General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT Rss Feed  
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2009-11-13 10:28 AM
in reply to: #2511764

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Champion
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Albuquerque, New Mexico
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT

BT. 

5 years ago, when I first started getting active, I was logging workouts in an excel spreadsheet, but that was a "points" system I devised.  One column had day, another had points, and a third had comments.  I had point goals for each month and my system had -2 points for a day with no activity (because I knew I'd fall into the "skip today, but I'll do double tomorrow" fallacy).  Wasn't S/B/R, so even getting out for a 15-minute walk was a net change of 3 points (-2 to +1). 

I occasionally go back through my old logs.   I like the yearly totals (it's amazing how little workouts add up over time).  More importantly, I'll sometimes go back through someone else's log if they've had a "bad" workout and point out how much improved their "bad" workout is compared to a few months or years ago.  I can't do that if you use pencil and paper. 



2009-11-13 10:29 AM
in reply to: #2511764

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Cycling Guru
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Fulton, MD
Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT
Hands down BT.  Best logging system I've seen and/or used.
2009-11-13 10:41 AM
in reply to: #2511764

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Master
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Guilford, CT
Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT
BT is more than enough for me.  

I started in excel, but feel no need to develop anything that already already has a bunch of development time behind it.  Love the Garmin import feature and equipment tracking.  It really is too easy to pass up. 
2009-11-13 10:46 AM
in reply to: #2511764

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Master
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syracuse
Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT
BT is the best, and ive tried others.

I use t-peaks with my coach, and that thing is awful compared to BT....

if BT could incorporate power into the logs, it would truly rock.....

t-peak has nice features, mainly the graphs on their are nice, but its slow, awful to navigate, and should be better....
2009-11-13 10:56 AM
in reply to: #2512376

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Veteran
112
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Columbus, OH
Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT
I use active.com, mainly because I like how you can enter each swim set easily as a separate line.  can you do that wiht BT, without having to type it in a notes section?  when I first found this site and checked the log, it looks like you just enter total yards and avg time per 100. 
2009-11-13 2:47 PM
in reply to: #2511764

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Expert
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Portland, Oregon
Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT
BT, but I also write my workouts down in whatever is my current notebook next to my daily nutrition info.


2009-11-13 7:51 PM
in reply to: #2512468

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Master
2301
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Rogersville, Alabama
Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT
Daremo - 2009-11-13 10:29 AM Hands down BT.  Best logging system I've seen and/or used.


x2 Well said.
2009-11-13 8:27 PM
in reply to: #2511764

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Payson, AZ
Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT
I use BT.  Best thing about it is when I ask for advice no one can tell me they can't answer cause there is nothing in my logs.  Wink  I've used a lot of different methods over the years and they all have pro's/con's when you start comparing them but I think as an overall tracking system this one rocks.  A few enhancements to the nutrition area and I'd be in heaven.
2009-11-13 9:16 PM
in reply to: #2511764

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Lethbridge, Alberta
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT
I use BT. I fooled around with running sporadically for a couple of years, without logging, but really only started "training" and logging when I got interested in triathlon. I was on BT by then too so this is the only place I've ever logged workouts. I was a bit uncomfortable at first with the idea of possibly losing my data and downloaded copies of some of it a few times. However I've gained a bit more confidence in BT's security (either that or I've gotten lazy).
2009-11-14 8:44 AM
in reply to: #2511764

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Master
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Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT
I never logged before BT. I like to look back now and then to see, for example, how this November's training compares to last November, or to look at a past race log if I'm doing the same race again, or to see how I trained leading up to a successful race. I also like to see the graphs of my training routes to see improvement over time. I started paying so I could look further back into the logs. I'll probably upgrade my membership next time, since this has been a really valuable service, and I value the support from it and from all of you.
2009-11-14 8:58 AM
in reply to: #2512401

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Pro
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the Alabama part of Pennsylvania
Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT
the bear - 2009-11-13 11:00 AM 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.


x2.  Right now, I am not using the Garmin, since my training is almost all indoors on either the trainer or the dreadmill, but I'm also not following a specific plan, just trying to get in time each day being active.  So I am not logging anything.  But in the nicer weather months, I just plug in the garmin, and let BT do the work!


2009-11-14 10:12 AM
in reply to: #2511764

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Elite
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Miami
Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT
excel at the beginning.

but BT is amazing.  the HUGE benefit and AWSOMENESS of these logs i can access them everywhere....get online and bam i know what my workout should be or what i did 3 days prior etc.

the only thing i would like to do is put more detail.  need to sync up the garmin HR data.
2009-11-14 12:19 PM
in reply to: #2511764

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Master
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Redlands, CA
Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT
I plan in Excel.  With the Formulas, you can do some amazing things; I color code my workouts, estimate my miles based off my average (which I can change), and its easy to see the big picture.

I log in BT though, there's just more information and its more efficient.
2009-11-14 4:00 PM
in reply to: #2511764

Master
2460
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Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT
I've you've got a Garmin GPS watch (205/305), you MUST try Sporttracks (free download). It's amazing - you see your mapped rides and can pick out even the hard sections specifically to see your HR/cadence/etc. Even maps your training HR zones for you and summarizes them. I still don't know what to do with all the data, but I'm going to make it a project to learn how to use it in the upcoming months.
2009-11-14 6:49 PM
in reply to: #2511764

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Expert
1046
100025
Fountain Hills, AZ
Subject: RE: Pad/Pen vs Excel vs BT
RunnersWorld.com, because of the online route mapping features. Does BT have maps?
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