It turns out I completely missed my 10th blogging anniversary. I’m like the Hallmark movie preoccupied spouse, who only remembers months later because the silent treatment has been going on too long.
But the truth is while I started the blog in 2005, I promptly took nearly a year hiatus, followed by another false start.
Suddenly in July 2007, everything began to click and RunToTheFinish started to become a place I was drawn to every day.
- 10 years, 120 months, 3652 days
- Over 2,500 blog posts
- Avg of 250 posts per year
- From hobby to job
- From short personal posts to detailed, researched articles
- From not a single image to learning to use a real camera
- Genuinely more fun each year
- How I’ve met some of my best friends
- How I’ve had some of my greatest experiences
I think I might be the poster child for consistency and habit, which for anyone who asks me about starting a blog are the two key ingredients!
What have you ever done for 10 years straight?! Doesn’t sound like a super long time, until I realize the only other thing I’ve done longer is run and be with my handsome man.In 2007, blogs we just diaries you shared with the world. It was a way for me to connect with other runners because I wasn’t surrounded by them at home. The resulting 10 years weren’t planned, I didn’t have any idea it could become a job or that people would invest in what I had to say enough to fly me around the world.
Grateful, humbled, thrilled…simple words, but I feel them to my core every time I look at what’s happened here.
My first post was on December 31st of 2005 with these prolific words it all began:
“For 2006 I am shall we say turning over a new foot. I will be making a goal to blog regarding my running at least 2 times a week.
I feel strong in my running right now, but know it can be even better and more fun, which is really the long term goal. Well that and letting my inner hottie shine through! ” {hey I was 25 and not yet married, inner hottie was a great goal!}
Short and sweet, that’s how all my posts were for many years!
Thank goodness because my writing needed some time to mature, along with my thoughts on an inner hottie. Though I’ve been pruning my nearly 2,500 blog posts to those with better content, it was fun to see running again through my 25 year-old mindset. Like the exuberance of running a race with my very first GPS watch, after running for years with just a plain old stopwatch.Another oldie that I liked from when I lived in Kansas City:
What’s she doing? How odd? It’s too hot out for that. It’s too early for that.
These are the things I imagine that drivers are saying as they pass me on a hot morning, as I bound along singing to some random country song. I know physical activity has become a thing of the past, especially physical activity outdoors, but people really needn’t look at me like I am a martian.
Occasionally there are the honks to let me know they support my endeavors, that or my bum is hanging out who knows. I used to get upset when someone honked, but now I wave and mentally say “bet you wish you were me”.
I’m glad that of all the addictions I could have picked up in my life, I came to running. Weird, sweaty, hard and strange as it is to the rest of the non-running world I love it and really prefer not to go a day without it.
Ok and this one:
Running has been my catalyst to see myself more clearly and overcome the demons that developed during middle school! Knowing that I have pushed myself just a little farther than I thought possible, seeing my body for it’s amazing potential and capabilities rather than as something that needs to fit into society’s mold.
Today I went running at the gym, where I could find only a treadmill facing a full length mirror. Thus I got to watch myself for 4.5 miles…really, no one looks terribly attractive with sweat dripping down their face, a radio strapped to their arm and their mouth hanging open, but I can honestly say I was smiling the whole run as I watched my legs in amazement thinking how wonderful it is that they carry me just because I ask them to and how lucky I am to be able to use them for something I enjoy.
In case you’re wondering how that first resolution went…it lasted for 2 weeks and then I didn’t blog again until July of 2007, which is what I consider to be my true blog birthday because since then very few breaks have been taken and like any new baby I’ve gone from crawling to walking to running!
I even started my first 30 day challenge that July, which lead to a year long series of 30 day challenges that many of my readers participated in over the years and of course the long running Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge.
Here is my first ever attempt at creating a logo, which was for the 2008 challenge. I didn’t even get an actual logo for RTTF until 5 years ago or so! And let’s be real, this logo might work now as everyone seems to want BOOTIE gains :)Those challenges were one of the first ways I truly began to go from a place of thinking about my running to thinking about how to help others enjoy it as well and I often long to do them again…minus the ridiculous amount of work.
History of a Blog Job
Beyond the changes in what I post is the entire change that has happened around blogs!
2005-2009
Never told anyone at the digital company I worked for that I had a blog…it felt silly or too weird for them to know everything about me. But I started to notice some fun opportunities were becoming available to me because of the blog.
