USMS has finally released it's new fitness logs (FLOGs), available to members. This is indeed a big change.
Unfortunately, for me, this is not easily adaptable to my needs. I have developed and kept my own personal fitness log over the last 15 years, tailored to my own special needs, and don't see how the new FLOGs at USMS can duplicate that effort without some major changes.
The principal example is what I do for exercise. There are a substantial number of available categories but two of my main ones are missing (rowing and cross-country skiing). I realize that I can put these in as 'other' but, because two exercises are mixed together, it is not so easy to look at results over the long haul. Further, as the years have gone by, I have added additional categories and would like to be able to do the same with the FLOGs.
Two other fitness categories that I use are Maximum Heart Rate (supposed to decay with age, as you know, but does it really?) and blood pressure. Neither of these are available in the USMS FLOGs.
I think that, to make the new FLOGs useful for everyone, they need to be individually configurable. I don't do pilates or yoga so, if those categories could be replaced, for me, by cross-country skiing and rowing that would take care of the exercise part. Having the ability to add other fitness measures would also help.
What I'm suggesting is the ability to have interactive programmable code for the entry input panel. Since I haven't programmed for years in HTML (and never in Java), I'm not sure how doable this is.
The final problem is merging records from past years. My fitness log is Excel based and the ability to import these data would be very valuable. I probably would not choose to hand-type the thousands of entries. That means that I cannot easily compare multiple years graphically or in table form. Somehow, this defeats the purpose of my chain of fitness records.
If these problems can be overcome I would anticipate transferring my logs over to USMS. If they cannot be dealt with, then definitely not.
One really nice feature of the FLOGs is having the data in one place and not having personally to deal with the archiving. USMS is certainly on the right track here, its just that the Devil is in the details. One of my thoughts is that this would give great incentive to many more people to keep fitness logs. In the long run this will produce a database of absolutely invaluable information to see how fit people age and what they have to do as they age to keep fit. A couple of years ago, I issued a challenge on these Discussion Forums for people to post summaries of their yearly fitness records. There was not a single response, even though many people looked at the thread. It was discouraging to me to think that not many people consider this important. Hopefully, the new FLOGs would 'right' that situation.
I just checked it out a little and it looks like a great start. If the other bullet points Jim listed can be incorporated I think this will be a really useful tool!
P.S. This might be the first time I ever clicked on the "My USMS" link. I like this "one stop shopping" approach.
I've been using the flog since the beginning of May. It's been a very easy way to keep track of my Go the Distance miles. I can still comment on each set and all the stuff I do in my regular blog. In fact my routine for the last two months has been to post my workout and comments in my blog and then copy and paste it into the details section on my flog.
Mel, if you want to keep the complex fitness log that you're already keeping, then go right ahead. It only takes a couple of clicks to record your yardage in your flog so that it can go to Go the Distance
Like Kristi, I've been using the flog for about 2 months now. And I do the same; post to my blog then copy and paste to the flog.
Former Member
Two great things happened with the Flogs.
I like the email that USMS sends out letting us know what is going on. I don't have a team to swim with and a lot of times I have no idea what is going on in USMS unless it is posted here. Thanks for the Email.
I have been using a note card to keep track of my GTD miles and Mary has been posting the yardage up for me each month. The Flogs are a much better approach. It allows me to post up while I remember what I swam and it allows me to see how few days I actually get to swim. I am sure with time it will get better as incremental improvements are made. I will let the real swimmers make the suggestions. Thank you very much for sharing this tool with me.
Former Member
Mel, if you want to keep the complex fitness log that you're already keeping, then go right ahead. It only takes a couple of clicks to record your yardage in your flog so that it can go to Go the Distance
Thanks, Kristi. That's what was suggested to me by another member of the Fitness Committee. Fundamentally, I like the single log approach and would like to migrate over to the USMS site when the upgrades Jim mentioned are actually implemented. What worries me about doing some partial use of the 2009 log for my GTD swims is, when the new additions are available and I want to import my spreadsheet data, whether I then have to go back and remove all the GTD swim data by hand or will I be able to use a one-button 'clear all' function to sanitize the 2009 flog before inputting from my spreadsheet. If the answer to that is yes, then it will indeed be easy to input my GTD data (for example, as a single entry for the last day of the month) and not worry about its effect on future data from my more general spreadsheet.
If the answer is no, then that might be more work than I want.
I am undecided on using this tool, since I like to comment on each set, or part of set. That is one reason why I like using the blog for my workouts-everything is there in one place. I would appreciate continual information and feedback from users before I commit.
Former Member
Thanks for the feedback, Jim. I'm glad to see, but not surprised, that you are still developiing the system. I'll continue to monitor the progress.
When the development has gotten to the point that I'd like to get in my archived files, I'll email you for some suggestions on how to proceed.
Marcia Anziano has also suggested to me a way to deal with the Go The Distance data for the moment.
Like Kristi and Floyd, I have been Flogging for two months now. It has been a great tool. I like that I can seperate swims if I happen to do doubles. Plus, the calendar has been really useful to track all kinds of workouts with the calendar. I feel like I accomplished something when I see a monthly calendar pretty filled up.
I'm pathetic when it comes to logging my personal swim workouts - or any of my training. But I do love to train. I am in awe of our bloggers.
So for now, I like the simplicity of the new FLOG.
My challenge is to keep it going...
Most of all, I appreciate the ease it will give our GO THE DISTANCE staff! (Mary & co.)
Also the opportunity to encourage non-competitive USMS swimmers to get involved in a program so suitable and created for them.
