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Features of The Athlete's Diary

Functionality

Keeps track of date, sport, category (training, interval, or race), distance, time, pace, route/workout, and comment. Comments can include user-definable "keywords" which allow tracking of any other numerical quantity - weight, heart rate, altitude gain, etc. No limit on the # of entries per day. Calculates totals and averages, produces a variety of graphs. Extremely powerful selection capability.

Design Criteria

#1) Speed and minimal number of keystrokes. People who use this software use it every day, sometimes twice a day. 30 seconds wasted every day adds up to 3 hours in a year. Why waste 3 hours on a computer when you could be running, riding, swimming, etc. with that time?

#2) Power. Our slogan is "Get more out of your log than you put into it!" and that is, of course, the point of using a computer to keep your log. Add functionality but without compromising ease of use

#3) Flexibility. Users of this software participate in a wide variety of sports, use a number of different units to track their distances and paces, and even write dates in different ways. The program should be able to deal with all of this. And, with keywords, it should allow the user to track anything they want to, not just time, distance, and pace.

#4) Data security and long-term viability. Many features (auto-backup, auto-save, revert to saved) ensure integrity of the data in the short term. Data is saved as plain ASCII text to maximize import capability to other software, and also to ensure your ability to read the data ten years later.

#5) Multi-platform compatibility. The data files created by the three versions of the software (DOS, Windows, Mac) are all identical. Users can switch from one platform to another with no penalty.

Feature Description

Data Entry

Smart data entry minimizes keystrokes. Memorized routes can enter workout with single keystroke/menu choice. Pace (speed) is calculated, or can be entered to estimate distance (great for trail runs) or time.

Log Display

Log is displayed on the same screen as data entry, and can be scrolled through its entire contents. Display shows data, sport, distance, time, pace, route (workout) and comment. Mac and Windows versions take advantage of large screens.

Totals

Weekly, monthly, and yearly totals and averages for each sport - time, distance, pace, and # of workouts.

Calendar

Weekly and monthly calendar view shows log, totals, and allows direct data entry (Windows and Mac versions only). Perfect for laying out your future training plans.

Graphs

Weekly or monthly single-sport graphs of time, distance, or pace; multisport graphs of time. Mac and Windows version also graph single or multisport graphs of # of workouts. All versions also graph keywords - weight, resting heart rate, etc. - an unlimited number of user-selectable numerical quantities. Windows and Mac version allow copying of graphs to Clipboard for incorporation into other programs.

Selection

Entries can be selected based on one or more of the following criteria (Query by Example): dates, sport, category, distance, time (Windows and Mac), pace, and the presence or absence of a word or phrase in the route or comment. Mac and Windows versions can also select by numerical value of keyword (e.g., all entries with weight < 150). "Select more" and "select fewer" allow combinations of criteria. Single-step selection of entries based on route, sport, or races.

File Manipulation

Files can be opened, closed, merged, and selected entries saved. Multiple users can share the software on a single computer. User preferences, sports, keywords, and memorized routes are all linked to the log, so that different users need not share these items. New! Logs can be saved in HTML format and viewed with a browser, allowing for embedded race photos, heart rate charts, long race reports, etc. Here's an example of a portion of a log output by The Athlete's Diary.

Training Plans

After entering a "typical week" training, or an entire several-month schedule, you can save it as a "training plan." Training plans can then be read back in to make it easy to set up your future training schedule. (Mac, Windows only)

Customization

Any eight sports can be tracked. For each sport, user can select units of distance (miles, km, yards, meters, or "units/none") and pace (min/mile, mph, etc.). American (mo/day) and "rest of world" (day/mo) dates.

Special Features

Heart rate calculation. Equipment use tracking. Race time calculation. Personal record selection. Calories burned calculation (Windows and Mac).

Requirements

Minimal. The Athlete's Diary is a standalone program (not a template) that will run under DOS or Mac in minimal memory without a hard disk, likewise it will run perfectly well under Windows on a 386 with 2 MB memory.

Support

Technical support by phone, fax, E-mail, or U.S. mail.

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