Might as well face it...*

I’ll admit it: I am addicted to reading about running, whether it’s in magazines, books, newspaper articles, blogs, or any other written form of communication (did Pre keep a diary??). Reading is one of my passions anyway, and when you combine it with the subject of running, the addiction reaches fever pitch. The great thing about blogs is that I can feed the fire on a near hourly basis!

Not Born to Run is the first blog I stumbled across that I absolutely had to read every day. The stalking started in August 2006, back when Jeanne was still “just a runner”. She’s a full-fledged triathlete now, tricking herself into training for the Half-Ironman distance. Not Born to Run is a fabulous mix of training log, psychoanalysis, DC area guide, pop culture commentary, and just about anything else you can think of (including colonoscopies - HA). Jeanne’s tone is largely self-deprecating, but her underlying message is one of hope and a feeling that it is never too late to try. Plus she is just darn funny. I love to see what she’ll do next and where her adventures will take her!

Around the same time that I found Jeanne’s blog, I also discovered 21 Days. Jess started out with the premise that it takes 21 days to form a habit – in her case, a running habit. Nearly 4 years and a marathon later, I think she can safely say that she has achieved her goal. Jess runs through the heat, hurricanes, lizards, and bugs of southern Florida, but she’s a Minnesota girl at heart. It’s a fun mix and makes for some great stories! 21 Days is well written (Jess is an English professor), super humorous (drunk posts, anyone?), literary (better book reviews than the NY Times), and real (no sugar coating here). All around swawesome! I look forward to seeing how her running continues to evolve as she welcomes a little one into her life in a few months!

This analogy doesn’t really work, but if I were stranded on a desert island and had to pick 5 blogs to take with me, these are the remaining 3 that would round out the list:

• runner’s rambles – Aron is relatively new to running but has already completed 2 marathons and hopes to BQ at her 3rd in May. She is incredibly positive and inspiring! And her detailed training information is wonderfully educational for this aspiring marathoner.
  
• DC Rainmaker – Ray’s blog is packed full of great information, gorgeous photos, and amazing stories of his travels, cooking, and super-human triathlon training. He packs more into 24-hours than anyone I know – and, lucky for us, blogs about it all.
  
• Frayed Laces – FL is another super-human athlete, but the inspiration I draw from her is her ability to overcome all sorts of obstacles (including a broken pelvis) and stay positive throughout. She is always looking forward to the next big thing. And she shares all sorts of great tips and information along the way!
  

These are the people I turn to for intermittent inspiration (plus a few dozen others listed to the right). They’ve helped me get back on the road to consistent running and have taught me so many lessons. My hope is that this blog might serve the same purpose for someone else and keep this great virtual community growing!

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*Shout out to Robert Palmer! Is anyone not playing air guitar now??

Five miles on the schedule for tomorrow morning.