Why Training Logs are Important
A detailed training log was absolutely essential to my professional running career, and is now similarly essential to the success of Sifuentes Coaching. The bread and butter of this business is the 100% individualized training plans I offer, and the backbone of this service is the training log.
Excerpt from my own training log from Aug 2019.
The training log doesn’t have to be fancy. The Sifuentes Coaching training log includes date, location and description of the run or workout, total distance of the day and every 7 days, and most importantly: feedback and comments.
Feedback > Data!
The feedback section should include information that your Garmin can’t measure, things like: recent quality of sleep, illness, aches and pains, weather during your workout, stress level, if you’re feeling amazing, terrible or somewhere in between. Comment on things like whether or not the rest/recovery between intervals was adequate or too generous. Did you enjoy the workout? What was the overall level of effort? Were you mentally dialed in or checked out?
Running is very much a mind and body endeavour and the training log should reflect that.
Solving a Puzzle
Problems in training are common: injury, burnout, under performing, hitting the wall. By looking through the training log, we can dial in on why you may have become injured or run down, why you may have underperformed or hit the wall.
Look for a spike in miles run, abrupt changes in terrain, new workouts added, lack of sleep or rest, stresses from other areas of life, travel, illness, and mindset. Some of this is data recorded by your watch, but most of this information comes from feedback that in hindsight, you’ll only remember if you actually wrote it down.
Reflect on Success
A detailed training log is an incredible tool for building confidence. It is hard evidence of the work you are doing to reach your goals. Reflecting on your progress and how far you’ve come will help you mentally prepare for a big workout or race. The training log offers valuable insight for making a race plan and setting realistic goals and expectations, and guiding recovery.
Related: Know When You’re Recovered
Continued and consistent success requires runners to become an expert about themselves. This is done by recording actual training experience and learning from it. Every person who decides to begin online training with Sifuentes Coaching understands that they will be collaborating in their training. The coaching is a partnership between coach and runner with both people working together toward improvement and progress.
You don’t need a coach to have a training log and it is never too late to begin keeping a record of your work. You can use an online program, a special book designed for runners or a plain notebook, it really doesn’t matter. The most effective and useful training log is simply the one you actually use.
Nicole Sifuentes is a full-time Running Coach for adults of all ages and abilities. She is a former professional runner and 2-time Olympian, and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Read more about her services, and schedule your free coaching consultation.