Thursday, July 25, 2013

Blog Post

Don't you just love the descriptive title?

I have decided to make some adjustments to my blog-- nothing major, but just some things like adding social media icons, some new tabs, maybe actually categorizing my posts, ect.

Bear with me in the next few weeks- there might be something looking kind of wonky when you visit my blog, but it is all for the best.  I promise.  Even if you aren't interested in blogging/ are going to skip this post, I would still like to hear from you:
-What is your favorite blog (design-wise and writing/content-wise)?
-Is there anything obvious (or not) that I need to include on my side bar, ect?

I am not going to give any of my own advice on blogging (yet) because I still have a ton to learn, and any suggestions would be welcome, but I will share a few websites with you that I have found tutorials on, ect. (If you have more, PLEASE let me know! I would love to learn!)

1. Codeacademy- I have not completed it yet, but it has a great HTML 101 course that has been helpful.  During this whole design process thing, I haven't done anything major with HTML coding, but it has come in handy when playing with my social media icons, ect.


2. 10 Blogging Commandments- these are nothing super specific, but they are good things to keep in mind.

3. Social Media Buttons and Tutorials- I don't have them up yet, but I have been working on them.  Believe it or not-- my blog has a twitter.  Don't get too excited, I haven't started using it yet, but soon it will be filled with all sorts of running (and non-running) tweets! So follow up!  I might even get crazy with an Instagram and even a Facebook page-- so watch the icons.  If you want some for your blog, you can Google "Free Social Media Icons" or use the link from Her New Leaf that I am using.


The whole "Primp My Blog" series on Her New Leaf is great.  She includes guest post instructions, signature image creation techniques (which I desperately need to do-- the little pictures with your blog name on it that looks super cute and everybody else has), free fonts, and pin it buttons.  Basically everything.


For you to answer:

Favorite blog?
Anything I am missing on my page that you would like to see?


Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Hi there! Runner's World Run Streak

Yes, I am still here.  Yes, I have been running (kind of).  No, I have not been blogging! I am back though!

Anyway, more on my first ever running streak!  Officially, I completed 35 days because I couldn't run until July 4th (I had to go out of town on June 30), but I ran every single day!!!! I took the week out of town as a rest week, and boy were my legs ready.  My brain was very confused when it did not have to find time to run on July 1st!  I ran every single day of June! Crazy!  I went into the streak knowing that I would not be able to finish it the last few days, but I am still very happy with my results!  It was definitely the motivation I needed to run frequently, even during the hot summer months.  I will absolutely do this again, especially if there is a race I need to rebound from, whether it be a race that didn't go so well (I am looking at you Diva's Half Marathon) or if I just need some motivation to keep running after my goal races.

How I felt some days!

Did I think it drastically improved my training? / Do I think I should do this more often?
Not exactly.  While I was running everyday, some of my runs got replaced with one-milers just because I was tired- so my mileage was kept about the same, it was just spread out over the week with no rest days.  I am glad I did this, however, because I am going to follow the Hanson's Half-Marathon plan so upping the number of days running was useful.

I should be making Olympic teams in no time!