Trailrunner

I’ve always enjoyed running and biking, both to keep fit and as a way of relaxing. But, after time-out, it always takes a few weeks to build fitness to a level where training transitions from a difficult slog to becoming enjoyable and fun. Once fitness reaches a certain level I don’t have too much trouble staying motivated, except for early mornings, which can be a killer when working late in the evenings.

Having said this, I’m always looking for ways to further boost my motivation and maintain consistency…

I find it helpful to record routes and progression of fitness level. I use a Garmin Forerunner 305 for this (highly recommended). It helps me stay in tune with the condition of my body and assists in preventing injury from over training etc. In the past I’ve always kept a long-hand training log, but this can be tiresome to maintain. As a result, I’ve recently been on the lookout for some decent software, to directly integrate with the GPS capability of the Forerunner and help me stay motivated. Must haves are:

• Route mapping with distance and way point capability
• Heart rate and training zone mapping (graphical if possible)
• Calorie expenditure
• Min/mile recording (average and at specific points)

A lot of software is either too simple, too complex or PC-only. Examples I’ve tried include the Garmin Training Center (not enough features), SportTracks (PC-only and don’t like the export options) and MotionBased (web based and too complex/involved for my needs). I’d almost given up finding something to fit the bill, but then discovered TrailRunner.

TrailRunner is OS X based with a very sleek interface. It is compatible with a number of devices, including the Forerunner 305 (via LoadMyTracks), iPod and iPhone. It’s primarily billed as route planning software, but includes a nice feature called My Diary. Import your GPS and other info and you can populate the diary with all the must-haves from the list I made above. It shows a graphic of your three training zones and maps your runs within these zones, to show whether you’re meeting your targets. It’s packed full of features, but is simple and straightforward to use. You can also copy and paste information as comma-delimited values, which is a real boon to the way I like to work.

Perhaps the thing I like most is the fact that you can publish your diary to a web page, via an integral FTP client. This, for me, is another way to stay motivated as I can track my progress as the days and weeks progress and compare seasonal values etc.

If you have a GPS device that you use for running, I’d definitely recommend TrailRunner as worth a try.

You can view my TrailRunner diary here.

Edit Oct 09: I’ve now started using Garmin Connect.