People wanted to send me things?! People wanted to invite me to fun events?! People thought I had a valuable insight and opinion on running?! Here I’m totally runnerding out over a Miami run with Scott Jurek in 2009. As the years went on I spent enough time with Bart Yasso that Googlng “Bart Yasso‘s girlfriend actually returned a photo of me for a long time, ha!! I also had the opportunity to interview Ryan Hall, Shalane, Kara, Meb and so many other phenomenal runners that I don’t know how my motivation could ever wane. {please remember all those are old posts and oh so scary for me to look at how bad they were}
2009-2013
Blogs start turning in to a must read thing and everyone tells me they want to start a blog to get free running gear like I do. Tons of them do…and quickly realize how much work it is, so they slowly drift away.
The opportunities continue, to shift, change and propel me in a new direction. I’ve shown up in 3 magazines, which is fun even though I never submitted an article for a true byline. I thought that’s really where I wanted to go, but the blog kept pulling back with it’s own opportunities for a career.
2014-2017
The number of blogs continues to grow, but everyone is so focused on how to make money that I think they’re struggling to connect.
It’s a strange shift and certainly one I understand as I’m very lucky RTTF is a full time job. But..I think those just looking for a pay day are surprised at the effort, time and monotony. I love talking about running, but if you don’t love your topic, it’s a like having a hit single you hate but must perform repeatedly.
Especially as I talked about in My Life is My Job!
When I started we didn’t use photos, then we used these itty bitty thumbnails…now you need massive glossy images, plus time to promote your post on too many social media channels to keep up with. I know that the way blogs are used and read is shifting, I don’t know what the future will hold, but I do know I feel good about the choices I’ve made here!
I’ve found a style of writing that fits my personality {I love the actionable info} and it seems you like it too! So I’ll keep on moving and evolving…next up…a lot more video! Here’s to many more years of sharing my passion for running and connecting with more of you!
GIVEAWAY
You know 10 years in marriage is the diamond anniversary…I think that probably translates to blogs as well. So feel free to send sparkly gifts.
In the meantime, of course there’s a giveaway for you! One winner will receive goodies from some of my great partners: a Under Armour Women’s Outfit, a mix of my favorite Once Again Nut Butters, Vega Sport Plant Based Protein Powder and a gift box from Blue Diamond Almonds!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
What have you done consistently for 10 years?
Any favorite posts from RTTF?
Other ways to connect with Amanda
Instagram: RunToTheFinish
Facebook: RunToTheFinish
Sign Up to Receive a Weekly Newsletter with Top Running Tips
Susie @ Suzlyfe
The heartiest and heartfelt congratulations, Amanda! You are an incredible runner, writer, blogger, and businesswoman, and I look forward to another 10 years of awesomeness from you, regardless of where those years take you professionally. Long may you run!
Susie @ Suzlyfe
Oh, and in answer to your question, I went to school for nearly 19 years, I rode competitively for 19 years, I’ve been running pretty seriously for *almost* 10 years, and I’ve been with my now husband for 9 years (same amount of time as when I started taking running seriously!)
Jill @ RunEatSnap
10 years – wow! I am coming up on my 2 year blogiversary and I can’t believe it’s already been that long. The time sure does fly by. Considering I went back to school 7 years ago and feel like a completely different person than I was 10 years ago, I can’t say there’s anything I have done consistently for 10 years but I’ve been running for 7.5 years so not too far away I’ll hit the big 1-0 mark for that!
Lindsey @ livinglovingrunner
Congrats! I love learning more about running through your posts :)
paige c
i have followed my heart in all aspects of life for at least 10 years :)
Tara
I really appreciate your posts on injuries and injury prevention…I’ve had many over the years and your ITB and knee posts have been really helpful!
Amy Lauren Scott
All of those prizes sound awesome! You were one of the first running blogs I read, but you’ve been blogging for way longer than I thought. I remember those holiday challenges too.
The best post I’ve read lately was your post about DNFing the race, that was a good one with so many good points. You were really smart to listen to your body and not try to push through.
Shay WLBM
Ten years? That is awesome! Congrats.
What have I done? Raised my girls! Goodness, Ten years ago they would have been 6 & 9 and both in elementary school. Now I have two Juniors! One a high school junior and the other a college junior.
Katrina
It’s beautiful that you’ve been able to make a living inspiring so many! Congratulations!
Teresa Eskew
Congratulations on your anniversary. I just discovered your blog this year and look forward to many more years reading.
I have consistently run now for over 20 years and plan another 20. I want to be that little old lady crossing the finish line.
Aimee
Congratulations on the anniversary! My husband and I will have been together for 19 years on the 11th. I’ll have been at my job for 10 yrs in October. And I’ve been run/walking for 7.
Meg Rut
Congrats on 10 years!! I just started running about 3 years ago and love following your blog! I have been a dancer for 18 years and can’t wait until I reach the 10 year mark for running!!
