Running into trees (and a guest post worth reading!)

It's Friday! That means I'm off to run my first race of 2013 in the morning. My dizziness has subsided a little, so I feel pretty good about being able to run without running into a tree.

And hopefully my second round of antibiotics will kick in fast and I won't try to cough up my lungs at the end of the race.

Since I'm cramming to get everything done so I can head down to St. George for the night, I figured I would let someone else take over the blog for today.

Golden Harper is a previous all American runner who founded Altra Zero Drop Footwear, a company (based in Utah!!) run by passionate individuals committed to helping running enthusiasts achieve their dreams through biomechanically proper footwear. You can check the company's updates and their latest in their blog at altrazerodrop.com.

And here's a little insight from him on...

 

The Benefits of Keeping a Running Website

Keeping a website, blog or online diary of your running can truly help you stay motivated. This is especially true if you don't have others around you who also love running. A blog can help you feel connected to others who share the same passion. It is also a way to track your progress. Getting started is easy, though there are a few things to consider.

First, you need to select a host website. Blogger, Weebly and Wordpress are popular options. These will guide you through the creation process of your site in a step by step manner. You can choose the style, layout and other design elements. Add pictures and posts to make it personal. You will also have to come up with a title for your site. Most host sites will let you use a sub-domain name for free. This just means that your site address will have the name of your blog followed by the host site address. Professionals usually prefer having their own domain, which means their web address contains only their site name. However, there is a monthly charge for this.

Think about what kind of site you want. You can keep your blog strictly about running, providing people with tips or including pictures and times from recent races or marathons. Some enjoy reviewing products related to running, like shoes or specialty clothing. Another option is to treat it more like a journal and also include snippets from your daily life. This is another way to connect with others. You may find that there are many other runners out there who share similar struggles, like finding time for their running while working and taking care of their family. It can help to have a list of topics ready, that way you have plenty of things to write about on hand.

It can also help to think about your goals for the blog or site. Some people keep them as personal projects without much concern about views or page hits. Others open their sites up to advertising with the goal of making money. To get more readers, link your site to your Facebook or Twitter pages. Doing this allows you to share new posts with people on your social networking sites. Following similar blogs is another way to boost your views; you can also make some new acquaintances this way.

Also think about related topics. Aside from running, you can also write about eating well and share recipes that you love. Many bloggers create lists of their favorite things as well, like a particular brand of running shoe or water bottle. By doing this you can help others who are new to running or who simply haven't found the right kind of sneaker yet.

Share your passion by keeping a website about running. It is easy to set one up and it is possible to do it for free. You can share your experiences and meet others who are also interested in running or other related activities. Determine what your goals are for the site, and have fun creating your own personal page.