The return of the Run Log
It’s my belief that one of the biggest shifts in this brilliant running-sphere that is bound to engulf us all will be the revival of running logs. Everyday athletes will start documenting their runs using analogue methods and discovering more creative ways to mark their outdoor endeavours. For me, running has become a sacred part of my day—a time when my phone becomes redundant and without realising I’ve already been dabbling for a while in my own blend of running log. In this sleepy month of January, when no one is asking much of me, and I have a glut of free evenings and weekends at my disposal, I’m excited to explore this practice more extensively
I think back to a summer run I shared with my dad, stretching out in the beating sun before shuffling over churned fields toward the gatehouse at Tyntesfield Manor in Backwell. "When I get to this lamppost next to the fir tree, I know we’ve done about two miles," my dad states matter-of-factly. I notice that he doesn’t have his phone, a watch, or anything—just a pair of Kelly-green Walsh shoes and the permanent squint of a man who has spent much of his life outdoors but would rather wear a straw Stetson than trouble himself with sunglasses. I glance down at my watch: exactly 2 miles.
I pause to reflect on how lovely it is to use landmarks as distance gauges. There’s something about the simplicity of it—the connection it fosters to the present and to the local routes we take. I once read about a running club known as "the drinking club with a running problem," who marked walls, fences, and posts with chalk to create orienteering challenges for their members. It’s a concept that reminds me of the kind of fun orienteering games my dad used to set up for me and my cousins when we were younger.
Fast forward to today, and I think about how I document my runs. Running has become a lens through which I explore the world. Visiting a new place? I’ll go for a run. Scouting a new location for a shoot? I’ll run around it to capture every angle mentally. I’m never without my compact Yashica, a reliable and crisp point-and-shoot film camera, and I often take notes of the places my mind drifts to when I hit that meditative state. In fact, I’ve found that my best brainstorming sessions happen while I’m running. The results are often hazy photos of frosty fields at dawn and fragmented thoughts about identity, what that building on the corner of the main road used to be and whether to cross over to avoid the ice-slick at the petrol station or take the risk because I just like that side of the road more. I enjoy watching these thoughts come and go, and the conscious connection that running gives me to my immediate surroundings and my state of mind. I’m sure others are discovering the same and exploring how running can be a tool for self-discovery.
So, how does all this lead to a shift back toward running logs and documenting runs in notebooks with more traditional methods of tracking fitness? While I don’t think Strava is going anywhere, I believe analogue methods will likely coexist with digital solutions rather than replace them.
Just as there’s something special about using an old fir tree to mark two miles instead of relying on a metallic beep, there’s also something meaningful about writing by hand. It creates a more personal connection to the experience of running. As I’ve recently found for myself, journaling runs in a physical logbook or another medium helps us reflect on our journey in a way that digital records might not. The tactile act of writing and physically turning the pages fosters a deeper sense of involvement with our progress, creating space for both mental reflections and physical statistics.
As we grow increasingly aware of our screen time, we may seek analogue alternatives to take a break from constant digital engagement. The data-driven nature of modern fitness can feel overwhelming, and returning to simpler outlook of just running for the sheer enjoyment of it may be more appealing. Additionally, analogue logs (I bet you’re sick of those two words now) storytelling, and photo-diaries allow for more creativity and customization, offering freedom to add personal touches that apps might not support.
Ready to write down your new PB all while untangling complex ideas about yourself and falling in love with a park bench 5km from your front door. Try a run log.
