runladylike.com turns 2

July 9, 2014

Two years ago today, runladylike.com was born.

runladylike.com turns 2
Source (approved for use)

After several months of planning and finally coming up with a name that combined the words “run” and “unladylike” at a restaurant with Mr. rUnladylike (yes, such a romantic dinner topic!), I started this little journey that has transformed into a life-changing experience and one of the greatest passions in my life. What began as a platform to talk about running and share learnings from my personal journey has become a meaningful opportunity to connect with and learn from all of you – to celebrate your successes, to support each other through our struggles and to become a little better each day by reading about our shared wins, ideas and tips.

It might be my second birthday, but today is not about me. It’s about YOU! Thank you for going on this journey with me. Thank you for stopping by when you can and for sharing your comments, encouragement and inspiration. Thank you for being such wonderful partners in this awesome running community we share.

runladylike.com turns 2 -- Thank you!

To celebrate (drum roll please …), I’m going to do 1K repeats today (*cue terrifying Jaws theme song*) and sit in a jury selection room to fulfill my summons at federal jury duty (*cue depressing, soap opera music*). I’m clearly a party animal. But mostly, I’ll be thinking back to that first day when I had some big goals and big dreams and smiling about the 730 days that have followed.

As I did on my first birthday, I’m answering some fun questions to take a little journey down memory lane from my second year.

What were the most popular posts I wrote during year 2?
Lowering Your Core Body Temperature
Strength Training for Runners
Do the Brooks Transcend really live up to all the hype?
Perform Your Best with the Proper Warm Up before Running
Half Marathon Race Day Playlist

What were my favorite posts from year 2?
10 Truths about Running
A Letter to the Editor: We Need More Runners
Why Running a Marathon is Like Dating an Unstable Boyfriend
You Know You’re a Triathlete When …
What Defines Running Success?
The 10 Commandments of Spectating
How to Keep (or Salvage) Relationships While Training for Triathlons

What was my first post ever? What was my first post from year 2?
My first post ever was And Along Came rUnladylike, and my first post from this past year was rUnladylike Turns 1-year-old.

What accomplishments am I most proud of?
During the past year, I’m most proud of my recent half marathon and marathon PRs and going through a challenging and thorough marathon coaching certification process.

runladylike.com turns 2
From left to right: ZOOMA Florida Half Marathon (January), Albany Marathon (March), Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Half Marathon (June)

Best rave run?
I’ve been fortunate to run in some really amazing places during the past year. I think my favorite run from year 2 was in Monterey, California, along the Monterey Coastal Trail. I ran with Mr. rUnladylike and we had a run that felt amazing with some jaw-dropping views. Plus, we had seals as our spectators, which I thought was pretty cool!

runladylike.com turns 2 (remembering running in Monterey, CA)

What has been the most challenging aspect of the past year?
Just like last year, I have continued to struggle with juggling all my competing commitments and still training with discipline and consistency. Consistency has been a challenge for me this year. One week I will do amazing and the next week I will fight to get 4 good days of work in. It’s a balancing act (or more like a constant game of Jenga when I’m about to crash down at any second). It was hard for me to make the decision to focus just on running and give up training for triathlon. We just have to prioritize the best we can and make time for the things that are most important.

What has been the biggest surprise?
How much believing in yourself and your abilities really affects your physical performance. It’s true, and it works! It has been a game-changer for me this past year.

What are my other favorite blogs right now?
There are so many blogs and bloggers I read and love, but these are a few of my go-tos I enjoy reading most!

What were my most unladylike moments?
If you’ve been reading runladylike.com for a while, you know I love sharing the unladylike adventures of running and training. I recently summed up my most unladylike moments here, mainly which include peeing in my pants (often) and being way too comfortable with pooping anywhere.

Now, I’m closing my eyes and making a wish. Here’s to a run happy year #3 and a fabulous year of running and training for all of you!

More ways to connect with rUnladylike:

Are there any topics you’d like me write more about during runladylike.com’s third year? Do you have any questions you’d like me to answer? If not, share your favorite moment from the past year.

Comments

Allie

Happy Anniversary/Birthday!!! Such a great post and a good way for me to catch-up a little bit. Thank you so much for the shout out!!! I’ve got some great company there 🙂 I hear you on focusing on “just” running – so tough but I’m in the same boat. It’s also a challenge every single day to get my workouts in!!!

