Training log work

I haven’t updated my training log on this site in quite a while. I’ve been looking for an acceptable solution that:

• is free
• works on Linux
• does NOT force me to enter a pre-defined route for each run
• allows me to edit distance and time for each run
• will support multi-sport training without combining totals for the sports (so biking mileage doesn’t get added to running mileage)
• has an interface that doesn’t confuse the heck out of me (I saw one website with a great log service with lots of features that is totally unusable).

The closest I’ve found is YARL, a really cool program that’s just a little short – it makes me enter a pre-defined route for each run. Otherwise it’s quite cool, if not totally intuitive.

So, I chose to make my own. I’m calling it TrueGoal – I hope to eventually add a search engine to it and so the name is inspired by (and rhymes with) a certain very popular search engine’s name. The name may be changed at some point if I get a better one (and the logo and interface certainly will be). TrueGoal uses PHP and MySQL, is run through a local web server, and is accessed via a web browser. Only use it with a local web server at this point, don’t run it online (security issues). You don’t have to be connected to the Internet to use TrueGoal.

Features are very limited at this point. Currently (version 0.0.8, “Gyula Kellner”), TrueGoal supports:

• Enter multiple workouts (or races), in multiple sports, each day. This is good for single sports or triathlon/duathlon training. TrueGoal will track multi-event races as well (duathlons and triathlons), adding distances and times from each leg to find the race totals.
• A (hopefully) clean and easy-to-use interface. I am annoyed by online services that are impossible to figure out.
• You don’t have to enter a pre-defined route for a workout! This also contributes to the inflexibility of some online services.
• Track all the important details for runs/races and none of the unimportant ones.
• Track how many miles are on your shoes, so you know when to retire them. TrueGoal will do the math for you!
• Multiple installs on one computer are possible.
• Set goals! TrueGoal will store goals. You can mark them as “accomplished” when you’ve achieved them. TrueGoal will store accomplished goals as well, so you can look back to see when you accomplished those goals.
• View workouts 50 at a time (arranged by date), split into various categories (running, swimming, etc). View races 20 at a time. You can also choose a date to view all workouts done on that date. TrueGoal will never delete old workouts, it’s just a matter of finding them!

Planned features include:

For 0.0.9 release (“Charilaos Vasilakos”):

• Fix “Gyula” bugs
• Introduce new logo/layout and GPL the program?
• Improve user interface a LOT
• Better help file
• Link “other notes” to specific workouts so a date’s workout page doesn’t just show two or three random “other notes” sections if someone enters more than one workout in a day
• add pace (anywhere we have time/distance)
• Comment the code
• More theme-able, create more completely original themes like this one
• Make it IE6-friendly (tied with above goal, may be as easy as adjusting a couple widths) (although, really, people shouldn’t be using IE6 anymore, it’s just not safe) (maybe I won’t do this)

For 0.1.0 release (“Spiridon Louis”):

• Totals for everything imaginable – weeks, months, years, etc. in all disciplines. This is absolutely essential for a log program. I’m 99% sure that you can begin using the log now, just update when this release comes out and your totals will be calculated at that time so you won’t need to re-enter all your data.
• Support for different units (meters, yards, kilometers) in input, output in miles
• Weekly view – a brief summary of all workouts Sunday-Saturday.

Probably beyond Spiridon:

• Multiple users per TrueGoal install
• Routes support, using Google maps (this will only be a quick and convenient way to choose routes – you will never be forced to choose a specific route to enter a workout)
• Code cleaning!
• Security improvements – ability to be used online
• GPS unit support (Forerunner)
• Nice tight integration
• Search support
• Possibly rewrite in different language? Python? – very long term
• Support for kilometers in output, perhaps other units based on feedback
• Enhance goals functionality based on feedback
• Track PR’s for race distances
• Support race shoes (not adding miles, but storing which shoe you used so you can look back and see, I guess)?

I should get to 0.1.0 (Spiridon) pretty quickly. I’m a little hung up on finding mileage totals, but I think I’ll get it pretty quick. This is as much an exercise in writing PHP as it is an attempt for me to make a running log that actually works for me.

I’m not going out of my way to make this easy to install. It’s really not good enough yet. The download link (below) contains a zip file – simply download this, right click on it, and choose “extract here” or “extract all files”. Inside you’ll find a file called “HOW-TO-INSTALL”. It contains instructions for installing a simple local webserver (XAMPP) and how to get started using TrueGoal. Have fun. Check back for updates.

Download here (truegoal-gyula.zip, 63.7 kb)

Edit: I found a couple bugs in goals and in retiring shoes. The fixes will be released with Charilaos.