Stephanie
I love that your posts focus on all aspects of running! Form, injury prevention, nutrition, athletic wear, etc. Your blog is my go to when looking up anything run-related :)
Jenny
Congratulations on 10 years! I haven’t done anything consistently for 10 years since I got out of school. My husband and I have been together for 8, so that is getting close!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home
Your blog was one of the first I read and you continue to inspire me to this day. Instead of going all for the $$, you keep putting out fresh content and keeping it real. Thanks for setting the bar high and keep doing what you do!
Margaret
Congratulations Coach! I think the one thing I’ve done consistently for close to 10 years is working in the same career! Running has been a part of my life for 5 years, but here’s hoping I’ll make it to the 10 year mark!
amanda
Thanks girl!!!!
Tamieka
Congratulations!!
Hearing get that you started, stopped and started again gives me hope that I will get this blogging thing down ….lol.
I liked….consistency and habit, …..so true!! Something I need to work on.
Let’s see what have I done consistenly for 10 years…..marriage and playing football.
Congratulations again !!
Alicia @Bridges Through Life
I took tap dance for 10 years and then continued through college and hoping to start up again at an adult class at a dance studio near by. I’ve been with my fiance for 8 years and I think we are getting married around our 10 year as we are saving money currently.
amanda
oh that’s so neat! I wish I had better dance skills. I took jazz for a hot minute at age 7.
Emily
10 years is a LONG time Amanda. So so excited that you stayed with it, that it became your job, and that you can share your passion for running, exploring, and living. <3
Laura @ This Runner's Recipes
A heartfelt congrats on 10 years of blogging! Your blog was one of the ones that inspired me to start my own – especially since I started reading yours in 2013 and saw how you turned blogging and writing into your own career. My favorite posts of yours have been the sports nutrition ones, especially that recent one about working out too much and gaining weight – your insight is so valuable. I spent about 10 years studying Latin (some years more focused that others – and now 3 years off and I’m forgetting some of it!) and 12 years of doing Pilates – and running for 9 years now!
Marsha
I’ve been a runner for more than 10 years. I workout/move every day. Love your blog. I often find helpful running tips and sound nutrition advice. Thank you for being here!
amanda
I feel like we’ve both been around a long time in the blog world!!
Kim N
Sheesh! I don’t even know if I’ve ever done anything consistently for 10 years. I started reading blogs probably circa 2010 – yours was one of the first with participating in HBBC. I only started running in 2010 – so I’d like to say running has been consistent with the exception of injuries for 7 years!
Tabitha
10 years is so long but I’m glad you do it. I really enjoy reading your blog.
Umpan Ikan Mas Galatama
Artikel di blog ini sangat senang di baca.. thanks ya bro – http://jayapancing.com/umpan-ikan-mas-galatama/
Lessons in Badassery
Congratulations on your Blogversary! We love your site. We post about women in sport, fitness and adventure, please see our latest post here – http://lessonsinbadassery.com
Thanks in advance,
Lessons In Badassery
Jen M
Congratulations on TEN years!!!
I’ve done quite a few things for ten years or longer… including my current job, my spouse, my kids, and running.
I’d love some free Under Armour wear! (P.S. I’m a nurse; every time I see UA, I first think urinalysis, then Under Armour.)
Beth
I would have to say my relationship with my husband has been the only consistent thing these past 10 years. It’s crazy to think that we started dating 11 years ago as a naïve 20 year old and got married shortly after. We’ve been through so much together. We were both in the military when we got together. We’ve both been through both sides of having a spouse deployed or being the spouse deployed. And now we both completed the transition to more normal civilian life. Multiple moves, happy times, and sad times, running injuries and kids. I can’t imagine a life without him.
Johanna Steinbacher
Congratulations! I truly enjoy the content and inspiration you share!
Cathy
Congratulations. My blogging only lasted a year, I hope my running lasts longer!
Tessa
Congrats! Other than working at the same job, I’m not sure what I’ve done for the last 10 years. I’ve been running for the last 5 years and hope to make it to 10!
Jeffrey
I’ve been running fairly consistent for about the last 10 years and it has really changed my life. I eat healthier and am in better shape in my 40s than I was in my 20s!
Amanda S
Congrats, Amanda! So glad you live in Denver now too :) Your blog is awesome and helped me get to a sub-two half with lots of other bonus super useful running information. Now I’ve got all my fingers and toes crossed for a speedy recovery to get back at it 100% because we’ve gotta run some trails!
amanda
yes I’m dying to get back out on the trails with you!
Erin Risk
I love any of your posts on running gear, there is so much out there I like to hear your thoughts and reviews!
Kasey
I think the only thing I have done for ten years is competitive figure skating! Which now makes me miss it like crazy!!
Jenny Albertson
Run. I’ve consistently run for 10 years, more than that now. I love it.
