My workout log is a book called “The Running Log”. I’ve used this for two years, and am almost at the end of my second book.
Here’s a page I scanned a while back for a post about swimming:
Even though I like the format of this book, it is hard to find old data. There’s no “Search” function, or a way to graph out your progress. I do take key workouts and add them to an excel spreadsheet, but I want something that does it all!
So, I am looking for a new workout logging tool. Please give me your recommendations by commenting on this post. Thanks!
Update: I have tried a couple of online tools:
ontri.com – Free. very simple and user friendly. no graphing. Does let you put in HR, but doesn’t tell you anything about your zones. gives a nice report with calories burned. Still, I want graphs. Lets you set up favorite routes and gives you PR’s for those routes.
trifuel.com – Free. cumbersome. Does have some graphs, but again, cumbersome.
beginnertriathelete.com – Basic tool is free. if you want graphs and hr zone reports, you have to pay about $50 a year. might be worth the money to get the graphs. looks like they do have a ‘time spent in zone’ graph. lets you set up your favorite routes by actually mapping it out. kind of a pain initially, but you get exact miles and even elevations. their site is just way too ‘busy’ and hard to navigate tho.
workoutlog.com – costs about $50 a year if you want graphs. graphs look limited to distance and time. i’d like pace and hr zones. They have a way to input your trianing zones which is really cool. They even have a way to calculate cycling zones based on an 8 mile cycling time trial. However, I don’t see any way to view graphs such as time spent in hr zones. that’s something I want. maybe I just am missing it. What’s the point of them letting you input hr zones, if they aren’t going to give you some kind of workout report about that??? I peeked at the web page coding of their hr zone calculator page. They are calculating cycling LT based on the 8 mile time trial like this: “at_bike = Math.round(tt_bike/1.03);” So, if my cycling time trial avg HR was 168bpm, than my cycling LT = 168/1.03 = 163bpm. I’ve been wanting to know that formula!!!
mapmyride.com and mapmytri.com – don’t like these at all.
maybe what I really need is to bite the bullet and buy a garmin. does that let you upload data to your computer and view workout data? anybody know?
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Hi,
Thank you so much for asking this question - I googled training logs, as I have been using excel and wanted a better option, and I found this page. I am also a triathlete and recently discovered an app on my iPhone for mapmyrun - for FREE you can wear your iPhone (on your armband or on bike) and it utilized the GPS technology in the phone to record route, pace, etc... then you can record it automatically in the mapmyrun log. (If you want to listen to music at the same time, I think you have to buy the paid version for $5 or so).
iPhone's are only $100 for a 3GS or $200 for the new iPhone 4 with a new contract with AT&T. If you don't already have a smart phone, I recommend it. It is a way to bundle expenses (rather than buying a separate GPS for exercising only), if you're strapped for cash. Other smart phones (like the Droid and Blackberry) are catching up with the iPhone's apps, as well.
Sheryl
Ok, it only for weight training but it works really well for my needs.
http://www.thegymlog.com
It's so easy because you simply log the results in a mobilephone during training, and later they can be uploaded. Really sweet!
I am currently in the process of building out a beta of a new triathlon specific workout logging tool. It will make it very simple for athletes to log all of their workouts and see graphs and trends.
I have been looking around a lot & am not happy with what I've found so far. I use alpilot, a hard to find program for the palm pilot. If you're a palm user, this thing rocks. Pace time distance altitude, weight, HR weather, effort, mood notes, easy entry, graphs, it's great.
Thanks to everyone who offered comments on what to use for an online training log. Before all the comments came in, I paid for beginner triathlete. So I've been using that for a week. Then one blog reader told me about http://www.buckeyeoutdoors.com which is wonderful and FREE! I'd probably have used that, except now I'm used to Beginner Triathlete and I already paid for it.
Beginner triathlete is a bit cumbersome, but once you get used to navigating around, it’s great. It really has everything I’m looking for. I wanted something that also helps me log my calories, so that was a factor too. I can’t use all the “time in zone” heart rate graphs, because my old polar HR monitor doesn't support that (not even sure if it tracks time in zones?). Oh well, there’s still a ton of other graphs there, such as training versus actual, percent fat calories consumed, etc! Another cool thing is I can dyanamically include info, which I have done in my Training Log page.
Try buckeyeoutdoors.com. It's free and has tools for all endurance sports. I love it!
I agree that beginnertriathlete.com is busy, but I only use a few of the fields and ignore the rest. I am really happy with the Garmin 305 I got recently. The garmin software is not all that great, but the motionbased software is terrific and very easy to work with.
Polar here too and also cycling peaks http://www.cyclingpeakssoftware.com/
which really did open my eyes
online - I haven't found the right one yet
Great question Carol! I use a spreadsheet, and have some interest in logging online as well if I can find the perfect tool.
I use the new nike workout log. It has categories for swim, bike, run, pilates, yoga, weightlifting. It also can graph according to several criteria including time, distance, heart rate, weight.. whatever you want. And best of all--IT's FREE! go to http://insidenikerunning.nike.com/category/training/ and then click on "training log"..