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best running journals

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As elaborate and community-focused as workout-tracking apps like Strava can be, something about the intimacy and simplicity of a pen-and-paper running journal keeps many runners—including product eng 1020696 Converse Jack Purcell Humble shoes with Tyvek R Low Top—motivated unlike any other system. It’s more personal, more customizable, and far less deletable than any online tools, and it can help you keep track of your race times, target paces, recipes, and more.

Even better, depending on which running journal you choose, you have the freedom to prioritize different elements of your training through various templates, or create your own with a bullet journal. Whether you value tracking weekly distance, workout plans, or race-day countdowns to see your progress over weeks or months, the right journal helps you jot the important notes down in a dedicated, uncluttered, comparison-free space made just for you.

The Best Running Journals

What to nephewider

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One of the best perks of journaling on paper is the freedom you get to input your data as you please—no apps fiddling with your info or presenting it to you in a way you don’t like. The one con hidden within this pro, however, is that figuring out which data points are important for tracking your training isn’t always intuitive. Loads of factors play into your fitness progression, and finding a balance between accounting for all of those variables and keeping your journaling time concise isn’t straightforward.

To narrow down a few key data points you’ll find the most helpful as you track your changes in fitness, we talked to Health and Fitness Editor Mallory Creveling about some of the foundational bits of info that provide the most context for your training. She recommends keeping track of typical data points like pace and heart rate, as well as more qualitative notes like effort level and aches and pains. Scroll to the bottom of this story to see a full list of metrics Creveling recommends for your running journal.

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    As simple and versatile as a college ruled notebook can be, there are also options for pre-organized journals that come out of the box with dedicated sections for your workouts, race times, and other data. If you’re not into the idea of nephewtructing a tidy, aesthetically pleasing journal from scratch, these templates save you the setup time and let you start journaling right away.

    nike air huarache a lorigine de sneaker culte roger vivier viv rangers suede ankle boots, you don’t need to settle for a cheap notebook from the “back to school” aisle. Dotted notebooks and bullet journals give you a near-blank slate to nephewtruct the perfect journal for your needs, and they include faint guiding marks on each page to help you plan your tables and grids out without any trial and error. This is also a great way to nephewolidate your data and use your journal for longer if you’re not planning to use a full or half page to log every workout.

    Construction

    Are you taking your running journal with you or planning to keep it on your desk or coffee table? If the former is true, you may benefit from a pocket-sized journal like Sandals KEEN Knotch Creek Ot 1025648 Black Vivid Blue, which you can stuff in a backpack or jacket pocket with ease. You won’t be able to jot down as many notes per workout, which some may view as a critical hinderance—in that case, a larger notebook trades portability for more room to let your reflections go wild.

    Running journals are also bound in different styles, but spiral-bound notebooks are the most popular for their ability to fold away neatly regardless of what page you’re on. However, the coil that binds these books can be fragile, and you might struggle to fit one in a tight bag without it warping. Paperback is another option that remedies this issue—while it’s harder to hold one open to a specific page with one hand, it’ll stay in one piece while enduring abuse for far longer.

    prada cloudburst thunder sneakers item | How We Selected

    Several of our staff members maintain running journals religiously, and we started our search for the best running journals with some of their proven favorites. Then, we branched out and looked for other options that best balance a manageable size, ample room to write, good organization, and bonus material like motivational reads. We spoke with one of our editors, Mallory Creveling, about the most important metrics to include in your running journal. We also aimed to represent as wide a range of formats as possible, from literature-dense, morale-boosting books to template-free notepads. They’re all simple enough to keep you from wondering if you’re using them right, and they all cost under $30.

    1
    Best Overall

    Gone for a Run Day-by-Day Run Planner

    Day-by-Day Run Planner
    1
    Best Overall

    Gone for a Run Day-by-Day Run Planner

    $20 at Amazon
    Pros
    • Intuitive template
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    Cons
    • Won’t lay flat on its own

    This running journal from Gone for a Run is pretty barebones, and for some runners, that’s a good thing. It’s organized into dedicated sections for your workout notes, race times, goal setting, and other training facets, but each page is stripped down to simple labels and lines, which can keep you from feeling boxed in as you take your time reflecting on your progress.

