Training website for shared goals?

[SadieKate]

Anyone know of something like trainingpeaks that doesn't cost money?

The reason I mention trainingpeaks is that the paid subscription version supposedly lets you plan future activities that you can email/share with a friend. A friend and I have set some mutual goals for the spring and need to set up training plans where we can share future activities that we'll do together.

Any ideas about where we can do this together? We each need our own "acount" and then be able to share those group planned activities. Somehow, paying trainingpeaks just for this one little feature when I have SportTracks and a bazilion other places just hurts.

PS - She doesn't have a Garmin if that makes any difference. She'll manually enter her completed activities and I'll share the Garmin history files for shared activities.

[GLC1968]

I am brand new to using it, but I just sync'd my SportTracks to Buckeye Outdoors. Perhaps Buckeye has a training plan feature? It's free, but I really haven't had much of a chance to dig into it yet.

From what I can tell, you can schedule workouts in advance and have it email you when it's time to do it. And there are forums and ways to share your information (I found this through someone's blog - so it can even be shared externally, too).

It's at www.buckeyeoutdoors.com (http://www.buckeyeoutdoors.com) and I found that you have to sign up to really see the features (but again, it's free).

[SadieKate]

Oh heck! That one has a SportTracks plugin. I shall go look.

Thank you!

[SadieKate]

GLC - that is one way cool site. Thanks.

It doesn't provide lots of details like ST but it looks like it will serve our purpose very well.

The next version should even sync ST activities that don't have a GPS route file attached so my core training and ski classes will get sync'd. Very nice.

[GLC1968]

Excellent, I'm glad it works for you!

I haven't decided where I'm going to do my logging yet - I keep flipping back and forth amongst tools!

[SadieKate]

That's what so nice about Buckeye. I can log only on ST and it will send the info to Buckeye.

[Pedal Wench]

Would Plus3 Network do what you need?

www.plus3network.com

[SadieKate]

Buckeye has far more features. Even emails for future activites.

Plus3 is great for the fundraising, but it's not very robust otherwise.

[zoom-zoom]

I cannot recommend RunningAHEAD.com enough. It's free, it's awesome, it has full Garmin integration (I use it for running and cycling logs), and the guy who runs the site is one of the nicest people I have ever "met." I have been on there since it was a relatively small site...but in almost 4 years since I first joined it has really grown. Runner's World licensed their online training log from RA.

[VeloVT]

I like Runningahead too. I haven't used the "community" type tools yet, but it's a pretty decent balance of features + non-crazymaking interface. (For a good example of a crazymaking interface, see beginnertriathlete, perhaps the kludgiest training log ever, in spite of its many features -- I just can't get past the kludginess). I haven't tried to use Buckeye yet, but it seems a little kludgy to me after registering and looking through it. Daily Mile is actually extremely slick and clever and non-kludgy in what it does, and it has great sharing/social networking capabilities, but I don't think it offers enough data/ways to control data, unfortunately.

[zoom-zoom]

(For a good example of a crazymaking interface, see beginnertriathlete, perhaps the kludgiest training log ever, in spite of its many features -- I just can't get past the kludginess).

I registered here because I knew when it came time to train for a duathlon next Summer that I would want more bike-specific advice. I have an account on BT, but that site is such a navigational mess that I quickly was turned-off.

Plus I don't need a second log. TE + RA seems a pretty good mix of cycling and running info. and support.

[SadieKate]

I cannot recommend RunningAHEAD.com enough. It's free, it's awesome, it has full Garmin integration (I use it for running and cycling logs), and the guy who runs the site is one of the nicest people I have ever "met." I have been on there since it was a relatively small site...but in almost 4 years since I first joined it has really grown. Runner's World licensed their online training log from RA.

I only used the demo login but I did not see:

- Ability to build a training plan based on a dated event (I’ve built a 16 week training plan in Buckeye that overlays my workout log)
- Ability to have a team of users working toward the same event (Buckeye has a team page with links to each user’s log and ability to comment)
- Integration with SportTracks - I ain't entering info twice when SportTracks will sync outbound to Buckeye!
- Email of future planned workouts
- Full Garmin integration - the site states it only integrates with Forerunners (between this and the lack of ability to integrates with Edge means I’d be doing a LOT of double entry. Ain’t happening! :) )

The training plan and the team features are requirements, otherwise I wouldn’t be looking for a site. Did I just miss these features in runningAHEAD?

[zoom-zoom]

Yeah, there isn't really a way (yet) to do plans in advance, though I know that's something Eric (the site creator) is working on for future updates (I'm a beta tester over there). There are some people who will log "workouts" in advance with a custom workout setting, which will show in their calendar. There are pretty much endless ways to create custom workout types, which is a decent temporary work-around.

I didn't realize the Garmin uploader would only work for Forerunners. Let me check and see if other devices are supported.

Not sure why you would need integration with SportTracks--or do you want a version on your machine, as well as online?

As far as being able to have a specific area for a team of users, anyone can set up a private user group (http://www.runningahead.com/groups) on RA.

[SadieKate]

Thanks for pointing out the groups but, as I said, integration with SportTracks is essential because that's where I log everything already, and a training plan is essential without using workarounds.

So, Buckeye does all of this and Runningahead doesn't. I'm sure it is fine for some users, but not my purpose. Thanks for telling us about it though.

[zoom-zoom]

Cool...I have a blogger friend who uses Buckeye and seems to like it. I never looked at it too much, since I discovered it only a year or two ago.

BTW, re: the Garmin thing, I got this from the head honcho @ RA, in case anyone else is curious about the log:

Theoretically, it works for all Garmin GPS devices, at least according to Garmin's website. The easiest way to get the answer is to have the device connected to the computer and go to this page:

http://www8.garmin.com/products/communicator/test/

If the page says it detected the device, then it is supported. HOWEVER...

the main site may or may not support it. Each Garmin device puts out a slightly different version of the TCX file. Www's importer only handles a subset of them. Beta should be able to read all formats. If the device is detected by Garmin's test page but she's not able to import any workouts via www, then she should wait until I upload the latest changes, which I'm hoping will be in two weeks or so.

I seem to recall that there was at least one person using the Edge without too much trouble. The reason the site specifies the Forerunner is that, well, the site is primarily designed for runners and I don't know of any runners who use the Edge. I use my Forerunner for running and cycling. Works fabulously as a bike computer with the cadence/speed sensor on the back wheel. That little device was money well-spent 2 years ago.

[SadieKate]

Yes, different Garmin devices produce different tcx files, that is why each site or application has to test the various devices.

Forerunners are great unless you want a barometric altimeter to more accurately record elevation gain. I use a Forerunner for anything on my feet and an Edge for cycling. They are nifty little gizmos.

[zoom-zoom]

Hubby and I are going to Vegas for 4 nights right after Christmas (our 13th anniversary is on the 28th). I am REALLY tempted to bring my Forerunner and wear it while we wander around the strip. We're also planning to rent a car for at least one day to drive out to Death Valley and maybe a second day for Red Rock. I'd love to see our random wanderings mapped. Garmin definitely makes some fun toys. :D