I remember the day I finally started Ali On The Run. I had been reading lots of “healthy living” and running-focused blogs at the time and wanted to get in on the action.
I’m a paid writer and editor by day, but finding my blogging voice — and figuring out exactly what I wanted my blog to be — took some time. I was debating whether or not I had the desire to run a full marathon (that didn’t take long to decide) and was spending lots of time taking classes at the gym.
The gym stuff hasn’t changed. In fact, today I can barely walk between last night’s brutal Chisel class and this morning’s delightful 7-mile run around the Reservoir.
I recall thinking, “I wonder if I’ll still be blogging a year from now.” Six months later I was still blogging, and now it’s been a full year since little Ali On The Run was born.
So much has changed in the past year, and all of it has been for the better. I’m happy to report that I’m in a way better place now than I was a year ago, and this blog — and all of your blogs — is a big reason why.
I’ve learned a lot through blogging, about running, about nutrition, about Body Glide, about how to not suck at baking cookies (still working on this one) and, most importantly, about myself. I’ve met people through blogging whom I now consider to be some of my closest friends.
Blogging has given me confidence and courage. Writing about my life every day has made me want to live a better life. I’m really good at getting drunk off very little wine and I make a mean pot of macaroni and cheese (if Velveeta and Crohn’s disease could learn to get along, that would be fantastic), but I’m also getting good at making smart, healthy choices (sometimes). I’m much more conscious of my everyday decisions now that I’m writing about them all the time.
Here are a few fun facts about Ali On The Run:
- When I was trying to come up with a blog title, I wrote down everything that came to mind. One of the things I wrote down was “Ali in Runningland.” Like a play on Alice in Wonderland… Every time I come across that in my little notebook I am horrified and embarrassed.
- I love seeing what search terms people use that lead them to my blog. Some of my recent favorite are “coach cane evil genius,” “pee pool” and “the best way to pee your pants when you run a marathon.” Keep ’em coming, folks.
- I was so excited when I got my first blog comment that I freaked out and emailed my whole family.
- My most popular post ever wasn’t my Hamptons Marathon Recap. No no. Apparently people care more about Meeting My Handsome Friend than my first marathon. Damnit! Brian’s more popular than I am.
And in case you’re just joining us — welcome! — here are my favorite posts from my year of blogging:
- The post where I wrote about a finish line being the happiest place in the world. Or in my world, at least.
- My recap from the National Half Marathon. I loved every mile of that race.
- My Ode to New Runners.
- The post where I finally got to announce that I had been selected as a Run For The Rabbit finalist. After all those weeks where I was blatantly lying to everyone saying I “hadn’t heard anything yet.” I’m sorry.
- The 26 lessons I learned in my 26 years of life.
- My story about how I got started running.
- The semi-pissed off post I wrote about having Crohn’s disease.
- The post where I realized that running has taken over my life — and where I realized that I’m completely fine with it.
- The post about the day I finally felt like a runner.
- The post that I wrote when I was a month away from running the Hamptons Marathon. Everything was coming together brilliantly and I was so freakin’ excited about the race.
- The post about my favorite night ever.
- The post I wrote explaining all the reasons it’s great to run with friends.
- The post where I kind of freaked out about the Hamptons Marathon.
- The post where I detailed all the important numbers in my life at the time.
- The post I wrote about how being strong is sexier than being super skinny.
- The Thankful Things Thursday series, which I thought would be fun once and has become a mainstay here in Ali Land.
Thank you all so much for reading, for commenting and for sharing your thoughts with me every day. Cheers to another year!
0 Responses
Love your posts, Ali, keep em’ coming! Also, way to go on a great marathon! For the record, you haven’t come close to wearing out the post-race grace period for deconstructing, reminiscing about, and generally re-living the experience!
AB
Happy Birthday, Ali on the Run:) So glad I found you (through Tina, Carrots and Cake)!!
Congrats! I have to say, as a new blogger…your blog is definately one of the ones I see pop up in Google Reader and I go “OH goodie!” Keep it coming!
Happy Blog Birthday!! I remember when I first found your blog, is that weird? Your blog has become one my favorites! 🙂
Happy blog birthday!! I actually can’t believe it’s only been a year – seems like you’ve been doing this for much longer. I’m glad we’ve finally met and become more than just internet strangers who pretend to be friends. Hoping for more on the run adventures in the next year! 🙂
Congrats! You have written some amazing content. While Brian seems really, really wonderful…your marathon post KICKED ASS.
