Category Archives: Information

Obsessive Running Logs

5 Replies

Runners are obsessive about… well running. We are also obsessive about keeping track of our running, our PR’s, shoes, clothing, and technical equipment we use.

Over the years I’ve heard lots of stories about runners and their running logs. Some lock them away each year in a safe deposit box and treat them as prized memories, leafing through them with a mist of sentimentalism similar to looking through old family photo albums.

Another runner would do anything to keep from putting a “goose egg” or 0 into the log book.
I didn’t really start keeping a log book of my running until the past few years. If I recall correctly my first log book was a free one from Runner’s World that came with my subscription.

I then progressed to using an excel spreadsheet log that someone had created on the Internet. This worked great for a year, then I couldn’t remember where I got it, so when I wanted a new one for the new year I went looking again! I found another great excel version but again didn’t keep track of where I got it!

A year or so ago I also tried using a web-based training log. That didn’t last too long because it was more of a hassle than anything else. But I recently came across a site called Running Ahead and have been able to stay consistent with keeping it updated and really enjoy the variety of features. Running Ahead is actually so good that Runner’s World bought the software to use for their logs!

A quick search on Google produced a plethora of running logs and excel based logs. If you are reading this you are probably a little tech-savvy and I would highly recommend using Running Ahead for logging your mileage. Check out their demo page.

A quick review of 10 important elements of a running log by Jeff Galloway and I find that Running Ahead lets you incorporate pretty much everyone of them, if you so desire. I’m not quite so obsessive about some elements (i.e. I don’t heart rate train, so I don’t keep track of my heart rate).

What do you use to keep track of your mileage? Do you even care? Leave comments and let’s discuss what’s out there for logging in your miles.

Technorati tags: , , , , , , ,


Zemanta Pixie

Favorite Runs

1 Reply


Enjoy changing scenery? Like the soft surface of trail running? How about seeing wildlife on every run?

Those are all experience you can have at one of Central Indiana’s best running spots. Mounds State Park, in Anderson has a little bit to offer every runner. Mounds may be one of the smallest state parks at only 280 acres, but there are still enough trails to please most runners.

The biggest problem with Mounds is that there isn’t much flat trail to run on. So whenever you get hurt you have to cut Mounds out for a little while. I personally run a 3 or 5 mile loop (or some combination) whenever I run there. I know of runners who have completed 20-milers out there! Yuck! There are probably 6-7 decent size hills with names like K-Hill, Cinder Block, and Step Hill. Many people do interval workouts including one of my favorites the Spaghetti Bowl. It is hard to describe each hill or workout, or even the courses, but here is a good map of the trails. The trails are described in this brochure (pdf) available at the gatehouse.

Mounds is home to the Anderson Road Runner’s 26th annual 5 Mile Run the Mounds. This year it also hosted the DINO Series 5K and 15K races. It is also home to Highland High School and Anderson University’s Cross Country courses. Needless to say, in the fall it is a busy place with high school and college runners everywhere!

I would encourage every runner to spend some time at Mounds. I’ve seen at least one deer each of the times I’ve run out there the past few weeks, including a doe and 2 fawns! My recommendation is to take it easy the first couple of times out there and like any training slowly build up mileage and intensity. It can be a brutal run, but it is so fun.

There is a small entry fee: $4 per carload M-Thurs and $5 Fri – Sun and Holidays. Or get a State Park pass for $36.


Zemanta Pixie

Charitable Running

3 Replies

Most runners are good people! Some are even great people!! Runners as a whole may be some of the most giving individuals in the US.  That sounds like a crazy statement, but most of us tend to race on weekends and inevitably, that race raises money for a specific cause. If we added up all of the race fees that supported an organization it could be a significant amount.

It is probably safe to say that most runners don’t have a personal interest in every cause they support with their race calendar.  Although many will travel or make special exceptions for certain causes/events that are of particular interest.  I ran a 5K the weekend after the Mini because I wanted to support the organization.

