How to Turn Failure into Success With a Training Log

Years ago I trained for and raced in the Chicago Marathon. And when I say that I trained, I mean I trained hard. I worked with my coaches (Tania Jones & Lioudmila Kortchaguina) for months. I watched my diet (under the guidance of nutritionist Lauren Jawno). I also kept a log of my training (using an online tool called TrainingPeaks), and was dedicated to the goal of running a qualifying time that would allow me to race in the 2012 Boston Marathon.

But alas, when race day came, I failed to reach my goal.

Pretty much from the first 5k of that 42.2 km journey, I felt flat and low-energy. Months before, I'd visualized the way I'd feel, but when the day arrived, I didn’t have a spring in my stride. Yes, I managed to complete the marathon. But my time was nowhere near what I'd trained for or what I needed for a BQ (Boston Qualifier).

Then, about three weeks later, I turned things around and ran the Hamilton Marathon with a spring in my stride that allowed me to come darn close to nailing my BQ time.

So, what was different? Why was I able to come so much closer to achieving my goal then but not in Chicago? Well, that's where my training log and my ability to view failure as a learning tool come into play. Or, as I like to call the combination of the two, acquiring the data of failure.

Why you need a training log

Let's start with logging your training. As I mentioned, I kept a training log during my training period (and throughout most of the athletic career). There are many reasons why I did this and why I suggest you also do it. Training logs are a useful strategy no matter whether your goal is losing weight, gaining muscle, hiking a mountain, or running a marathon.

You may have a general gist of how your training went, but a gist isn't enough if you really want to learn and grow.

Training logs are reliable

It is easy to believe that you'll just remember what you did during your training blocks. But trust me, as time goes on, and one workout blends into another, it gets harder and harder to recall with any detail when you did your longest run or when you lifted your heaviest one-rep-max. You may have a general gist of how it went, but a gist isn't enough if you really want to learn and grow. 

The other problem with memory is that it's not good for pinpointing specifics. What pace was that interval supposed to be executed at and what pace did you nail? What weight did you use for the overhead press and what did you lift for bench press? What small changes did you make in your morning commute and evening routine that might have helped you lose those last ten pounds? These are important details that can make a big difference in your end result as well as future results. 

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