I remember when you started your blog!! I thought you were one kick-ass chick then and I still think you are today, Ali 🙂
A very happy first blogging birthday to you! I just started reading your blog within the past week or so and a I love it already. I just started my own running blog for a senior project for college. Hopefully it’ll last more than a semester and I too can make it to one year! Looking forward to following you as you continue on your running journey! Happy blogging 🙂
Happy first blogging birthday! I have gone back and read every one of your posts, and very much enjoy reading what you have to say! You help to motivate me to get out and run, and learning to love sweat too:)
HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY! I can’t wait to go back and read some of these whilst watching Glee– watching people dance and read Ali on the Run? I can’t think of anything more appropriate. I’d be better if it were SYTYCD or something…
Happy 1st Birthday. Your blog and I share the big day :).
Glad you continued to blog after 6 months or I may have never had the pleasure or reading your hilarious posts.
Happy Blogiversary! Yours is one of the first I read every day. Way too much fun 🙂 Xoxo, Sarah
Congrats on the blog anniversary. I am a new reader–been reading since your marathon–and I am in love with your blog… Like full-on (almost wrote hard on, whoops!) blog crush! 🙂
Keep the posts ‘a comin!
Congrats on the one year anniversary, Ali! I love your blog and am so glad I was able to get to meet you. You are as funny and genuine in person as you seem on your blog! Looking forward to many more hilarious posts!
happy blog birthday!
Happy blog anniversary! 🙂
Happy Birthday to your blog! I look forward to reading it every morning. It always brings a smile to my face 🙂
Yayy!! Happy birthday Ali On The Run! Can’t wait to keep reading!
Happy anniversary!! One year is a long time, and I hope you will not stop blogging anytime soon, because you are truely inspiring and its fun to follow you on your journeys!
You and your blog bring so much joy to me on a regular basis! Always inspirational and uplifting. And real. I’m so glad you started blogging, because otherwise we’d just pass each other regularly in Central Park and not know each other at all. How sad would that be? I hope I see you soon because I miss you already!
Happy Birthday!! I can’t believe you are only one!! Your blog is amazing and you have so many wonderful followers, i just assumed you have been blogging forever, I would love to hear how you got your way into the blog world and made your mark 🙂
Yay for reaching a year. I’ve really enjoyed your blog; its been very inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
If I had to pick only ONE blog to read everyday, it’d be this one. Thanks for sharing your journey Ali. I’ll keep on reading as long as you keep on writing 🙂
Yay congrats on the 1 year! I love your blog 😀
Happy 1-year anniversary to you and your blog! I have always wanted to write one (and have actually attempted to do so twice), but it always dwindles. So thanks for your efforts, and daily inspiration 🙂
Happy first year anniversary Ali’s blog! 🙂
That’s so exciting that you’re running Vegas… I’ll be running it too and will hope to see your I Love Sweat shirt! 🙂
and PS… more I Heart Sweat Shirts pleaseeee! I was too late for the boat 🙁
I’m only a few weeks into reading your blog but I absolutely love your “blogging voice.” I’m a huge healthy blog reader so I’m hoping to jump into it as well but still trying to think of my angle, ya know? Anyways just wanted to say keep up the great work & happy first anniversary!
Just when I needed inspiration…
I have currently begun my 30k Around the Bay training early – to sort of iron out the kinks of a previous injury – and to say the very least, I desperately needed a source of inspiration to keep me going. And, brilliantly enough, your blog was featured on the front page of WordPress.com. Yay! another runner – funny as hell, too – who is blogging about the hellish training regime and such, woo hoo!
To sum it up, I would like to thank you for sharing with the world your experiences. Your posts keep me motivated, and eager to keep on running! Keep up the good work, my fellow runner!
Congrats Ali! Your blog is by far one of my fave’s! Cheers to another fun year of Ali on the Run to come!
Happy Blogiversary, Ali!
Congrats!! I absolutely love your blog–I didn’t find it until your marathon recap, but it made me a big crying mess, and now you are def one of my favs! 🙂
Happy birthday to Ali on the Run Blog!!! That is so exciting. I feel that same way about blogging as you do…I have learned so much this year, and I can give blogging (and READING blogs, i.e. this one) so much credit!
