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Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT
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 2009-11-12 9:29 PM |
Extreme Veteran  313 |  Subject: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BTHow do you log your workouts? -write them in a book -microsoft excel -bt Whats the main benefit of putting it in bt for a free member? can you review something you wrote months ago? |
| 2009-11-12 9:32 PM in reply to: #2511764 |
Extreme Veteran 494  DC Metro area | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT I log mostly in excell, but I've just started to use the site on top of that. Excell is nice because you can go back and review work outs. |
| 2009-11-12 9:49 PM in reply to: #2511764 |
Expert 1187 Ontario | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT ENP - 2009-11-12 10:29 PM How do you log your workouts? -write them in a book -microsoft excel -bt Whats the main benefit of putting it in bt for a free member? can you review something you wrote months ago? You can review your logs here as far back as you've used them. I love the BT logs and trust this server storing my stuff more than my own hard drive which we've had crash and lost data in the past. |
| 2009-11-12 9:57 PM in reply to: #2511764 |
Extreme Veteran 1996 Halifax, Nova Scotia | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT ENP - 2009-11-12 11:29 PM How do you log your workouts? -write them in a book -microsoft excel -bt Whats the main benefit of putting it in bt for a free member? can you review something you wrote months ago? This is embarrassing. Pad/pen since 2001.  |
| 2009-11-12 10:11 PM in reply to: #2511764 |
Master 1249 Atlanta, GA | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT BT all the way. I can look back at my logs since 2006 when I started tri's. It's also been helpful to read about any injuries you write about since you can go back and figure out when something started becoming an issue. Plus, the site breaks everything down for you and creates graphs, and tables and pie charts! |
| 2009-11-12 10:47 PM in reply to: #2511764 |
Coach 9167  Stairway to Seven | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT The whole reason I started using BT was for the workout logs. To play devils advocate...what's the benefit of using paper pencil or excel? I startd with excel and that lasted about 3 days. Then I did a search on the web adn found BT. That was back in 04 or something crazy like that. it's a database driven log with server storage. You can review all your entries, comemnts and notes about every single workout, even log every rep of ever lift you do if you want. I logged every single workout I did for a period of about 4 years up until I started using a power meter...then the PM software took over. But recently I've come back to BT to start logging again as I've been doing more swimming and plan to resume running again soon. |
| 2009-11-12 11:28 PM in reply to: #2511764 |
Elite 3144 | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT When I started running more this summer I started using Excel. I started using BT at first mainly for research but started using the logs in September and I love them. I still keep my Excel log current at work as a back up, but I get a lot more value from the BT logs. |
| 2009-11-13 12:22 AM in reply to: #2511764 |
Veteran 244 | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT I use pen and 3ring portfolio. it is easy for me to access right after a workout. especially if pain is evident and things are fresh in my mind. I dont always have a laptop with me. |
| 2009-11-13 12:46 AM in reply to: #2511764 |
Champion 5781 Northridge, California | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT Pad and pen going back to 2005 (running only then) right up through this evening. BT since I started tri training in April 2007. |
| 2009-11-13 1:20 AM in reply to: #2511764 |
Extreme Veteran 1175 Langley, BC, 'Wet Coast' Canada | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT Hello |
| 2009-11-13 5:52 AM in reply to: #2511764 |
Sneaky Slow 8694 Herndon, VA, | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT Had originally started with pencil and stickies on a bulletin board. Blue for swim, yellow for bike, orange for run. That got to be a bit much, plus, they'd fall off after a month or so, and clog up my vacuum cleaner. It also filled the bulletin board, so I had to use the wall, which ended up looking like a Georges Seurat painting. So I went to Pad/Pen. One of those little flippy pads, about 3x5. Then decided to migrate to a big honkin' notebook. That just turned out to be more trouble than it was worth. I couldn't decide to use one page per workout, per day, or just fit whatever I could onto a page. It was basically an unmitigated disaster. And it isn't searchable, so I then decided to try Excel. You can imagine what a chore it was transferring all those workouts into Excel!! OMG!! I'll spare you the details. Then, Open Office came out, and I am fairly anti-Microsoft, so I downloaded that, and luckily I didn't have to do much transferring. Then I found BT while cyber-stalking this one chick, it seemed cool, so I decided to give that a shot. I've been using BT for about three years now... although it isn't searchable, either. Turns out BT is the best solution of these six. Even if you are "only" a free member, you still get graphs, totals, etc., but the main advantage is the community, people commenting on your workouts, etc., a sense of accountability since your WOs are out there for all to see. Advantages of each: Stickies: It makes you feel like you worked out a lot when a big bulletin board is completely covered with multi-colored stickies. Flippy Pad/Pen: You can carry it around whereever with you. Big Honkin' Notebook: No advantages. I regret ever trying this. Excel: Most searchable of any of these OpenOffice Calc: Isn't a Microsoft product... sorry, BITM. BT: Cyber-stalkee is still here! Yay!! And read my last paragraph above. Edited by newleaf 2009-11-13 6:01 AM |
| 2009-11-13 6:22 AM in reply to: #2511764 |
| Master 1695 STL | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT I used excel for my "season" (which was only half of one), then found BT and used it religiously for 2 years-ish (?). Now, I found Sportracks which is awesome. It has it's downfalls but I like that I can upload my Garmin to it (that's the default, for some reason the numbers aren't right-maybe it's a setting i have it on or something) but I have the route right there. It logs equipment usage. It basically does everything BT does here, but it's free. I THINK BT charges for some of the logging abilities. i actually like BT and sometimes consider switching back. |
| 2009-11-13 8:45 AM in reply to: #2511944 |
