Today’s topic over at the Runner’s Lounge is “running and blogging”.
I am approaching my one year anniversary of blogging. I’ve already finished the original goal I had when I started this blog – running the Marine Corps Marathon. As you might guess from my name, I didn’t really think about where I would go from there – in regards to blogging OR running. If I had, I might have chosen a different name.
I started blogging for two reasons: my friends were getting tired of the “all marathon all the time” conversations and I wanted some place that I could record the experience of training for and running a marathon so that I could remember what it was like. I’d been a blog lurker for years on blogs related to infertility and then pregnancy and finally parenting, so I was not really a newbie to the idea of blogging. I just never felt comfortable about blogging about any of those as I’m a bit more protective of Beer Geek’s and the boys’ privacy.
As I began reading and commenting on other blogs, I began to get comments on my blog and those comments brought about the purpose this blog now serves. It keeps me accountable. If I don’t want to run, but I’ve mentioned on here that I plan to run, I’m much more likely to get out there. Having my RBFs tell me that I could do a 2 hour half made me more willing to get out there and really go for it. Having someplace to “cry” when a run turns sour helps me remember that not every run sucks.
I don’t think I would have decided to race in all 50 states if not for this blog. It made me feel that I needed a bigger goal than “get faster” after I finished the marathon. The fact that people don’t seem to mind reading about my other passion (beer and brewpubs) doesn’t hurt either!
So, a big thanks to my RBFs for keeping me motivated to run and drink, not necessarily in that order. ;o)
All good reasons for starting and continuing to blog about running!
Because running and beer are the best things in life, of course! 🙂
Excellent post 🙂
I’m glad you decided to keep the blog going after the MCM was done. You’ve definitely been a motivation for me. 🙂
Cheers to running blogs!
I agree, it’s nice to have a place you don’t have to worry about blabbing on and on about your running. The non runner real world friends can sometimes think “wow, my friend is really crazy.” But with the blog, it just doesn’t seem to matter.
Great reasons– I’m glad you’ve kept it going!
Great reasons to blog! I am glad you are still doing it because I love reading about your experiences with running and your excellent beer choices.
Ahhh yes some of the same reason I also choose to go the blogging route 🙂
Great post! I think it's really amazing how you can build friendships around common goals that you could never do in "real" life. And it's so funny that you mentioned your friends getting tired of "all marathon, all the time." That's a big reason I blog–to avoid the glazed eye look from people who could care less about my weight or running. & the accountability is such a motivator, I agree. I'm glad you are a blogger & are going to keep on blogging!
So, a big thanks to my RBFs for keeping me motivated to run and drink, not necessarily in that order. ;o) Pfffffttt! Talk is cheap, sister! SEND SOME OF THAT BEER YOU’RE HOARDING!I thought this blog was called McM Mama because you were another bog-trotting American Mick, like me! Now I’m all disillusioned, so SEND THAT BEER!1!Seriously, I always enjoy your blog, sister, be the topic running or beer.
All excellent reasons – glad you kept it up!
Running all 50 states is such a great goal!
I always wondered where you got your blogger name. Now I know… see the things your blog teaches me!Here are some other things I’ve learned from your blog:-Beer and running are not mutually exclusive activities.-There are a lot of different kinds of beer out there!-A new term for my running blogger friends… RBF (thanks!)I always enjoy reading your blog!
Thanks to YOU for all of the great stories, inspiration, and running education!
I also started blogging because I loved running and talking about it, not because I knew anything or cared about blogs. It eventually led me to develop a more extensive website, seriousrunning.com, to share more information with other runners as well as give a vehicle for runners without blogs to share their experiences.I have also found that writing a blog has kept me accountable in my running. I trained and planned to run at half marathon in under 1:25 about a month ago but was unable to get a race entry. Since I had said I was going to run a half marathon in under 1:25 I let my readers know that I was going to do it, just on my own course. I ended up getting a race number at the last minute and ran a 1:24. If I hadn’t mentioned it in my blog, I probably would have just skipped it since I got the race entry so last minute. I also agree that it has made me more creative and interested in challenging myself in running. I don’t imagine readers want to hear about my latest local 5k. It forces me to mix it up and try new things.Lastly, I have found that it makes me run to the best of my ability no matter what event I am running. Whether I have trained specifically for it or not, 5k or marathon, I know I also have to put my best performance forward. People now want to hear about how I’ve raced. There do seem to be a lot of blogs of runners who like to share their stories about running. Do you think runners are more social or just have more stories than activities?
I think you hot the nail on the head for most of us…keep them up!