Happy Anniversary! Keep those good posts coming!
Happy Anniversary to Ali On The Run! Ali, you’ve quickly turned into the first blog I read on a daily basis. I’m so happy you write and share your life with us! 🙂
Happy blogaversary! Thank you for the daily fun, insight, and inspiration!!
Please stick a candle in some 16 handles,or get a little cake,(or a big one…one can never have too many celebratory goodies!) and celebrate- you deserve it!
Happy Anniversary to your blog! I’m a pretty new follower so I’m really excited that you shared some of your favorite posts so I can catch up! Here’s to another great year of blogging!
Happy Blogaversary! I love your blog and I’m glad that you didn’t quit blogging. And running bloggers are awesome! I would know, I’m one of them. 😛
Woot! Happy blog-versary! You crack me up on a daily basis- I seriously thought you’d been blogging longer than a year! 🙂
Wow, I cannot believe you’ve only been blogging 1 year. I love your honest and hilarious writing style, and of course that blogging has brought us together for runs and for fun! Congrats on the blog-a-versary and here’s to another year for Ali in Runningland 😉
Congrats Ali! I’m so glad you are still blogging one year later, even though I didn’t find your blog until a month ago.
I love how you freaked out about your first blog comment, I do the same thing! I always tell my husband, “someone I don’t know commented on my blog”! My mom and his mom were the only consistent people to comment for a little while, but now I have had a few “stranger” comments.
If I’m still blogging one year from the start of my blog, hopefully my husband and I will be less than a month away from our first marathon!
Happy Blogerversary (or something like that)! I’m so happy I found your blog and that we’ve become close buddies!!! You’re such an inspiration and I LOVE your writing style! I love coming back here to read your posts and can’t wait for more in the upcoming year!!! xo
Congratulations on your one year anniversary! I am so impressed with the way that you’ve made your blog grow so much in just one short year!
I’m in the special ed blogging class and after a year and some change, I’ve got like 2% of your readership. But still I love it so I keep on doing it. Can you share how you managed to make your blog so big in such a short time?
Happy Birthday Ali 🙂 I’ve always thought you were one of the funniest people I’ve ever met (especially when you got me to do cartwheels all over the quad during Orientation….I thought we were cool?)… but online you are even funnier. I enjoy your writing SO SO MUCH don’t ever stop!!
Congrats Ali!
Happy Blog-iversary! I love reading your posts!
Happy Anniversary then! Keep the posts coming 🙂
Happy Blog Birthday! I don’t remember exactly how I found your bog, but I’m so glad I did. Your energy is infectious and your writing is so light-hearted and fun. I’ve enjoyed fllowing your running, working, gym and relationship journey!
Cheers from Holland xxx
Congrats on your blogoversary! One of my favorite posts of all time (anywhere!) is your “Strong is Sexy” post! I always enjoy reading your posts. Keep up the good reads!
Definitely agree on this one – that post was awesome.
Love this blog. And sweat!
This is great inspiration for me! I have been blogging for 5 months about training for my first marathon. I hope I am still blogging after a year and inspiring people like you are!
Happy blog birthday! Have a great day!
Congrats! I absolutely love your blog and it is really a delight to read it. Your story is so inspiring. Honestly I cannot believe that you have only been blogging a year.
Happy anniversary! When’s the party??
agreed!
YAY for bloggy birthdays!! Can’t believe you’ve only been blogging for a year! Seems like it’s been way longer than that!
Congrats Ali!! You have turned your blog into such a personal, fun, happy and informative haven for yourself and your readers…you have SO many people that love you and that’s half of what I love about your blog, seeing all of the comments and interaction. Isn’t it amazing to get comments and reply and connect?? It’s one of my favorite things about blogging too. Happy blogoversary!!
Happy anniversary! I love that I’ve been reading your blog from almost the very beginning!
Congrats Ali! Love your blog and love you! You’re such an amazing writer, runner and human being 😉 Look forward to many more entertaining posts.
False. If you loved me, NEIGHBOR, you would bring me cookies and cupcakes daily. I don’t believe your lies.
(But really, you’re so nice. And thank you.)