Here is a blog entry I wrote on the subject.
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=23563196&blogID=339191979
I am a big believer that a good, simple running log is a very effective tool for progressing toward your goals and remaining injury free. At first, the value may be less apparent but as you build years of data it becomes incredibly valuable to check your perceptions against your impressions at the time, review data around miles - pace - injuries - vs. goals - etc., and to track your racing history.
I have been logging always but online since 2002 when I discovered Coolrunning. I liked the simplicity and the data was enough. But, someone moved my cheese and it is time to move on.
I knew enough not to trust based on the hemming and hawing as they moved toward the switchover to Active.com so I captured my data (Coolrunning alum - Tools -> Click here - save the spreadsheet).
Coolrunning Refugees - fear not but do act fast!
Step 1 - Use the link below but replace your username where mine was. The "%20" was where I had a space. If you didn't have a space, just put it after the "u=" and before the "s="
http://www.coolrunning.com/cgi-bin/log/display.cgi?u=Joshua%20Gordon
;s=share
Step 2 - Tools -> Click here - save the spreadsheet
That, folks, is your data. Praise Flash!
Step 3 - Find a new home!
So, when I discovered how bad Activetrainer sucked a couple of days ago, I freaked out a bit. I also called an all-hands-on-deck to those I thought could help. I discovered that there are some options.
Below is my ranking of the best options. I am running a couple in parallel right now until I get a full feel of each log's capabilities.
Option 1 : Running2Win (www.running2win.com)
I really like this log. Mike Stahr has been unbelievable in his efforts to provide a valuable home for new users and Coolrunning Refugees alike. My log is fairly complex and he has found a way to get all of my data in so that it looks like I have been using his since 2002. Pretty cool. He is incredibly responsive and the log i simple but powerful. This is where I am putting my hopes. It has all the things you would expect from race PRs to shoe trackers to graphs, etc.
Option 2 : Running Ahead (www.runningahead.com)
This is another solid option. Feature rich and easy to use, they have also been responsive to Coolrunning Refugees. For me, my data didn't come over as cleanly in some areas as in running2win. Eric Yee was quick to respond and import. They did a decent job and for most it should be a smooth data import. For me, my categories got kinda funny so the aggregate data is good, the race data is excellent, the shoes required a lot of manual intervention - but it is a good tool. Their graphs are easier to copy and paste into a blog then running2win and they have a superior search tool. I may keep this one - even if my data doesn't clean, for the ease of access to my race information. I will run in parallel for a while.
Option 3 : Buckeye Outdoors Training Log (www.buckeyeoutdoors.com/cgi-bin/training/traininglog)
Ben Deutschle did an excellent job of importing my data and it is a slick tool. For me, I find the site a little less running oriented than the others. It is, hands-down, the premiere multisport training log and a very slick tool. If you do multisport, do it. I am going to try to run in parallel for a bit more since it is the darkhorse candidate and is probably the easiest tool in terms of flexibility.
Option 4 : The TBD Solution (www.finalsprint.com)
I placed a call to Adam Jacobs, owner of thefinalsprint.com, and he is quickly working on a training log solution. He was two weeks away from releasing a robust log and was working with his developer to try to accomodate us Coolrunning Refugees. He has my data. I'll check it out when he is ready.
So, make the move. I'm VERY interested in hearing your feedback as to which of the options above you like or go with. Please comment to this post. Thanks!
If you are new to logging, check them out and start using one or two to see what you like. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
Oh, also, no cost for any of these. Unlike active.com that wanted $9.95 /month to count miles on my shoes. No, thank you.