I was never one who kept a diligent training diary concerning my running. If I had energy I ran fast, if I was tired I ran slow. Don't run if your fever is above 101 and don't run if two Advil doesn't alleviate whatever pain is ailing you. Simple but solid maxims. I always had enough energy to do a couple of speed workouts a week and if I felt good when race day rolled around I figured everything was all right. That was before I had children and began exerting a lot more energy apart from running and my sleep patterns just weren't as lengthy and uninterrupted as they used to be. When there seemed to be a few more slow days between the fast running days, I decided to monitor my training through a running diary. After a few weeks of keeping a diary, and noting how my weekly miles weren't that impressive, I concluded that running parents needed to include virtual miles as well. It's only fair. These miles aren't real on the road true miles but they were things that either generated some cardiovascular effort or were real miles that were run with a handicap. On any given week, my training diary looks something like this:

Sunday - Planned to go for a long run of twenty miles. Did a short run of two miles. Baby teething . Up every hour through the night. Think I slept through the last mile. It was the somnolent shuffle. Not sure how I made it home. At least I think this is my home. Need sleep. Two miles in this condition equivalent to 10 miles after full nights rest. Total: 2miles (10 virtual miles)

Monday - Shut off the alarm at 5:00a.m. Internal debate until 5:03a.m. Back to sleep at 5:04a.m. Tried to go on my lunch hour. Ate lunch instead. Tried to go once I got back home. Played two games of Monopoly Junior, helped with math homework, played six games of one-on-one basketball. Put running shoes on. Went to sleep on floor. Total: O miles (.5 virtual miles from basketball games)

Tuesday - Seven hours sleep on family room floor. Beautiful! Woke up in running clothes with shoes on. Out the door immediately. Ran hard. Two miles easy, six miles fartleck. Felt great! Flying over the road! Rejuvenated! Refreshed! Life's great! Played at pool with kids for two hours. Total: 8 miles (1.5 virtual mile - equivalent water activities)

Wednesday - Stayed up to late the night before. Not enough sleep. Feel awful. Devitalized. Exhausted. Reviewed yesterday's entry. Wish that guy would shut up. Had to run in morning with kids soccer game tonight. Dragged myself through seven miles. Felt old. Total: 7 miles, (1.75 virtual miles - One hour moving around soccer field as referee didn't show and I volunteered. Dumb move.)

Thursday - Sore from refereeing soccer game. Aimed for p.m. track intervals during little league baseball game. Did eight repeat 800 meter runs with 2:45 rest between 1 and 2 and 10 minute rest between 2 and 3 (watched Adam up to bat - fouled off a lot of pitches), 2:45 between 3 and 4 and 15 minute rest between 4 and 5 (ground ball hit Adam in nose), finished with 2:45 rest for remainder. One mile cooldown back home. Nauseous at the end. Might be related to eating the extra post little league game snack of two jelly donughts and a fruit punch. Total: 7 miles, 1 virtual mile (having run the last three with a lead donught belly and sugar high)

Friday - Andrew came along on bike for a timed eight miler. Shooting for 52 minutes. Run interrupted by bathroom pit stop; chain came off bike; drink stop; quick hello at best friend's house; bike mirror fell off. Total: 8 miles (1 hours, 37 minutes - 45 minutes off goal but legitimate excuse of accompaniement by seven year old)

Saturday - Easy 4 miles in morning. Resting for long run on Sunday. On legs all day watching two soccer games, one baseball game, one t-ball game, mowed lawn, grocery shopping, walk with baby stroller, one hour of roller blading with kids, 45 minutes of catch, one touch football game, 4 roofball games, one game of capture the flag, half hour bike ride. Total:4 miles (11 virtual miles - not much of a rest day)

Sunday - Gave it a shot. Made it to the park. 1.5 miles. Found park bench. Laid down. Visualized long run. Went to sleep. 1.5 miles home. Beautiful morning. Total: I don't care. A lovely virtual run.

by Bob Schwartz, humor writer and runner , and as Bob says..."in no particular order".
Look for more of Bob's work here at ontherunevents.com in the weeks to come!
Bob welcomes your comments at rschwartz@s4online.com

Have you got a human interest story about a runner you know or a race report to share ? ontherunevents.com is happy to share stories with our readers. Send us your stories, your experiences!

Copyright © 1999 ontherunevents.com, All rights reserved.
Commercial use or redistribution in any form, printed or electronic, is prohibited.

Visit other areas of ontherunevents.com here!.
Select area : What's New Gear:Running Shoes & more! On the Run Events Book Store Forums Live Chat Room! Runners Clinic Event Calendar Marathons News & Stories Headline News Entry Forms Race Results Photo Gallery Scrap Books Run Clubs Regular Runs Runners F.A.Q. Runners Expo Links Guestbook Runners Software Add event to the Calendar Runner Survey Public Email list Contact Us Pace Chart Advertise with us!

please visit

Contact us today for details on how we can help get your event or product On-line