by Mike Tuchscherer

If you're the observant type, you no doubt noticed the new button on the menu titled Training bLogs.  If you have clicked on it, it's obviously a blog, but what is it for?  Why does RTS have one?  And most importantly, what benefit is it to you?  Make sure you read to the end or you could miss the good stuff!

As you know, we have the Forum page that is dedicated to Training Logs.  This page has become a place where many of us gather to record and analyze training.  It has also become a place for some comaradarie regarding training as well.  Consider the bLogs very similar, but much more refined.

The first thing you'll notice when you click "View bLogs" is a very easy-to-read interface.  You can get a snapshot of a bunch of posts without checking each individual one.  Can't remember where you left off reading last?  We got you covered.  A big blue asterisk will appear on the right-hand side of everything posted since you last viewed the page.

You'll also notice a few other features on the main "view bLogs" page.  The first is a "subscribe" button.  This will follow the individual blogs that you want to read.  So if you really like Brady Stewart's bLog, just click "subscribe".  Then you can view your subscribed bLogs by going to the Training bLogs on the main menu and selecting "View Subscribed bLogs" in the dropdown.

Another neat feature is the "Like" button.  Have you ever read about someone's training and though, "They did a good job."  Maybe it was nothing in particular -- just a good workout.  You probably didn't make a whole reply just for that one comment.  As a result, the lifter never even knew you read his post.  Now you don't have to make a seperate reply.  Just hit "Like" and the website will reply for you.  This can help us to encourage one another.  As a community of athletes, we need that and this tool can help each of us get it.  Don't worry -- you can still make personal comments if you prefer that as well.

Want to see the last five (or more) workouts from just one person?  Just click their name and it will take you to that person's individual bLog.  This way you can look deeper into the past of a person's training history.

The Best of the new features???
We added a new feature to the Training Log application.  Now, if you look at the Log Menu on the right side of the page... at the bottom you'll see a link that says, "export to bLog".  Using this feature will allow you to pull data straight from your training log, make comments, and post it to your bLog without having to do the copy-paste dance.  Fully integrated operations for these two features.  Want to add video to your bLog post?  That's easy.  Once you have posted your bLog, just select it for editing and add your videos that way.

And if you're one of those resistant-to-change types... don't worry.  I'm not going to close down the Training Log Forum.  You can even still use it if you want to.  I'm just not sure why you would....