Keepin' Track

I did some Christmas shopping last night at Nordstroms and got some pretty sick gifts for some lucky people! I love giving gifts, it's my favorite thing to do. Sometimes Mr. R gets annoyed with gifts. (because he's not a gift giver like myself) I've decided that that's how I show my love to others. Anyways, last night my dad came home with a big gift! Our 9 foot tree. (9 feet, seriously dad, that was unnecessary) Here's a picture of the beast and I. Remember, I'm 5'7"!

Anyways, today's gift is for those who are super organized about their training schedule, like myself. I always am writing down what I need to run, when I need to run, how far, where, and all the details. The following three books are great options to keep track of your running schedule, ways to plan ahead and also give you the ability to look back on your workouts.



First The Complete Runners Day by Day Log 2009 is a great option and I've actually looked at it in person before. It's spiral bound and a running log and calendar. The 2009 edition boasts a fresh, new look that keeps pace with today's runner. (as opposed to looking like you were logging runs from the 1980s) There are tips and all new color photos can be found alongside inspiring quotes. There's special space for tracking mileage, time of run, body weight and plenty of room for daily personal planning or notes. It's great for competiative and non-competative runners alike. It's only $10.39 HERE!

The next training journal can be one for a more intense trainer it seems like. The Runners World Training Journal has updated facts, motivational quotes, and more than 150 tips based on the latest scientific information. It also has heavyweight smearproof paper that stands up to sweaty hands and a handy spiral binding that guarantees ease of use. (Sweaty hands... Seriously people?) There is also ample space for readers to record facts about each day’s run—including route, distance, time, and cross-training—and to note how they felt at the time. It also includes a Week-at-a-Glance feature that helps runners summarize their weekly training quickly and easily and also has advice for runners on how to analyze their data and set new goals for the next year. It's $10.17 and can be found HERE!

The last training journal is The Running Log. It again is spiral bound and is written by April Powers who is the head coach for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Northern California chapter of Team in Training. This log is another way to document the details of your training regime. It has space for logging daily and weekly mileage, as well as time, body weight, route, and weather. It's also packed with training tips and will help you set and stay committed to your goals, organize your training program, and calculate your progress. It's $12.95 and can be found here!

I have found that writing down my running routines works out well especially during training for a specific race or event. It keeps you motivated and also recording everything lets you look back at certain days and you can see that you finished your workouts, and you can also chart your growth as a runner. It's a great tool to see how far you've come.

Keep up the running! It's getting busy with the holidays, and tonight we are decorating the christmas tree! I'm going to go for a light jog before decorating, but I'm not working out too hard this week because of the 5k, and who knows how that will go! :) More gift ideas tomorrow!

xoxo