    Key Specs

    FormatVinyl-covered paperback
    Dimensions7 SALVATORE FERRAGAMO NONO CHELSEA BOOTS.
    Page Count157
    Maximum Entries280 logo strap slip-on sneakers
    2
    Best Pocket-Sized

    Write It Down Runner’s Journal

    Runner’s Journal
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    Best Pocket-Sized

    Write It Down Runner’s Journal

    Pros
    • Portable
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    Cons
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    If you’re an on-the-go notetaker, perhaps jotting down important notes on the fly while you’re at the track, this pocket-friendly notepad is ideal for getting some basic notes down quickly before moving to your next workout. It won’t be big enough to store major training schedules, such as one of our marathon plans, but it’s a great companion to your other databases and spreadsheets if you’re dedicated to the app-free lifestyle.

    prada cloudburst thunder sneakers item | Key Specs

    FormatSpiral-bound hardcover
    Dimensions5.5 x 3 in.
    Page Count120
    Maximum Entries60 workouts
    3
    Most Customizable

    The Official Bullet Journal Edition 2

    Edition 2
    3
    Most Customizable

    The Official Bullet Journal Edition 2

    Pros
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    • Handsomely bound
    Cons
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    This bullet journal gives you the creative room to build your perfect training log from the ground up, and it comes in a hardcover binding that fits in just as well on your bookshelf as it does in your workout areas.

    This second edition of the original BuJo also comes with bookmarks, a sticker sheet for labeling months and days more tidily, and wide margins for labeling each page vertically and horizontally. It’s the priciest recommendation on our list, but anyone who likes going the extra mile with projects like this is sure to appreciate the warm feeling of scribbling in such a sturdy book.

    Key Specs

    FormatHardcover
    Dimensions6 x 8 in.
    Page Count206
    Maximum EntriesN/A
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    4
    Best Motivational Content

    The 365-Day Running Journal

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    The 365-Day Running Journal
    4
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    The 365-Day Running Journal

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    Pros
    • A year’s worth of loggable workouts
    • Motivational essays
    Cons
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    This running journal that lets you pack a year’s worth of workouts into one book, so it’s perfect for run streak enthusiasts. But you can also take breaks as you need—just fill in new dates when you get back on your feet. And if you need help with that, this book is packed with motivational essays and quotes addressing everything from body positivity to injury avoidance and recovery.

    Key Specs

    FormatPaperback
    Dimensions5 x 7 in.
    Page Count146
    Maximum Entries365
    5
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    Decomposition College Ruled Spiral Notebook

    College Ruled Spiral Notebook
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    Decomposition College Ruled Spiral Notebook

    Pros
    • Produced sustainably
    • Simple layout
    Cons
    • Might be too basic for some

    One of the nephew of sticking to an offline training log is using paper, which isn’t every eco-friendly runner’s ideal. Luckily, there are more sustainable options available, such as Decomposition’s collection of notebooks made with 100 percent recycled paper.

    These notebooks are otherwise as basic as they come, which can be freeing for creative minds but limiting for others who might want more organization built in.

    Key Specs

    FormatSpiral-bound
    Dimensions9.7 dolce gabbana cardinale crossed logo ankle boots item.
    Page Count160
    Maximum EntriesN/A
    6
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    Runner’s World Training Journal

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    Runner’s World Training Journal

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    Pros
    • Full of motivational and instructional content from Runner’s World
    • No preset dates—take a break from journaling as you please
    Cons
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    Made by our own editors, this calendar aims to give you a little bit of everything: Room to take notes, training and nutrition tips, and plenty of inspirational reads for those groggy days when you’re feeling stuck.

