I’ve been on a mad search since I signed up for the Melbourne Ironman, I like to have a training journal and make sure that I can record literally everything. Strava does an OK job for some things, but it doesn’t port and log my swims properly and their calander doesn’t let me PLAN my workouts.
Have you guys come across any websites that actually let you plan, track and tick off / achieve your runs/bikes/swims/xtraining?
If not, is this something that you guys would use, I’m nearly tempted to just make one myself haha
I don’t know if there’s one. I use Strava and Slowtwitch. I have also kept an Xcel spreadsheet as a log and planner for over a decade. The online sites are great now but I like having the backup. Searching around the App Store on iTunes, I have found some that allow you to plan, but they’re all confined to the screen of a phone or a tablet, and don’t have quite the level of control over customization that I want.
That’s the same thing I noticed, anything that exists can do the simple things I would want. Like ticking off an event as complete in the training planner
Personally I use a paper calendar but years ago used Training Peaks and it seems that’s what a lot of folks use to plan and log their workouts. I have no idea what you get in the free v pay version.
I’ve tried a variety of them (Training Peaks, Garmin Connect, Strava, paper&pencil, and MS Excel Spreadsheet). If I was to pick just one it would be Garmin Connect. I found that planning workouts in GC was such a benefit over Training Peaks and that the interface is simple and clear. Really though, I find it offensive that TP would provide such a limited application for their free version and therefore I refuse to pay for the “upgraded” version.
Have you taken a look at Garmin Connect. It is not the most robust analysis platform but I am able to input all my workouts. You can enter them manually after your workout, upload from GPS, or plan future workouts on their Calendar. It allows me to easily see where I am at with mileage and time each week.
Also, it is FREE. But being so, it obviously has it’s limitations.
You may want to look at http://beginnertriathlete.com … they allow you to plan & track workouts, find and schedule races, upload completed workouts straight from your Garmin gadgets and have a bit of analysis on the data. I’ve got 3 years of data in there on the “free” version and it’s worked well for me.
Plenty of graphs, charts, ancillary data fields, integrated with google maps showing gps data. You can also do simple analysis of your ride segments and it automatically tracks PR’s for all your critical power ranges and calculates w/kg based on your weight at the time you achieved it.
I sort of use TSS as a “carrot” when training to help keep me motivated. OF course it goes the other way too and you push through injury trying to “stay on plan”.
I also like that it attempt to quantify swim training load as well. So you can more accurately track overall fitness level even when you might have an injury. It helps keep you in a positive mindset that even though one discipline is lagging, you might be making great improvements in another and still increasing overall fitness.
I also used their Virtual Coach as a general guideline to set-up periodization and overall volume targets throughout my season. It also came with a descent variety of workouts. Besides, then if my performances suck, I can blame the computer rather than myself for being a shitty coach… then hire/buy a new computer.
I’ve tried a variety of them (Training Peaks, Garmin Connect, Strava, paper&pencil, and MS Excel Spreadsheet). If I was to pick just one it would be Garmin Connect. I found that planning workouts in GC was such a benefit over Training Peaks and that the interface is simple and clear. Really though, I find it offensive that TP would provide such a limited application for their free version and therefore I refuse to pay for the “upgraded” version.
I use Garmin Connect as a log. I tried to use the planning feature and found you can only plan full hours. No halves, quarters or minutes. How lame is that?
I used it for about six months last year. It’s basically TrainingPeaks but for free. There is a premium version, but all the essential features are included in the standard version. It even has some featuares TP doesn’t have, such as the Wellness Indicator, which lets you make a note and rating out of 100% on how you feel (sick, tired, energized etc). That’s great to track how you actually are reacting to training and stressors, as it is colour coded and based on a number.
I just use the calendar to write down descriptions of planned workouts. I only pick the sport and put in a description, so I don’t input time requirements. It’s simple and easy enough for me. I know it’s not the most elegant, but it works.