Many non-runners take up the sport because of programs like Team-in-Training, that provide support and personalized training.  TNT boasts over 320,000 individuals have helped raise over $750 million.  That’s a ton of money raised by individuals for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I have two friends (that I know of) who ran their first marathon because of TNT and in support or honor of a family member.

Using individuals in this manner has become a popular fund-raising method for large organizations across the country.  Its effective because it raises money and awareness of the issues at a very local, grassroots level.  The Complete Running Network posted regular updates about runners racing for charity at their blog’s Charity-o-Rama!

Another growing trend of “charitable running” is the donation of clothing, well specifically shoes! I don’t think anyone would want our used running shirts or shorts.  Each year I’ve done the Indy Mini I always plan on taking my old shoes for their donation boxes, and each year I forget! The Mini partners with an organization called Changing Footprints, which is actually located in Indiana, Columbus I think. I know a few individuals who collect shoes and take them on mission trips around the world for distribution.  Indianapolis based The Running Company has partnered with Soles 4 Souls, an international shoe donation organization, to be a drop-off site for used shoes.  To encourage participation they are providing a 15% discount off new shoes with an old shoe donation.

So whether you do it on purpose or not, keep up the charitable running!

If you are actively involved in charitable running leave me a comment and I’ll make a collection of charitable running links and information.

Zemanta Pixie

Wild, Wild, Westwood

1 Reply


This morning I took part in an epic East Central Indiana running experience. I ran around the big loop at Westwood Park, near New Castle. I have heard much talk about this particular course and was finally able to take part with 2 other running buddies. We had a great time and ran it in about 93 minutes. What is the distance? That’s a good question. The park brochure calls it 10.5, my friend has biked it at 11, and DINO calls it 10. We marked it down as 11 for an 8:28 pace.

That pace sounds slow but this isn’t an easy run. Westwood’s website calls it one of the best and most challenging bike trails in Indiana. With hundreds of switchbacks and hills of all sizes and lengths that could be true! This trail hasn’t been rutted and is approximately 3 years old. But watch out there are plenty of roots and overhanging branches. I was constantly alternating between watching the ground and catching branches in the face. Unfortunately I was the only one in our group to actually hit the dirt, but another did stumble a few times as well. Another drawback of this particular course is that there is no water stops. Well, there is a picnic shelter 100 yards or so off the trail with water, but its hidden and without studying the map you might miss it. We did see that someone had dropped water bottles off for a later run!

The trail meanders through open fields, forests, pine forests, and much more. It roughly follows the contours of the 180 acre lake with bridges crossing some parts. Overall this was a great run, we took it nice and easy!

Don’t be too afraid, there are other trails as well. There is approximately a 6 mile hiking trail and a 6 mile horse trail, both circumvent the lake but cut out lots of the switchbacks.

The Hoosier Mountain Bike Association (HMBA) has a great write up here. Click here for a map.

NOTE: There is a $2.50 entrance fee, even at 6:30 when we got there. The park is West of New Castle on SR 38.


Zemanta Pixie

Race Results from June 9 and more!

Leave a reply

Sorry these are so late, I’ve been gone all weekend and the beginning of this week. This is the first chance I’ve had to look up results!

While we are talking about race results, I thought I’d highlight a newer running website called Athlinks. Its a running “social networking” website, based around race results. If nothing else you should go to the site and search for your name, you might be surprised at how many results are there. You can take the next step and become a member and “claim” your results. I was actually able to find some from my year in New Jersey as well as races around Indiana. They currently have 15,000+ members with almost 9 million runners listed and almost 16 million results from 39,000+ races around the country. You can see my profile by clicking here. After I use it more I’ll do a more in depth article about it.

I had trouble finding some of the results from this weekend but here is what I found:

The Brazil Habitat 5K was won by James Grounds in 17:55 (5:46) They didn’t differentiate Male and Female but I think the first place female ran a 24:30 (7:53) and was Angie Katlmann. Congrats to all 21 finishers of this cross-country event to support the Clay County Habitat for Humanity. Complete results here.

The Bloomington Eastfest 5K was won by Tim Kote in 17:44 (5:42) and Brenda Taylor won the women’s division in a time of 21:53 (7:02). Complete results here.