I believe in making decisions based on data. It makes sense to me for a lot of reasons. If motivation comes from seeing results, and results can be tracked more closely using data, incorporating data into my marathon training plan makes sense. Also, using data to track progress toward my goals make sense from a modify-and-adjust-to-train-more-effectively perspective. The data – in this case, the quantitative story of my training – provides additional understanding to the qualitative story that I am writing on the blog.

The Spreadsheet

My husband and I have been keeping training data, and tracking results, for years. He has been building an elaborate dataset for a while. I have been a bare bones data collector until a few weeks ago. We are now keeping a training schedule, tracking daily training activity, and logging daily calorie consumption versus calorie burn. I am learning there is a rhythm to data collection. I have experienced the data collection rhythm in my professional life, but this is the first time in my personal experience. I am learning to immediately record the numbers after workouts and meals. The spreadsheet is only as useful and accurate as I make it. I am making it so.

The Story Over Time

My hope is that, over time, I develop a data habit. On the surface, I want results to keep me motivated. I believe seeing positive trends will help me do more of what works and less of what does not for both my health, and my life in general. Down deep, I want to cultivate a greater mindfulness about my overall health. I have always had to be pretty careful, but this health experiment takes care to a new level. Connecting with and understanding our bodies has never been more important, as our physical and mental strength are called upon daily. So, 29 weeks to go. Let’s do this.

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