My Training Diary

Do you keep a training diary? I have kept one since my University days (1996) and think I have managed to write one every year except the few years in the early 2000's when whilst still training I didn't really have any focus. I find it a really useful 'NOW' tool, and also an interesting retrospective read. It also allows me to look at training progression, and I guess in 20 years I might be able to compare max bench press efforts, or interval run session pace with my Grand Children (oh how they will love visiting Grandpa Garrard's). So this week I thought I'd look at my last 4 training weeks and compare them to this time 12 months ago.

Week 1; 2008 Bike x 6, 6hrs, 120 miles, Run x 4, 3 1/4hrs: Total Training 9 1/4hrs.

Week 1; 2009 Bike x 4, 5 1/4hrs 110 miles, Run x 4, 3 1/4hrs, Swim x 2, 1 1/4hrs, Guy Fawkes 10 mile race: Total Training 9 1/4hrs.

Week 2; 2008 Bike x 7, 5 1/2hrs, 110 miles, Run x 2, 1hr:Total Training 6 1/2hrs.

Week 2; 2009 Bike x 6, 7hrs, 140 miles, Swim x 1, 1/2hr: Total Training 7 1/2hrs.

Week 3; 2008 Bike x 7, 9 1/4hrs 170 miles: Total Training 9 1/4hrs.

Week 3; 2009 Bike x 5, 6hrs 110 miles, Run x 2, 1 1/4hrs, Swim x 2, 1 1/4hrs, Weights x 1, 1hr: Total Training 9 1/2hrs

Week 4; 2008 Bike x 7, 9 1/4hrs 175 miles, Run x 3, 2 1/2hrs, Weights x1, 1/2hr: Total Training 12 1/4hrs

Week 4; 2009 Bike x 6, 7hrs 130 miles, Run x 2, 2hrs, Swim x 2 1 1/4hrs, Weights x 2 1 1/2hrs, Abbey Dash 10k Race: Total Training 11 3/4hrs.

In a summary form;

2008 Bike 30hrs, 575 miles, Run 6 3/4hrs, Weights 1/2hr: Total Training 37 1/4hrs.

2009 Bike 25 1/4hrs, 490 miles, Run 6 1/2hrs (2 races), Swim 4 1/4hrs, Weights 2 1/2hrs: Total Training 38hrs.

What does this show? well I guess the one thing that jumps off the page for me when I look at my diary's is the consistency of my training, particularly over the last 3 years. This year I am trying to train much more like a Triathlete and whilst it is still 'all about the bike' my promise to swim through the winter and to run more consistently is happening. I haven't looked into specific sessions but if I did these 4 weeks would show much more variety, interval sessions on the bike, running intervals and more specific weights/core sessions (currently in a leg strength building phase) In addition there are 2 running races in 2009. This isn't a coincidence or me selecting particular weeks for good stats, but a deliberate desire to do more running races for that ultimate, not possible to replicate in training intensity that only a race brings.

My training diary also provides me with positive motivation, it is great to look back on a week and see a solid set of numbers, or to see numbers missing for a particular discipline and to then sort it out the next week.

So week 4, 2009 was a good one, nicely balanced, some intensity and the Abbey Dash 10k race where I ran 39.10 (6.18min mile pace) today my legs are suffering, but what's the point in racing if you don't hit it as hard as you can, a little DOMS didn't hurt anybody!!!!

Sarah knows that I enjoy the prospect of opening a new training diary on Christmas morning, I wonder whether she will be able to find another Mickey Mouse one?