Alexis Teevens

Happy blog birthday!! I’ve been reading for about a year, and I’ve loved every post. Just re-read the marathon as moody boyfriend, and it’s awesome. You have had quite a fabulous year, both running and blogging. Hope jury duty doesn’t suck too bad today!

rUnladylike

Thank you so much Alexis!!! I really appreciate you reading and for your kind words! You’ll be at your blogiversary in no time 😉

Sarah @RunFarGirl

Happy Blog Birthday (Blirgday??) I love this recap especially your most popular posts and your favorite posts. Funny how they are totally different! Also thanks for the mention! I’m always coming back to your blog love all your informative articles…and of course all the shameless unladylike-ness of it all:)

rUnladylike

Thank you Sarah! One of my favorite things about blogging has been to get to meet other amazing bloggers and runners like you! Thanks for all your support these past two years! xo

Matt

Congratulations! Love the blog! You inspire countless numbers of runners!

rUnladylike

Thank you so much for your very thoughtful words, Matt! Right back at you! xo

Jan

Congrats on your 2nd “birthday”! I love your blog, and seeing a post notification in my inbox always makes me smile. Add me to the just running club – I’m really trying to enjoy cycling, but would so much rather just run.

rUnladylike

Awe, thank you so much for reading Jan and for following along my posts. That means so much!!! Happy running! xo

Jenny

Happy Blogiversary!!

Rachel @ Undercover Diva: A Sitcom

HAPPY SECOND BIRTHDAY, JES! I love love love your blog. I’ve learned so much from you and I look forward to year three 🙂

rUnladylike

Thank you so much Rachel! I’m SO glad you find the blog helpful and I’m honored to have you as a reader. Thanks for always sharing such helpful and supportive comments! xoxo

Kristen L

Happy second blogiversary! Keep up the great work! 🙂

Abby @ BackAtSquareZero

My grandma live sin Monterey. Soon I’ll be out there running that route every morning – happiness.

rUnladylike

It is so amazing, Abby! I wish I could run it once a week. And the weather!!!

Teresa Parkins

Loved this post! Happy Blog Birthday and wishing you many, many more to come. 🙂

Janelle @ Run With No Regrets

Happy Blogiversary! I really enjoy reading your blog, you always have such great advice. I can’t believe you’re only 2 years old!

rUnladylike

Thank you for your kind words, Janelle! So glad to have you as a reader and virtual running friend. xo

lisa j

Happy Blogibirthday! It’s amazing how a small space on the internet can bring so much more enrichment to your life— so glad you’ve had so much success thus far!

Tina Muir

Yay! Happy birthday runladylike! How exciting! You have had lots of great posts, and I look forward to many more. Honored to be one of your favorite blogs 🙂

Beth @ RUNNING around my kitchen

Happy blogbirthday! I’m a fairly new follower, so I love the list of favorite and most popular posts. As a new follower, I’m also really surprised that you’ve only had your blog for 2 years, you’ve done a lot in that time!

kristin

happy blog birthday! here’s to many more runladylike years.

Beth

Happy Blog Birthday!!! You had some amazing stuff go down in the last two years. I’m pretty stoked I made your list! Thanks so much for the shout. 😀

Kirtley Freckleton @ The Gist of Fit

Hey Jesica! I just found you thru HRG (my neighbor) and am an instant fan of yours! I think it’s awesome you’re celebrating your 2 year mark–that’s a big deal! Good job with all your running accomplishments, I am very impressed! Keep up the good work. Change the world girl!

rUnladylike

Thank you so much for stopping by Kirtley and for reading. I LOVE Janae and have enjoyed getting to know her on our Brooks trips the past 2 years. I’m excited to learn about you and follow your journey! xoxo

Tim

Congrats on reaching your two year mark! It is amazing how much traffic you have generated in such a short time. This is a testament to your strong writing, interesting topics, but perhaps more importantly, it is obvious you read every comment posted on your blog. Though I have only been reading your blog for just a short time, it is already the first one I visit each day. Keep up the fantastic work!

rUnladylike

Wow! Thank you SO much Tim! I can’t thank you enough for your extremely thoughtful words. I’m so glad you enjoy the blog and I really appreciate you reading. Happy running!!!

Gabrielle from Austria

Happy blog b-day!
run ladylike is one of my favourite blogs, thank you for your inspiring and helpful posts!
(by the way: I can practise my English reading skills….)

rUnladylike

Thank you so much Gabrielle. Your words mean a lot to me! So glad to have you as a reader. Maybe one day I’ll do a post in proper English for all my UK and Australian readers 😉 xo

Tom

Congratulations Jesica! You inspire me, and I’m particularly intrigued about how the concept of believing in yourself can have such an impact. All the best to you for continued success!

rUnladylike

Thank you Tom! I really appreciate your kind words. Cannot tell you how much the mental part of my training has positively impacted the physical part. My friend Sarah just gave me a book called Mind Gym that I’m really excited to read. The more we can train our brains the more we can do physically. So often we don’t do things or push through barriers because we don’t think we can or we’re afraid of how it will feel. But we can! Excited to see where your running journey will continue to take you! xo

Lacy @ Running Limitless

Happy Belated Blog Birthday! I have really loved reading your blog and never miss reading a post. Always great information. I especially loved re-reading your favorites and most popular posts again. It’s been great getting to know you and making a new friend through blogging. Hope to see you again this year sometime.