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RunningHow to tell if your training is working
A 10-minute weekly check-in instead of guessing. · 2 min read · Updated September 30, 2026
How we made this guide: this is practical advice for keeping a training log going through a block. For research-based numbers, see carb loading and protein.
Race day is a long way off to find out whether a training block worked. A short weekly check-in gives you earlier signals. These are practical markers many runners and coaches use. Trends over weeks matter more than any single day.
| Check | A good sign over several weeks |
|---|---|
| Easy runs | The same effort feels a little faster, or the same pace feels a little easier. |
| Long run | The last few miles feel more controlled than a few weeks ago. |
| Hard sessions | You can hit the workout without dreading it every time. |
| Sleep and energy | Mostly steady. Several bad weeks in a row is worth paying attention to. |
| Consistency | You did most of the runs you planned. The other checks only mean something on top of this one. |
When something slips
Look at the week around it before changing the plan: sleep, stress, and whether you ate enough around the hard days. Change one thing at a time.
Make the check-in automatic
A check-in is only as good as the notes behind it. We built My Track Record to log runs and meals by voice, rate how each session felt, and show your week back to you. That way the check-in is reading, not reconstructing.
General information for healthy adult runners, not medical advice. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant, or have a history of disordered eating, talk to a doctor or registered dietitian before changing how you eat or use caffeine.
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By Andrew, founder of My Track Record. Andrew has been active all of his life across a variety of sports and continues to stay active through climbing, swimming, weight training, golfing, snowboarding, and more. He built My Track Record so logging food and training takes one spoken sentence and can support any activity. He puts these guides together from published sports science research cited on each page. About Andrew