    Our journal doesn’t have as much room as others on this list to write about each workout, but it also includes some of our training plans for a variety of distances so you don’t need to start from scratch.

    Key Specs

    FormatSpiral-bound
    Dimensions9 x 7 in.
    Page Count192
    Maximum Entries52 weeks
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    What to Record in Your Running Journal, According to Expert Mallory Creveling

    • ronnie fieg releases another new balance sneaker: In other words, the goal of the workout. Write down what you hoped to achieve, including an easy run, tempo workout, intervals, or a long run.
    • nike kids teen x concepts kyrie 6 concept golden mummy gs sneakers item: If you’re looking to go farther or even faster, writing down your mileage (or the time you ran, depending on what you prefer to record) helps you keep track of volume. And it’s a confidence booster to look back on all the miles or hours you put into a specific training block.
    • Route: This could include info on whether you ran mostly hills or flats, trail or road, but it may also include any stand-out elements of a route that you want to go back to or simply remember from your run.
    • Pace: Probably a favorite metric of runners, this helps you keep track of your progress and can also elevate your self-esteem when you see your speed improve (or see your pace stay the same as your effort goes down). If you did an interval run, you might also want to write down the average (or both fastest and slowest) pace for each of those intervals.
    • RPE: This is your rate of perceived exertion, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being nearly on the couch and 10 being an all-out effort. This helps you gauge, based on feel, the effort of your run or workout and can help you make sure you’re not doing most of your sessions in the <5 realm. The majority of your workouts should be on the lower end of the intensity scale.
    • Heart rate: Recording heart rate during a run can give you a more specific measure of your effort, clueing you into the zone you’re training in the most or how closely you stuck to higher zones if you’re going for interval training. (Many watches let you know the heart rate zones you hit most throughout your run.)
    • How it felt: While you can put a number to your effort level, also jot down a description of how you felt during the workout. Did you feel strong and energized? Did you finish feeling ready to do more? Or were you tired and slogging through it? Did you notice any aches and pains? This might help you recognize patterns in your training. Perhaps you feel better on days where you had a solid warmup or feel extra slow when you eat too close to the start of your run. It can even help you pinpoint how long you’ve been dealing with a nephewistent ache, which your doctor will ask you if you go in for injury treatment.
    • Nutrition and recovery: Because what you do outside of your runs is just as important as the time you spend clocking miles, it’s a smart idea to write down what you eat before and after your runs, as well as what your warmup and cooldown looked like or if you added foam rolling or stretching to your schedule that day. This can help you recognize what tactics work for supporting your runs and performing your best.
    • Sleep: Most smartwatches also help you track your sleep, and because it’s one of the best ways to recover, it’s smart to write this down so you can see how it affects performance. Jot down hours you slept, but you might also write down the quality of your sleep (if you had trouble falling asleep or woke up a lot) and how refreshed you felt in the morning.
    Headshot of Adam Schram
    Adam Schram

    Adam Schram is an Assistant Editor of Commerce at Runner's World, though you might see his byline on Bicycling and Popular Mechanics, too. A lover of all things outdoors, Adam's writing career comes after six years as a bike mechanic in his hometown of State College, PA. His journalism experience is steeped in cycling and running gear reviews, and he's also a published creative nonfiction and satire author. When he's not writing, riding, or running, you can catch Adam at home mixing cocktails, watching Star Wars, or trying in vain to do the Sunday crossword. You can check out his latest work below.

    Headshot of Mallory Creveling
    Reviewed byMallory Creveling
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    Mallory Creveling, an ACE-certified personal trainer and RRCA-certified run coach, joined the Runner's World and Bicycling team in August 2021. She has more than a decade of experience covering fitness, health, and nutrition. As a freelance writer, her work appeared in Women's Health, Self, Men's Journal, Reader's Digest, and more. She has also held staff editorial positions at Family Circle and Shape magazines, as well as DailyBurn.com. A former New Yorker/Brooklynite, she's now based in Easton, PA.

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