You and me… We’ve had some really good times together.
In 8 years of blogging:
8 different houses/apartments I’ve lived in
3 kids
41 races
4,462 posts
412,315 comments
1 sub 3 marathon (yep, just slipping that in whenever I can)
956 family dinner recaps (estimation)
8,888 pictures of ice cream/candy/hot chocolate/sweet potatoes (educated guess)
14,560 miles I’ve told you about (I’m estimating about 35 miles per week on average over the 8 years)
The absolute best internet friends and running community possible.
My very first post is here and while some things have changed about the way I blog (should I go back to using a different color for each sentence?) a lot of things haven’t (sorry;). I started blogging as a way to journal everything going on in my brain and I am still hooked all of these years later. I think there are probably less than five days during these 8 years that I haven’t posted something so thanks for sticking around over the years… not sure how I got so lucky to have you guys.
I’d love to give one of you a new pair of running shoes of your choice (Brooks of course) and another one of you a $50 gift card to whatever store you would like (as long as I can buy it online;)!
To enter for the prizes: Just say hello in a comment!!!! I’ll use random.org to choose two winners on Monday:)
1,752 comments
Colleen
Hi! Congrats! What an accomplishment! That is a lot to document!
Taylor Johnson
Hello!
I have LOVE reading your blog the last couple years! You inspired me to start my own blog!
Erika
Hi!! I love what a classy and positive person you are! And your sub-3 marathon recap gave me chills. I bombed a marathon a month ago, but you inspired me to just keep on runnin’. SO, SO inspiring!
Katherine
Hello! I love reading about all your running and life accomplishments. Thanks for letting us be a part of it.
Lisa
Hello.
Congratulations on your sub 3. That’s amazing.
Jessica
Congrats on your sub 3 hour!!
RMStrobel
Love your blog!
Caryn Brooks
Hello
Jill O Mahony
I’ve read your blog from the get go. I totally feel like we are friends! I check first thing in the morning, as I now live in Hong Kong and I get to read your latest. I’m so proud of your recent sub 3!!
Tessa
Hello! Congratulations on 8 years :)
Elizabeth F
Happy blog anniversary! I’ve been reading for the past 2-ish years, and love your writing style and upbeat attitude. ?
Barbara
Hi! Long time reader from Europe here. :) I just wanted to say that your positivity is what kweps me coming back. Here’s to another 8 years! :)
Leslie Gladys
Hi! Love reading your blog and so happy for your sub 3!! ??
Céline
I’ve been following you for so many years and I truly enjoy seeing your progress over the years. Congrats again on your sub 3 marathon. It’s always a pleasure seeing pictures of you and your family. Also, Brooke is so cute on a horse. ?
Thanks also for making me discover running podcasts (Ali on the run and Man bun run).
Best wishes
Céline
Aimee Schwartz
Hi! I’ve been following your journey for about 5 years now!! Thank you for sharing your life with us!
Aimee
Jessica
Hey! Congrats!!! Love keeping up with you!
Diane
Hello! I’ve been reading your blog for a few years! Love it!
Ashley
Congratulations on 8 years!!!
I’ve enjoyed reading for many years now:)
Theresa ODonnell
Hi! Congrats on race! I look forward to reading your blog every day!
Jenn
Love keeping up with all your adventures and thank you for your dedication in keeping us connected.
MARTHA
HELLO!
Anna
So many accomplishments to be proud of!!
Monica
Hi! Thanks for the chance to win such amazing prizes!
Emily
Hi! I have been following along with you for almost 5 years now and love keeping up with you, running, and your family! Love that you linked your very first post… Fun to go back and read!
Chris
Hi! I recently started following you and love hearing about your adventures and trying to one day be as fast as you! :)
Anne M Ciccio
I have loved following your journey and see how how much you and your family have grown. I can always look to your posts for uplifting motivation.
Carla
Hello! As always, you’re very inspiring! ?
Joelll
Hello
Lauren
Hello, I probably haven’t commented in years, but I have been reading from the beginning. I was a senior in college when I started reading your blog, then I went on to student-teach during an MSED program, and your teaching stories (at the beginning) were so relatable. I also wanted to be a runner at the time, because I did work-out every day, but I just couldn’t get the hang of it. This past year (now my eighth year of teaching), I finally ran a 10k. During the last eight years, I’ve lived in two different states, earned another Masters degree, had a ton of break-ups, and many personal changes, but I do always read your blog–sometimes it’s more constant and reliable then my own world. I’ve really enjoyed watching your family grow; even though I live alone, you help me make goals for fitness and just add a little light in the day. Thanks!
Kenleigh
Hello, love your blog!
Regan W.
Hi Janae!
