mileage, race results, PR's or maybe just a new race distance? Did I learn something about fueling for long runs, pre-race nutrition, strength and flexibility training to stay healthy, race tactics? A well kept running log will provide the answers to those questions.
Now I'll be the first to admit that the content in my running log these days is much more scant than when I found myself trying to be competitive. In those days, it read much like a daily journal, as I recorded every minute detail about each workout including not only the distance but the pace, temperature, location, terrain, others in attendance, shoe I was wearing and what I had to eat that day. I kept track of every calorie taken in and burned and every mile logged on a pair of shoes so that I knew when to switch them out. I also noted how the workout felt, if there were nagging aches and pains as well as what my peak and average heart rate rates were and how much time I spent in various HR zones. I recorded my resting heart rate every morning and weighed in once a week.
And when everything came together, when I had the right mix of training and fuel and rest that produced one of those rare days when running fast came without effort and I felt light and strong like I could run forever; I circled that day with a highlighter and tried to replicate all the things I had done before that day for my next big race. In the end, I found this to be a much better pedictor of race performance than "did I remember to wear my lucky socks."
As a statistician it pains me to say this, but a logbook is not just about the numbers. Sure, it is helpful to keep track of your mileage to insure that you do not risk injury with overtraining, but it can be a much more useful tool than than. We all respond differently to training loads, and the more you learn about yourself, the more you will be able to apply what your coaches throw at you in a usefull fashion.
So, if you have not been diligent in keeping a running log, now is the chance to start the year afresh. And if you have never kept one or rely solely on Mr. Garmin to tally the day's effort, now is the time to start. As most of us are not professional runners but have lofty aspirations and running goals, it is important to make every workout count, and the more you know about yourself as an athlete, the better prepared you will be to make that happen.
Well, I have a blank sheet of paper labeled January 1, 2013 staring at me, and I have a story to tell. "Air temp was 45 degrees at the start with a slight drizzle when Newt, Dave, Mike and I headed down the Black Creek Greenway for a single track loop around Lake Crabtree..."
