Do You Track Your Running?

 Have you ever considered keeping a running diary? It could be a game-changer for 2024. 

Although I have never keep a "running diary" I am one to keep track of my running. From miles put on my shoes, logging miles ran, details each week/month/season about what I will be doing for training. I also blog about experience, races ran, etc. I feel like this all goes under the same category. My way of keeping a "running diary" is probably different than yours, but some way of tracking to look forward and over past schedules, can bring us great benefits. 

A running diary can be as simple as a cheap notebook or journal. There are also some really great apps, including Strava, that can help with seeing consistently and how well target goals are being met. I personally like Strava as I can edit it with key words. The key words make routes, races and more easy to pull up and compare over time. 

By logging what you are running, over time you can start to have structure in your running goals, see what you need work on and see how the different seasons affect your running. 

Goal setting is something I strongly suggest for everyone. It doesn't matter if you are a casual runner or someone wanting to qualify for Boston. Goal setting shouldn't be over stressful, a little scary? Bring it on! Goals should be specific and smart. If you look back over a month and you felt stress, stop and re-adjust! It's better to hit goals at a slower rate and be consistent, rather than overdoing it and getting injured and or discouraged. 

Some things I enjoy tracking:

*What day's I feel stronger

*A closer look at why I felt fatigued on a run

*How many miles ran each day/month/year (I log on an excel sheet.)

*Writing down goal times for upcoming races and then getting help with training paces to achieve these times. For me this involves a coach. Some seek advice from more experienced runners or simply run with a group slightly faster than your personal current pace. 

*Keeping track of any cross training

*Photos of my training. This is just something I feel like is fun and I enjoy looking at past photos to compare how much stronger I look as time goes by. 

Lastly I highly encourage you to share! Maybe share with a friend, on social media or with a coach. The key with this is the accountability it will bring. I have found that if I write it down, share it out loud and put it into practice, my goals come to life! I spend a short amount of time each week/month and year going over last year and planning the next. Each year I have done this, I have experienced growth the next year (even during years of setback and I've had my fair share!).
Don't be afraid to acknowledge the bad days/runs. This is all part of growth and the diary itself. Acknowledge the good, the bad and the ugly and act on all of it.  This will help you move forward in a positive way.   

Share your upcoming goals. I would love to support you and celebrate with you. ~Julie