As a runner I have come to enjoy this time of year, in particular for the tradition of wrapping up my previous year's training journal and starting a new training journal for the coming year.
December 31st will be the last entry for my now "old" journal and January 1st will be first entry in my "new" journal. This tradition is common among many runners. A time to reflect on the up's and down's of the year, and a time to get excited about the new year that is just about to begin.
My high school cross country coach, Coach K introduced me to my training journal habits during my freshmen year of high school. That fall he gave me my first training journal. I don't recall why he gave it to me. It sat on a shelf from that fall until the following spring. As track started and the habit of running started to become more of a habit, I began to record my daily training in my journal.
Over the years what has been recorded has changed a little here and there, but looking back one can see my personal habits and how they have developed... for better or worse. Hopefully many of you will either be ending an "old" journal and starting a "new" one, or starting a "new" one for the first time. If you keep at it and your training journal becomes a part of your routine I can guarantee you will not regret it. Years from now you will be able to look back and be reminded of who you were and the steps you have taken to become the person you will be. It's pretty amazing to look back and see a workout on a particular day, and how it can bring back so many memories as if it was just the other day.
Running Journals can be purchased at Playmakers for about 15.00 or through the Haslett Running Club for 10.00. You can also use a note book that is just for this purpose. Do yourself a favor and give it a try.
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