How to record dimension values during an animation?

Do you have solidworks motion? (the option I'm mentioning isn't available in animation mode or simple motion) I didn't get to dive in too deeply as I was working from sketches in the same manner you were. With solid parts it looks like you can create a results graph of displacement vs (variable of your choice, usually time). I didn't have the time to run a study so I'm not sure you can export these individual dimension values, but that's one place to start.