Most triathletes keep some kind of triathlon training log. Yours might be a

scrappy old notebook in your gym bag. It could be a computer spreadsheet. It might be a slick online interface. Perhaps it's even some special program on your mobile phone. Regardless of how you keep your triathlon training log, the coaches at the Rock Star Triathlete academy have some tips on crucial do's and don'ts for your triathlon training log.

1. Do Keep A Log. Even if you're the type of person who likes to "live free

as a type B", you must has some method of being able to look back at your

training when you get sick or injured, or you have a breakthrough performance, and see what got you there in the first place! Face it...your

memory simply cannot keep track of multiple weeks of swimming, cycling, running, cross-training and nutrition.

2. Do Record Your Diet. Nutrition and training are intimately related.

Inadequate protein consumption can cause overtraining. Enough carbohdyrate consumption can get your muscles chock full of storage energy for a stellar performance. Too much dietary fat might cause bloating at a key race. By having the ability to look back at your triathlon training log and see how your diet affected your performance, you're giving yourself a big advantage.

3. Don't Be Rigid. The term "adaptive training" refers to your ability to adapt your training to accommodate social obligations, injuries, running out of daylight, or finding out your best buddies are going on a fun bike ride over the weekend. If your triathlon training log, like many triathletes, is combined with your actual schedule, don't be afraid to break out of the mold and be flexible when necessary. While you shouldn't have randomly haphazard training, you should also be flexible enough with your planning and logging

to make changes when life happens. Otherwise, triathlon will become more of a "job" and less of a "hobby".

4. Don't Throw Away Old Logs. You never know when your little brother or

best friend might want to do a triathlon that you did two or three or ten times back in the day. If you can whip out your old triathlon training logs

and offer them as a helpful tool for a friend or loved one, they're going to

think you're the greatest thing since sliced cheese.

5. Do Include Stress and Sleep. Not only do stress levels (i.e. 1-10) and

sleep levels (number of hours) directly affect your training and appetite,

but so do other variables such as morning heart rate, daily weight and motivation to train. Whether it's on a notebook, computer or phone, the best triathlon training log will have a small allowance somewhere to let you

include these variables for you or your coach.