Honesty Hour: I have kept a journal (diary?) since I was 12 years old.
Since the age of 12, my journals have morphed from dramatic entries courtesy of my High School boyfriend, to writing about the excitement and anxiety I felt in college, to mentions of my dreams and fears for after college, to travel stories, to transitioning into the workplace and the preasure to have it all (and some dating stories thrown in for good measure).
Needless to say, my journals have always been a little dramatic. (As all good journals should be, right?)
Here are the journals I could find in my apartment (2008 – 2012):
The idea of keeping a Running Journal never really crossed my mind until Meggie (Future MD and Ultimate Trendsetter) introduced me to Believe I Am journals.
There have been many articles published about how keeping a food journal can help you achieve weight loss goals, and recently I have read an article on how keeping a journal can make you more successful in the workplace. That being said, it makes sense that if I really want to become more successful with my running that I should keep a Running Journal.
When Believe I Am asked if I would write about my experience with the Training Journal on this blog, my first thought was “I think you have the wrong blog?“ Once it was confirmed that I was in fact the right person they wanted to talk to (still debatable), my next thought was “Do you know how dramatic I can be in a journal?”
I understand I write a “running blog” (also debatable), but I try to keep this blog easy-going and drama-free. However give me a pen & paper, all of the sudden I’m an emotional basketcase – just pouring out all my thoughts and feelings. But after reading about the beliefs of Believe I Am, maybe being a little emotional in my training journal won’t be such a bad thing? PSA: You have been warned that future Believe I Am posts might be dramatic.
So with my new Believe I Am journal, I am creating Three Goals to document over the next couple of months:
1. Believe in Myself (Think Positively). Honestly, I have very low confidence when it comes running. Growing up I was told by coaches that “I wasn’t particularly fast” (I was never the slowest either), but the quote has always stuck with me and allowed me an excuse for not trying to run fast. So, after running a 6:35 mile at the 5th Ave NYRR Mile last weekend, I would like to think that maybe my coaches were wrong? Maybe I am faster than I think? While I don’t think I’m going to break any World Records any time soon, I’m hoping through changing my thoughts (believe I am fast) I can change my actions (become faster). I hope to accomplish this goal by writing (positively) in my journal.
2. Keeping Track of Gut Issues. I plan on keeping track of any stomach issues I am having before/during/after I run. Honestly, I am FREAKING EXCITED about this. I have been meaning to keep a ”stomach log” for running (to find out what gives me energy, what makes my stomach cramp, what makes me want to throw up, etc.) so starting this Training Journal is perfect timing. BOOM BOOM POW.
3. PR in a Race (Any distance) before January 1st 2013. I wanted my last goal to be measurable, so at least if I lied about accomplishing #1 and #2 (just kidding I would never lie), you would have to hold me accountable for #3. Since I want to see how keeping a journal can effect my racing, the race has to be in either November or December, to give me enough time to write in my journal, and process my thoughts.
On that note…
Partying = Training Journal. BOOM.
Questions:
1. Do you keep a Training Journal?
2. Do you keep a Personal Journal?
{ 18 comments }
I have a training log, which I write how I feel on runs sometimes. I do not keep a personal journal. I would NOT want anyone to see what goes in my mind. So the thoughts stay in my mind.
sooooo…what is the PR goal?? You wanted to be accountable. I want to make this as scientific as possible which means you need to record it now so you have time to see how the journal affects it.
I am glad you didn’t say PR in Chicago…bc we all know you will all go sub4 there anyways.
I love how scientific you are!! I think my PR goal is going to be run under 50 minutes in the 10K. I think that is managable?
Is your training log on an excel doc or do you hand write it??
HA – I love how sure you are about Chicago….fingers crossed.
I bought the Believe I am journal after a crappy spring marathon and an injury. It has been the best summer of running I have had in a very long time. I also unexpectedly ran a PR in the 5K not even planning on trying to PR. It’s given me a whole knew outlook on training and racing. I hope you get the same benefits I have.
Wow! That is really interesting about the PR….I wonder if the journal is full of secret PR powers? That’s totally possible right?
I, obviously, have the BIA training journal. I’ve never kept a personal journal, but I do have a pretty good memory (meaning I can’t forget most things, even the bad!)…
1. You are much faster than you think. In the next few weeks, maybe don’t focus so much on the 4 hr thing and focus on how you want to feel during Chicago — the sub-4 should follow easily. You’re in really good shape. I’ve seen it. Give yourself some credit! Two marathon training cycles in a row has done you good. And Stew Leonards, too. Crucial aspect of training.
1b. That’s an interesting point — I was never the fastest or slowest on my team so I always just thought of myself as “slow-average” — never thought of myself as a runner or a fast one at that. I think I kind of hold on to that and use that as a “why I shouldn’t be runner faster, so its ok” its excuse…
2. Good idea — this will be very helpful to track patterns. Make sure to record medications taken and time of day and stuff, too!
3. I see this happening no problem!
1. I love how you reply in a list form. you totally get me.
2. Thank you for the great advice in comment #1. I agree I think I am going to try and focus less on the overall Sub-4 Goal and more on how I feel.
3. Tracking my BMs with BIA will help me talk about them LESS with you. So that’s probably a good thing. Although I think it took our friendship to the next level.
I used to journal when I was a kid (dramatttticcc) and now I just randomly write things down in various notebooks; clearly it’s disorganized (gowiththeflow) and would give any type-A’er a heart attack. I think I may jump on this boat tooo and try it out….ORRR just read yours
Did you write about Ian?
I just recently started a journal just for kicks. Even though I live alone, I feel like I write in my journal like my little brother would read it. So that curbs some of the drama. I can’t wait to read your dramatic running adventures!
I have thought about starting a journal to keep track of all kinds of running related issues (clothes, miles, aches/pains, what works what doesn’t), but I feel like I’d buy the journal and never put anything into it.
Up until a couple of months ago, I kept a detailed training log. I feel kind of lost with out it. I’ve tried to keep a personal journal, but it just always feels forced and I focus too much on the writing instead of the words. I’ve tried to force myself to keep a food journal and a gratitude journal (two things that research indicates are helpful tools), but I failed miserably. I think it’s time to reevaluate.
PS – I think when blogs get personal and a bit dramatic, they get more interesting…I vote to turn the drama up!
Haha – I will definitely bring more drama to the blog with the journal – trust me!
Sometimes I think food journals can be helpful (helping concur obesity) and sometimes I think they can be harmful (Eating Disorders). It just depends.
As for gratitude journal, I wish that is something I kept. Sometimes I think I get lost in the “big picture” and forget to be thankful for all I have. I know some people swear by them.
I love this…maybe I need to keep a little diary (instead of spewing all my training thoughts on the internet daily)?!
I feel like you don’t spill that much on the internet!!!? Your training thoughts are super interesting!
I don’t keep a training journal but I do keep a personal journal. I started when I graduated from college and am still going strong. I really wish I had been better about keeping one in high school and college – I would LOVE to have those to look back on!
Sometimes it can be fun to read. Other times I want to smack myself in the head for some of the things I wrote/did. SO EMBARRASSING.
My training journal would look like this:
8am – woke up
8:01am – logged into of Facebook
8:02am – contemplated going for a run
9:16am – logged out of Facebook
9:17am – eat peanut butter out of a jar
9:18am – tweet about it. use hashtag #runfail.
But I am good about keeping a personal journal almost every day (okay at least once a week). Someday I hope to turn all of my neurotic musings into a book that no one will buy except my parents.
I don’t keep a journal, but I’ve been seeing this on in a few blogs and am getting curious. I tend to keep my training info online. I might have to check this out!