Lisa V
Congrats!!! For the past 10 years I’ve been a pediatric and labor and delivery nurse and either taking care of my 4 kids!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt
Congrats!!! Your blog has always been an inspiration for me! I’ve been blogging for 5 years, but you’ve got everyone beat! I’m having trouble thinking of anything I’ve done for 10 years too :-).
Jen
I’ve run for 28, been married for 26, been a mom for 20, been my own boss for 14 years, been in a bowling team for 10 years, done crossfit for 8 years, and only had my blog for 4 years ( or 5?)but going for 10+
Erica @ Erica Finds
Congrats! For 10 years… I’ve been married to the same man (15 years), running (20+), lived in Chicago (nearly 11), had many friends, almost made 10 years in my first job out of school (8.5), had the same car… probably more things but those are the big ones!
Sarah N
I’m not sure I’ve done anything for 10 years. I’ve been running for 8 years and plan to keep at it long past 10 years. I’ve been close friends with a few people for more than 10 years. I’ve known my husband about 15 years but we’ve only been together 8 and married 6.
Mai Drummond
Congrats on your blog-aversary! I have only been running consistently for 5 years, but this year marks 10 years with my husband. Can’t wait for my 10 year run-aversary!
Jenna
I have worked with children at a speech therapist the past 10 years!
Patty
I’ve also been married for almost 10 years (in Oct). Congratulations on 10 years!
Heather
Running and life with my amazing husband have been pretty much ch the only two consistent things for me the past 10 years. Running kept me sane when the rest of life was crazy.
Crystal H.
Congratulations!! I have consistently run for ten years and developed an even deeper love and connection with the practice.
May you run and blog for another decade!
Kristen M
I’ve been running consistently for at least 10 years now…much longer than my blogging “career” which lasted about 3 years.
Leis Ellison
Congrats Coach! You and RTTF have been instrumental in getting me safely back into running and through 5 half marathons – – injury free! Can’t wait to see what the next 10 years bring for you and the RTTF community!
Thanks for all your hard work on the blog!
amanda
All the hearts!!!1 :) so excited for your next 10K
Christine
I’ve been a runner for over half my life! (16 years, I’m 30)
MaryEllen
Lots of things!! But, I’d say exercised consistently every morning!!
Sara Yoder
Great work!
Cassi
I’ve been at my job for 11 years. Other than that I don’t know what I’ve done consistently for 10 years.
Sadie B.
I have been a mother for 10 years. Loving staying home with them!
Julie M
Wow! The other day a co-worker told me she’d been going to bootcamp (cg) for 5 years straight and I thought to myself, I’ve never committed to one thing for that long. And now you are asking what I’ve done for 10 years straight? Nothing…unless grade school counts.
Shirley
Congrats on blogging for 10 years!!! I post something several times a week on Facebook, but I haven’t hit 10 years yet–that won’t be until 2019. So I guess something I’ve done consistently for TEN years would be taking digital photographs, starting with mine and my family’s first digital camera in 2007. (Exercise–or attempting to exercise would be another one–except for some breaks when injured, so not sure if I can count it….)
stacey
I have done a variety of dvd workouts for 10 years. My favorite things are just under 10 years though at 8 years which is been with my fiance and run! Two more years to go to make it to that magic 10 year mark!!
Joe Bendig
10 Years is pretty amazing, I have tried blogging but wind up running out of things to blog about. Keep up the great work. Love reading your stuff.
Katie
Gosh I’m not sure I’ve done ANYTHING consistently for 10 years so that’s impressive on its own! You already know but I love your series on HR training :) keep it up!
Deb E
Congrats on the diamond blogiversary! I’ve been a registered nurse for over 10 years (not my first career) and enjoy reading so many blogs, mostly health-related. Some of my faves have disappeared and I know it can be a lot of work, so thanks for all your effort!
Karen D
Congrats! I have run my own small business for 10 years.
Latanya
my fave post is “5 Secrets to Simplify Your Training (and get back to your life)”
Jenn Richter
For 10 years, I have parented and put everyone else in front of myself! Until this January. I started back at school to finish college after graduating 20 years ago, I joined CrossFit on May 1, have completed two back to back Whole30’s, lost 15lbs, gained tons of muscle and have a total transformation in the works. For 10 years, I was the women I had to be and feel wonderful about my choice, but now it is my time to shine!
amanda
Jenn I love this!!!! kudos to you!!
Cheryl B
I managed for the last ten years to stay either walking or running, which is difficult with my RA.
Bree
I’ve been running for 10 years too! I was a little less of a runner right after college while I was adjusting to real life (which is crazy because running would have helped me so much during that time! Haha). Running is the most consistent thing in my life besides my family and friends and I love it. Congrats on 10 yeas of blogging!! I love reading 😊😊
Holly
Congratulations on your blogiversary! I have really enjoyed your posts about food – eating more whole foods and less sugar!