My Running Journal

-
There are hundreds of running journals available now. This is partly because there is a demand and partly because it's easy money.

When I started running eight years ago I'd never heard of a running journal. The thought of writing down every run would have struck me as bizarre and very anal. As luck would have it I'm attracted to both these things, so when I read about the way logging your runs can help you improve I decided to start one.

I don't remember seeing any of the now common sleek journals you can buy with spaces to enter mileage, times, weather, meals, weight, and heart rate. I just went to WH Smiths and bought a cool looking notebook. It was A5, black hardback with lined paper and a red ribbon to mark your page.

My original format was simple, again like me, and hasn't changed greatly to this day. It looked like this:

Date      Description      Miles

2014
That's it. Over time it has evolved and then devolved(!?) but is now just as basic as it was when I began. For a while I included times - which I should do really - and also made a note of when I swam in the sea after a run. Once or twice I mentioned the weather but in the general description.

2015
It is good to look back. I don't do so as much for training purposes as to see how far I have come. From 50 miles per month to over 200. From 10 runs a month to 20. From an average of 6 miles per run to over 10 miles per run.

2016
It also helps me to remember where I ran and brings back memories of the people I ran with, the surroundings, the weather, the music I listened to. Stories are recalled of times when I became lost or ran out of water, people I chatted to along the way, historic sites I passed and the exhilaration or distress I experienced.

2017
All my races are in there too. I keep a separate account of them and my PBs. I also make a graph showing how many miles I have run each month. You can see this on Strava but like I said, I'm anal.

Monthly mileage 2019-2020


The other day I went through and counted up how many times I had run a minimum of 13.1 miles (133) and 26.2 miles (30 - of which 10 were ultras) in one run. I would never have been able to do that without my journal.

2018
In the back are pages of ideas, scribblings and doodles. These were the basis of some of my challenges including Run The Date, Run the Deck, 12 marathons in 12 months, the 20202020 parkrun challenge, the Lionel Stanhope Challenge and the London A-Z. 

2019
Some (all) may think it quite sad but I count this small black note book amongst my most valuable possessions. I will continue to fill it's pages and when it's full I'll buy another one. Maybe one day I can hand it down to my daughter and when she has glanced at it she can set up a museum in my name or more likely chuck it in the recycling.

2020

Popular posts from this blog

Human v Horse

-
Image
The trail is ankle deep in mud. There are large U shaped holes in the ground. My brain is working overtime to relay information from my eyes to my legs to avoid breaking an ankle. I'm descending at speed through pine forest with shouts of 'Horse!' echoing behind me.  Moments later I hear the heavy breathing of a quadruped moving at speed. The drumbeat of hooves on turf are replaced with the splashing and squelching of the sodden earth. I feel a warmth on the back of my neck, almost imperceptible, likely imagined. Turning my head I risk a fall, but I need to see my foe. I glimpse the auburn mount bearing down on me, helmeted rider perched atop. I dive to the side of the trail just in time. The speeding steed is past in a moment. I watch as horse and rider gallop on and vanish into the shadows.  This isn't a recurring nightmare - that's the one about leading parkrun and then getting lost - nor is it my experience of participating in an anti-hunting protest. This was h...
Read more

A bridge too far?

-
Image
A post on Facebook caught my attention. This is how many of my running adventures begin. Bex Band, founder of the women's adventure community Love Her Wild had walked across all the bridges in Greater London. Obviously this meant the Thames River. Less obviously there are 33 bridges in total starting at Hampton Court and ending at Tower Bridge. Of these, 26 have pedestrian access and she had crossed them all. 'Hmm, that would make a good run' was my first thought. Seed planted. A couple of months later on a mild, bright January day I travelled to Richmond. My first run was Richmond parkrun with my friend Vicki and her pal Nicola. 3.1 miles, no dear and a warming coffee later, I ran the nine miles to Hampton Court. Twelve miles done and I was ready to start my run! My goal was to cross each bridge when I came to it. That meant crossing Hampton Bridge and a sign denoting entrance to Surrey before turning and re-crossing it to begin. Yes, I am a pedant. Hampton Court Bridge I ...
Read more

Great Lakeland 3 Day

-
Image
We had been descending for close to a mile. It was a steady descent, more than runnable. A chance to stretch out the legs. At the bottom we stopped at the checkpoint to refill out water bottles from the fast flowing stream when cramp struck.  I watched as my friend Matt grimaced in agony and beads of sweat fell from his brow. The muscles of his inner thighs had completely spasmed. He was unable to move. We were nine miles into day two of our three day Lakeland adventure with fifteen miles and numerous summits still to go. It was a relief when after a few minutes he was able to take a few hesitant steps. Disaster seemed to have been averted. We continued along a flat road before beginning our next ascent. Suddenly, Matt let out a cry and fell to the floor writhing in pain. The cramps were back. The day seemed to be over and we began to discuss how to get back to the campsite. ----------------- Matt, his wife Kelly and I had booked onto the Scarpa Great Lakeland 3 Day that is held in...
Read more