The Runner's Log

The Runner's Log is a simple to use running log program. It runs under Windows 95, 98, ME, NT and 2000 (Intel Platform). A Runner can keep track of runs, automatically keeping totals for training and shoe distances. The window uses a calendar method to allow you to see your runs up to 5 weeks at a glance, enabling you to see overall patterns in your training, and hopefully prevent overtraining and injuries.

The Main Window

Below is a screenshot (with annotations) of The Runner's Log main window. The window consists of menus, buttons, text input boxes, option boxes and a main calendar which allows a weeks-at-a-glance summary of your runs. The main feature in the interface is the Badge. Each Badge represents a running entry for a particular day. A Badge displays visually the date, the type of run, the weather, how the runner felt, distance ran and scheduled distance. Also the Badge's border can be different colours. In the example below the gold Badge represents a Race while the red Badges represent long runs. In your own Runner's Log it left up to you to decide what each colour means.

When you start The Runner's Log the window appears with the current date's Badge selected. When a Badge is selected a rectangular border surrounds the Badge and the running entry details are displayed at the bottom of the window. To select a different badge click on the desired Badge and it will become the selected Badge. You can also see other runs for a day by selecting the tabs at the bottom of the calendar (there are a maximum of four runs per day). If no distance is entered for the day the Badge is dull gray and will only display the date and any scheduled distance.

The Report Tool

Pressing the "Report Tool" button the bottom portion of the Main Window will change the display to show you the Report Tool. To return to the details view push the "Details" button. See screenshot below.

The Report Tool allows you do generate HTML formatted reports. To generate a report you select the report type and reporting period. Then you press the "Generate Report" button and the report will be saved to a file of your choice and then optionally displayed in a web browser. You can also add an annotation to a report with a short one line description.

The Reporting Types are:

1. Diary Report - A tabular report of all details of the runs within the reporting period.
2. Weekly Distance Report - A summary of the totals run for the weeks in the reporting period.
3. Schedule Report - A tabular view of your running schedule and the runs you have completed.
4. Race Report - A report of all the races you have run in the reporting peiord.

The Reporting Periods can be one of three choices:

1. The Current Year - For the current year of the current entry the reporting period is from Jan 1 to Dec 25.
2. The Current Month - For the current year and month of the current entry the reporting period is from the first to last day of the month.
3. Selected Dates - You can select dates from the calendar in two ways. By traversing the calendar display and then "right clicking" on a badge. A popup menu will appear that allows you to select that date as a start or end date. You can also select the start or end date by selecting a badge and then pushing the "Current Date" button that is adjacent to the Start or End Date fields. For the report to generate between the selected dates ensure that you have selected the Selected Dates option.

The reporting tool is meant to allow you to save information in a friendly format (HTML) that you can further edit (with an HTML editing tool) to create useful documents of your running activity.

To Enter a New Entry (Badge)

To enter a new entry select the day you wish to enter. Go to the Running Entry Details and enter your information. The following information can be entered:

• Route - The route you ran.
• Type - One of LSD (Long Slow Distance), Recovery, Race, Tempo, Hills, Intervals or Fartlek.
• Shoe - Shoe worn. See below for adding shoes.
• Colour - One of Red, Green, Blue, Gold, Silver, Bronze or White.
• Felt - One of Super, Good, Normal or Poor
• Weather - One of Sun, Partly-Cloudy, Cloud, Windy, Rain or Snow.
• Actual Time - Actual duration of your run. The time can entered in either a Colon or HMS format. Colon formatted time is in the form hours:minutes:seconds. Examples are:
  "1:15:00" - 1 Hour 15 minutes 0 Seconds
  "40:00" - 40 minutes
  HMS formatted time in entered in the form <hours>h <minutes>m <seconds>s. For example:
  "1h35s" - 1 Hour 35 seconds
  "56m" - 56 minutes.
  "120m 35 s" - 120 minutes 35 seconds
  After the entry is updated the time for the run is displayed in Colon formatted time.
  
• Actual Distance - Distance you ran in currently displayed units (km. or mi.) The distance is entered in the currently displayed units (km or mi) if no units are specified. You can specify units by entering a units extension after the distance. The acceptable units are km (kilometers), mi (miles), m (meters) or yd (yards). Examples of proper distance inputs are:
  "5000m" - 5000 meters.
  "26.2mi" - A Marathon!
  "5" - Could be km or mi based on current displayed units.

• Scheduled Time - Enter your scheduled time. For acceptable time entry see Actual Time.
• Scheduled Distance - Enter your scheduled distance. For acceptable distance entry see Actual Distance.
• Actual Pace - Display of pace for your run (in minutes/current distance units). Both Actual Distance and Actual Time must be filled in. You cannot enter information in the Pace fields.
• Scheduled Pace - See Actual Pace.
• Comments - Anything you want.

When you are finished, click the Update Badge button. The Badge will be updated. When you exit the program all information will be saved.

Changing an Entry

You can edit an entry at any time, by selecting the Badge and editing the details. Click Update Badge again and the entry is updated.

Scheduling a Run

To Schedule a run select the day you wish to schedule. Fill in the scheduled distance and time fields. Update the entry.

To Clear an Entry (Badge)

Select a Badge, click on Clear Entry. You will be prompted that you are sure you want to clear the entry. That's it.

Moving the Calendar

You can scroll the calendar using the Forward and Back Week buttons. The calendar has unlimited extent.

Displaying in Kilometers and Miles

The Runner's Log stores all distances internally as meters and displays to the user in either kilometers (default) or miles. To change the currently displayed units select the Units radio button.

Keeping Track of Shoes

The Runner's Log has provisions for associating shoes with runs. Mileages are kept for shoes as a guide for a runner to asses the shoe's remaining lifespan. To create a shoe select the Shoe->Add menu. To edit a shoe (such as adding comments) select the Shoe->Edit menu. The same applies for removing a shoe. The shoes are available to select in the detail entry box for shoes.

Viewing a Simple Running Report

To view a simple summary of your running activity select the Runner->Report menu. A total distance summary and shoe summary dialog appears.

Milestones

A day can be marked as a milestone. To make a day into a milestone, right click on the badge and you will get a popup menu with some milestone functions. You can set, remove, change or view a milestone. A milestone is consists of a short statement of what the day means and is signified by a milestone image on the badges for the day. Milestones are also included in Diary Reports.

Exiting

When you want to exit just click the x at the top right hand corner or select the menu Control->Exit. The Runner's Log will exit and save all your information.

Installing

The Runner's Log comes as a self installing executable. A program group will be created in your start menu. This will allow a user to run the running log for one user. If you have multiple runners using the same computer, you can create an additional Runner's Log shortcut but with a different "Start in:" directory. Get someone knowledgable with computers to help you.

After this just click the Runner's Log icon in the start menu and you're away. You will be prompted for your name the first time the program runs. Note: You need your monitor resolution to be at least 800x600. The Runner's Log runs best at 1152x864 (or better) and 16 bit colour.

Also see the Readme.txt file that came with the program.