Facebook and running - Perfect together

I love Social Media. I admit it I have an obsession, addiction, appreciation for Facebook and Twitter.

Social Media has played a HUGE role in my running success. In fact I can easily say that I would be a whole different person with a whole different set of friends right now if the computer and all of its offerings weren't at my fingertips during this journey.

When I first started running I used this blog and Facebook to help keep me accountable. In those early days, the support and Facebook "likes" really motivated me to keep going.

I also found that the minute I started posting about my running - running friends came out of the woodwork to offer sneaker shopping recommendations, ideas about where to run in my town, training programs and so much more.

Looking back on the last three years I use social media DAILY to keep me motivated, to gather information, and yes - even (especially) to brag. For better or worse, many a long run was fueled by knowing that I was going to get to show off (just a bit) about that run!

Yes, Facebook, Twitter and this blog has been crucial to my success. I'm not sure where I would be without it.

Consider this - Thanks to social media:

• I have found some of my closest running friends both in Jersey and across the country
• I got an invite onto the 'Fat To Finish Line' Ragnar team that we're making a film about
• I figured out a way to run multiple half marathons and one full
• I became a top five finalist for Progresso Soup's "Souper Me" contest back in 2010
• I found a way to keep track of my good days, bad days and all those miles! What would I do without Nike+'s social media and Daily Mile?
• I got hooked up with Moms In Motion and many more friends
• I was inspired to do yoga
• I was motivated to try Facebook Challenges like this one I'm doing for March

And so much more.

Who doesn't get a little pick-me-up when a inspirational running quote scrolls past you on your feed?

Thank you I <3 a="" run="" to=""> for daily inspiration on FB!

I can't count how many times I've posted or tweeted running-related questions about countless things: Nutrition, foam rolling, pantsing my poop, suggested play lists, hydration systems, races, etc to get varied answers and feedback from runners across the globe. It's amazing. 

I honestly don't know if I would've stayed on this path if it weren't for social media, this blog and the wonders that come from my computer. I have to give it a lot of credit.

It also warms me to say that thanks to my own Facebook sharing, I've inspired a few others to get out there and give running a shot - it's a wonderful thing.

What about you? Do you think that Facebook, twitter, the computer age has helped your fitness / running?

XO

Jen

Running Pays: Thank you universe and Lolo Jones

coolest picture ever Lolo Jones

Running pays.

I've been blessed in this journey to find so many wonderful things and ways it has enhanced my life.

I have found health, weight loss,  confidence, drive and determination.

I have found friends, fire, peace and an inner athlete.

I have found a passion I never knew existed. I have even found a way to fuel my love of writing.

Today I even found money!

During my 3 mile run around the neighborhood this morning, I stumbled upon a crisp dollar bill! :) I found it to be a sign. A sign of all the wonderful things I have found on this journey.

lucky dollar found on run

I didn't start this blog to make money. I still have never made a penny from it. Making anything on this blog has never been the goal (though, if someday it helped fund a pair of running shoes or two - I wouldn't be opposed.)  :)

Truthfully, I started it as a way to keep myself motivated and in the game. I knew that if even just one person was reading this thing, it would help keep me accountable. Especially in the early days when running was so out of my grasp of ways I would define myself.

The blog started to take shape and I found a few key people that have kept me going. People who inspire me everyday. Presently, this blog still keeps me grounded and on-track. I take pride that every once in a while, something I share, whether it's about my own personal struggles or successes might actually inspire someone else or encourage someone else in their own journey.

Yesterday I came home to see a ton of new twitter followers. Hmmm. I was sure it was some kind of spam. I was wrong.

Somehow, in some unexplained way, Lolo Jones, an Olympic hurdler found my blog. She tweeted my "Five crappy excuses I've made to get out of a run" blog. To all 35, 722 followers. WOW!! 

I admire this woman - she is a top-notch athlete and inspiration. She is a class act all the way. The fact that she may have even read my blog gave me an excitement that cannot be explained - the fact that she shared my blog - blew me away. 

So I thought I'd check my blog stats. For those of you who do not blog, it's just a way to see how many people have checked out your blog.

I don't get a ton of hits. Maybe (more or less) around 100 on a good post - 200 on a great one. That's exciting enough for me. Yesterday's 'retweeted' blog? 1949!  WHAT!?

It's just too cool for words.

What do I think will happen with all of this? Well Adsense might eventually deliver me the whopping .06 for that amount of hits -- but whatever. For my little modest blog and my little modest journey to have even one person read it has done my soul good - this was an incredible gift.

Running pays, if you keep your feet on the ground and your head in the game - the blessings are everywhere.

XO

Jen