Why You Should Use A Runner’s Log Book
November 14, 2016 / ASICS Australia
Keeping a running log book can be a great training tool.
It might require some extra effort in the beginning, but in a few weeks you’ll start reaping the benefits of sticking with it. For many runners, what starts as a simple log grows into a personal and lasting running diary.
Logging Your Runs
A running log book is a place where you record your runs. It could be a notebook, spreadsheet or even a weblog. The details included in the logbook are individual choices, but most people enter the date, place, distance, time and general feelings about the run.
British former marathon champion Ron Hill has kept a runners log book for virtually his entire running life. "I started to keep a log on September 3, 1956. I was still at school, and I wanted to keep a record of how many days a week I was running and how that affected my races. It was also a record of my race results.”
Building Confidence
This all sounds fairly simple, but why bother in the first place? First of all, a running log book acts as a source of motivation in itself. When you start adding up all the kilometres you've run ran, you get a feeling of achievement which will help build your confidence as a runner.
“Have a space for every day of the week in your log,” says Ron. “When there is a blank space or spaces it emphasises lost opportunities for training. I have never missed a day since December 20, 1964. I do not believe in days off.”
For Hill, keeping a running log book has been an essential element in his success as a runner. Looking back on his marathon achievement in the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, where he broke the 2:10 barrier for the second time in history, Hill recounts: "Before my 2:09:28 in Edinburgh, I was able to look back at my five previous best long distance performances in detail and plan my last two weeks of training in detail.”
Your Personal Running History
Ultimately, a runner’s log book helps you to learn about yourself as a runner and allows you to be in control of your running. You build a personal running history, which you can look back on and learn from. As you realise what training style brought the biggest rewards, you can plan for even more success based on your own empirical evidence.Once you get the hang of it, your running log book might as well grow into a full-fledged running journal, containing not just running details but conversations, thoughts and ideas you have while running. Creating a personal RunKeeper training plan will also help.
Hill is a former professional long-distance runner. He set numerous world records and won the Boston Marathon in 1970 in a course record of 2:10:30. He managed to run races in 100 different countries by his 70th birthday and continues to run every day. Hill has also co-authored a book titled Manchester Marathons 1908-2002
In addition, to your running log book, shop for a wide selection of running shoes to push your ability to the next level!