Keeping a Training Diary

After this, you need to analyse things in a more subtle way. The pattern one would expect to see is that hard training is followed by successful performance, but only at an interval of two to four weeks. It takes that time for the training to take effect. If you distinguish between high-intensity training and low-intensity training, as well as recording the volume done in each week, you can see which type of training produces the best results.

The problem is that no year is ever exactly the same. You are inevitably going to go through different phases, whatever type of training you do. Regular training will bring rapid improvement at first, followed by slower improvement over two or three years. You will then reach a plateau, which can only be surpassed by a change in training regime, and eventually you start to decline as age affects your performance.'

Conclusions

As long as you do not become obsessive about either your running or the keeping of a diary, it has a great many good things going for it. Personally I would say that it is indispensable, and agree with everything Bruce Tulloh says.

Web Sites

In recent years PC and Internet based training logs and the increased use of heart rate monitors that can store huge amounts of data, mean keeping a diary is now very easy, although the only foolproof method remains a notebook and pen. Perhaps you should consider both, as some of the PC models can be give you projections of performance, not just act as a record of what's gone before.

So here are a number of links to useful web sites.

The first place you should go is:

http://www.runwithsam.com/marathontraini...

You can download a whole tome for free and adapt it to your needs.

Free training logs on the web:

http://running.sashanet.com/trainlog.html - Sasha provided you with templates - recommended

http://www.serpentine.org.uk/advice/trai... - spreadsheets to download and adapt to your needs, plus a comprehensive list of training diaries and logs.

http://www.crosstrak.com/home.asp - recommended by Zdnet.

http://www.runnerslog.com/ - free to use - simply register - I recommend it!

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/4/inde...

http://www.momentumsports.co.uk/TdIntrod...

http://www.marathonguide.com/info/runnin...

http://www.runorgy.com/log.asp

An online training diary free to UK citizens, small fee for non-UK citizens.

There are loads of widget programs you can download to your PC and use as training diaries:

http://pegasussoftware.com/runlog/defaul... - software to purchase

http://www.diaryofarunner.com/ The Diary of a New Runner Email: Steve@DiaryofaRunner.Com

http://www.diaryofarunner.com/diary-week... - this is well worth reading for the detail he puts in - an

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