Champion 8540 the colony texas | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT I originally was just a runner so my sister would get me a runner's journal every year as a gift, to me this is much easier |
| 2009-11-13 8:52 AM in reply to: #2511764 |
Member 1748 Exton, PA | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT Excel, just because I was doing it before on BT. I can also modify it any way I want. To be honest I never even looked at BT logs to see what it has to offer. This summer when I tanked an Oly tri I went back through my excel spreadsheet and saw exactly why. I had time to make corrections before my HIM. don't think I would have had that info with pen and paper. |
| 2009-11-13 8:57 AM in reply to: #2511764 |
Pro 4277 Parker, CO | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT I've used note pads and excel but for the last couple years I only use BT. it's so easy and I like the route tracker. and like others have said, you can back anytime to review your history. |
| 2009-11-13 8:59 AM in reply to: #2511764 |
Veteran 249 Littleton, Colorado | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT Excel. I consider myself quite the Excel guru and can break down information virtually anyway I want. I haven't tried the BT logs, but can't imagine that it's more customizable than Excel is for me. The only advantage I see BT logs having over Excel is the ability to easily share workouts with others and ask for input. |
| 2009-11-13 9:02 AM in reply to: #2512260 |
Expert 1123 Falls Church, VA | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT V1per41 - 2009-11-13 9:59 AM Excel. I consider myself quite the Excel guru and can break down information virtually anyway I want. I haven't tried the BT logs, but can't imagine that it's more customizable than Excel is for me. The only advantage I see BT logs having over Excel is the ability to easily share workouts with others and ask for input. BT logs will do most anything you would do with an excel file, with a simple click of a button. Graphs, totals etc... It really is easy. |
| 2009-11-13 9:21 AM in reply to: #2512268 |
Expert 1099 Bedford, NH | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT Hands down, BT all the way. Its so easier to use and it keeps everything organized in a relevant manor. I don't know what I'd do without it... |
| 2009-11-13 9:32 AM in reply to: #2511764 |
Champion 7036 Sarasota, FL | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT I used an Excel spreadsheet before I joined BT, and still use both now to log my workouts. Beyond just logging times & distances, I also enjoy the blogging/inspires/social aspects of BT. Mark
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| 2009-11-13 9:42 AM in reply to: #2511764 |
Extreme Veteran 475 Watertown, MA | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT BT all the way. I'm a spreadsheet junkie but after hours of putting together something comparable--I was hoping to get easier-to-establish breakdowns in training--I found that I just couldn't replicate BT's logs. There was a thread a few months back talking about supplying members--for a fee--their yearly logs in PDF format, with breakdowns by month, race data, etc. Not sure what happened to it or if the mods picked up on it but I thought it was a great idea and the perfect way to condense your daily logging. |
| 2009-11-13 9:49 AM in reply to: #2511775 |
| Champion 6539 South Jersey | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT fire34fighter - 2009-11-12 10:32 PM I log mostly in excell, but I've just started to use the site on top of that. Excell is nice because you can go back and review work outs. You can export your BT logs to an excel file....would eliminate the need for you to also log in Excel. |
| 2009-11-13 9:49 AM in reply to: #2512355 |
Champion 10019 , Minnesota Bronze member | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT BT Logs all the way. The only time consuming part is if I want to import my own plan. You can get a template, which you can update in any program that reads .csv files (Excel, Open Office Calc, etc), and then reupload. I seem to always make a few mistakes doing that. But once it's in, it is SO easy to log and it keeps getting better. I often look back at old workouts, esp if I am repeating a race. I like to see how my prep compares, how I felt last year, etc. That's also why I use the race logs - which incidentally easily upload int your training log too. The BEST feature of the BT log, imho, is the graphing. |
| 2009-11-13 9:55 AM in reply to: #2512378 |
Expert 1123 Falls Church, VA | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT BikerGrrrl - 2009-11-13 10:49 AM BT Logs all the way. The only time consuming part is if I want to import my own plan. You can get a template, which you can update in any program that reads .csv files (Excel, Open Office Calc, etc), and then reupload. I seem to always make a few mistakes doing that. But once it's in, it is SO easy to log and it keeps getting better. I often look back at old workouts, esp if I am repeating a race. I like to see how my prep compares, how I felt last year, etc. That's also why I use the race logs - which incidentally easily upload int your training log too. The BEST feature of the BT log, imho, is the graphing. yup, the graphing feature is nice.. i was looking at mine today broken up in to monthly totals. Nice way to gauge progress, and really see how putting in the time pays off and then set realistic goals for the future. (of course you can do this in excel, as I think the graphs are basically excel graphs, but as I already said, one click graphing, monthly/weekly totals over a period of time could take quite a while to highlight all the individual segments of the graphs) |
| 2009-11-13 10:00 AM in reply to: #2511764 |
Resident Curmudgeon 25290 The Road Back Gold member | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT Actually the best feature of the BT logs is the ability to upload workouts directly from your Garmin. Routes too. Try doing that with your pad/pen or Excel. That alone is worth the couple bucks per month to become a performance member. Edited by the bear 2009-11-13 10:02 AM |
| 2009-11-13 10:11 AM in reply to: #2511764 |
Regular 277 Bolivar, OH | Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT ENP - 2009-11-12 10:29 PM How do you log your workouts? -write them in a book -microsoft excel -bt Whats the main benefit of putting it in bt for a free member? can you review something you wrote months ago? I write everything down in a calender. Always have. When I joined this site I started using the BT training log. I love it. I love what all you can do with it. I still use the calender as well though. I guess mainly out of habbit. |
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