runladylike.com turns 2
Two years ago today, runladylike.com was born.
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.
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.
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!
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!
- Run Far Girl
- Healthy Strides
- Shut Up and Run
- DiscomBOBulated Running
- Fuel Your Future with Tina
- NEW: I recently met Allie from VitaTrain4Life and Katy from KatyWidrick.com and I’m loving their blogs!
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:
- Twitter: @rUnladylike
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runladylike
- Instagram: instagram.com/runladylike
- Pinterest: pinterest.com/JesicaD
- Daily Mile: dailymile.com/people/Jesica
- Follow on Bloglovin: https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4066335
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
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!!!
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!
Thank you so much Alexis!!! I really appreciate you reading and for your kind words! You’ll be at your blogiversary in no time 😉
Happy blog birthday! Hopefully you get one of those cupcakes 🙂
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:)
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
Congratulations! Love the blog! You inspire countless numbers of runners!
Thank you so much for your very thoughtful words, Matt! Right back at you! xo
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.
Awe, thank you so much for reading Jan and for following along my posts. That means so much!!! Happy running! xo
Happy Blogiversary!!
HAPPY SECOND BIRTHDAY, JES! I love love love your blog. I’ve learned so much from you and I look forward to year three 🙂
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
Happy second blogiversary! Keep up the great work! 🙂
My grandma live sin Monterey. Soon I’ll be out there running that route every morning – happiness.
It is so amazing, Abby! I wish I could run it once a week. And the weather!!!
Loved this post! Happy Blog Birthday and wishing you many, many more to come. 🙂
Happy Blogiversary! I really enjoy reading your blog, you always have such great advice. I can’t believe you’re only 2 years old!
Thank you for your kind words, Janelle! So glad to have you as a reader and virtual running friend. xo
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!
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 🙂
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!
happy blog birthday! here’s to many more runladylike years.
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. 😀
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!
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
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!
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!!!
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….)
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
Happy Blogiversary, Jesica!!
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!
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
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.