Logging those miles

New Year, new goals.

Running goals that is.

I have discovered www.runningahead.com which a website that takes the place of the pen and paper logs I have always kept. I am not very good about logging my miles. Even when I am in training I try to avoid writing down my mileage, which really is not practical. I think it is mostly because when the numbers are in front of me I tend to get stressed out about the details and then I get stressed out about running. Because running is so important to me I try to keep it as low-key and stress-free as possible. When I stress about it, it is no longer enjoyable. So for the past 2 years I have avoided keeping any kind of log and therefore I have avoided any kind of accountability to myself. I can just continue to classify myself as a casual runner, getting in 20 miles a week during the summer, 15 in the winter, steady, slow mileage increases, no interval workouts, just enjoying my runs. Becuase I don't vary my workouts, and usually run about the same mileage each week I have just kept kind of a mental tally of where I am mileage wise and this keeps me at a nice distance from accountablity. I am part of an online forum where I do post my daily mileage, but I don't keep a record of it myself, and it really is just a social outlet for me.

But who am I kidding - I am not being good to myself. I have lofty goals this year and I am at the point where I need to log my miles and workouts and be accountable. I desire not just to reach my running goals this year, but to do so strong and injury-free. I KNOW that I will reach a point where I will become obsessive about the numbers, and I will stress out about the work-outs, and I will not look forward to my runs. But I can't avoid it any longer. This is the natural cycle that occurs in training, and I'm ready to face it and accept the challenges that come with accountablity.

My first major event of 2009 will be a 25K in May. Accountability, here I come.