I bought the blog a birthday bagel. But since blogs can’t eat, I ate it.

When I started this blog, one year ago today, it was for the express purpose of getting men and women who might be stuck – emotionally, physically, spiritually – to see how regular exercise, and specifically running, might be part of the way out for them. I thought that by sharing my own story and my own struggles with depression and motivation and then sharing some of my favorite strategies and tips (and my failures!), it would be fun for me and (hopefully) helpful to others. But honestly? If all it did was give me an outlet for my off-the-wall thoughts and a place to document my race adventures, I was good with that, too.

Here we are, 7000 hits and a year later (and I think roughly half of those may have been my mom but it’s all good), and I have been floored by how much fun it’s been! We’ve had great conversations on the FB page, and many of you have emailed me and we’ve chatted about your own personal issues. I would say the thing I’ve heard most consistently is how my vulnerability about my struggle with depression has resonated with so many of you. I honestly never would have imagined that I would still be writing weekly a year later, but here we are and it’s become a true joy and a bright spot in my week. And bonus, it’s kept me motivated on my own path! Can’t exactly write about things I’m not willing to do myself and knowing that I would be checking in with all of you has kept me lacing up and getting out the door!

OK, so to celebrate, here is the list of MY favorite posts from the last year:

The Day After Boston
The Chicago Marathon
Why My Running Has Everything to Do With Mother’s Day
The WDW Marathon!

I have some people to thank for this amazing year. My oldest son, Jack, who doesn’t ever want me to talk about him but who has provided the IT support for this little endeavor. Thanks, First Born. Couldn’t have done it without you. I love you very much. And when are you going to run another half with me?

To Matt and Wil who have heard me say more times than they can count “not now, I’m blogging” and have always understood and knew that if they stood in front of me and said “but it’s an emergency” I would always stop and pay attention to them. Even if often the emergency was that we were out of Cheez-its. I love you my precious twin boys and love how patient you are with your crazy mom. And I can’t wait until we run at WDW together!

To Scott who is my true equal partner in love and in life for the past 23 years. Thanks for all the crock-pot dinners you prepared before you left to go out of town, all the times you cleaned out the fridge (because I’m really bad at it) and all the loads of laundry you’ve done. Because you love me well I’m free to work, to write, to run and to play and even to go on weekend trips with my crazy running friends. And you always send me off happily knowing how good it is for me. Love you so much!! And I still think you’re crazy for running the Goofy next year.

And finally, to my Crazy Running Friends. You girls never cease to amaze me with your courage, your tenacity, and your capacity for drinking large amounts of alcohol at Disney World while still able to walk and get back to your hotel room (especially since one drink in I need a nap). We’ve laughed together, cried together and motivated each other and without you, I for sure would not be the runner (or the woman!) I am today. Love you, Girls. You know who you are.

And, to close our celebration, my all time favorite running video. The one that still comes to my mind every time I run a race, and that makes me laugh and has me yelling to perfect strangers “Second Wind, Baby, There It Is!” Thank you, Rob Thomas! Couldn’t have done it without you.

Happy Running! See you next Saturday. (oh, and don’t worry, I’ll announce the winner of the birthday box over on the Running For My Life FB page in just a bit! You thought I forgot, didn’t ya?)

Jen