Despite being a college student… I have loved reading your blog for a couple of years now and feel like I can really relate to you. This blog is my go-to reading material for treadmill runs. I always torn between trying to save up some blog post for treadmill reading but also wanting to read them right away. I clicked on your link in this post for the first post you ever made and started reading. Would it be considered weird if I went back and read 5-6 years worth of your past blog post while running on the treadmill?!?! lol! Anyways, thanks for always keeping it real and being such a positive yet realistic role model in the running world!
Amanda
Congrats on 8 years of blogging! I’ve only just started following a few years ago and look forward to many more years of running and life stories.
Christine
Hello! And congrats on your accomplishments. Love reading your blog!
Allison D.
Hello! Congrats on 8 years of blogging!
Julie
Congratulations on your 8 years! I love your approach to running, eating, and living.
Joan Dukore
Hello!
Love your blog, and loved meeting you at the race expo before Revel Mt Charleston!
Regina
Happy anniversary!
Linda
Congratulations! I love your posted workouts, which motivate me to exercise more.
Jill
Hi, and happy 8 years!
Lina
hello Janae! loved reading your first post – so funny, and so different from how you blog now!
Betsy H
HELLOoooo!!
Jenn
Hi!!! I love reading the blog and look forward to every post!
Amy hollon
Hello
Erika
Congratulations on 8 years!! I’ve loved following your journey for the past 6 or so years. ❤️
Ruthie
Congrats o on 8 yrs of blogging and your sub 3! Lots of awesome accomplishments!!
Damjana
Hi Janae, I got to know your blog about 4 years ago and I love it!
Glenna
I started following you when you were still pregnant with Brooke–wow–that’s a long time! My Brooks need to be retired (but I love them so much!), so I’d love to win a new pair.
Hope you’re still blogging for many more years t ocome!
Shanna Hammons-Smiley
Happy Anniversary! I’ve been so inspired by your blog over the years, and am thankful I found it. I’m training for my first half-marathon, and you’re a big reason I’ve managed to run more than a mile! Thank you for sharing your accomplishments and struggles with us all.
Karen Schlueter-Morland
Hey…
hey…. i’d love to try the new Brooks Ricochet:-)
Rhiannon
Hello!!! Also while I am here I just want to say that my absolute favorite thing when I go back to your old blog posts is how you used different colors I think you should bring it back once a week it could be a throwback Thursday ;)
Melissa Sawyer
SO happy to have found you 6 years ago!! You are an inspiring person and I’ve loved following your sweet life through the ups and downs and how it has made you stronger :)
Cassie
Absolutely love your blog!!!! I appreciate you sharing your life and your beautiful family and your eats and wonderfully running triumphs with us!!! You are amazing. Love to you!!!
Tal
Hopefully another 8 years :)
Courtney
Hello and love your blog.
May
Congratulations on a major accomplishment!
Erin R
Congrats on the sub-3 marathon and on the blogging anniversary! I’ve loved following along your running/life/food journey and am inspired to pursue my own running (and baking!) goals :)
Crystal Holowell
Hi! I’m a new reader to your blog. Congrats on your amazing marathon time!! I’m hoping to take on my first full marathon in 2019. ?
Heather
Hello!! Here’s to the next 8 years ;)
Sharon
Hello! Hope your weather is nice!
Jenn
HI!! I love your blog :) I’ve been reading for maybe 5 years on and off now, and you’re so inspiring!
Sarah L
Hello! Happy blogiversary and congratulations on your sub-3!
Ellen
Janae, Hope you had a great trip! I’ve been a blog follower for 6 years now! Soon I will run my 6th NYC marathon. You are my inspiration, thanks for helping to keep me motivated all of these years.
Jackie
Been following you since 2012! Hello!
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RMR
That’s so generous! Your enthusiasm is infectious.
Carrie Jensen
I have read every single post you have ever made, but never made a comment before today but I just wanted to say that I have started running because of you. 1 year ago i started with a couch to 5K app and I will be running my first half marathon in February and am so excited about it. I love running and it is a part of my soul and happiness now. I run 6 days a week every week and don’t feel normal unless I do. You are my inspiration for it all.
Laura Beth Durbin
Love keeping up with your happy little fam. :)
Gail
Your blog is the last thing I read before going to sleep. It’s always so positive and happy, and of course very motivating. Congrats on 8 years.
Ella
Hi! I just wanted to say I was so inspired by your sub 3 hour marathon. It’s made me want to set my own ambitious marathon goal although mine is sub 3:30. Don’t think I’ll ever get near 3 hours!
Stacie
Hello! Love, love, love reading your blog!! Congrats on the sub3!!!
Sheridy
Hello, congratulations on your sub 3 marathon. You are very inspiring to follow. I’ve really enjoyed reading about your kids as well. I’ve got 3 daughters and when I first started reading your blog we were both pregnant at the same time, then I stopped reading and found your blog again when I got pregnant again and you were pregnant with Skye. It was such an odd coincidence. Anyway it has been great to follow along with your training and has kept me motivated to run!
Jacquelyn
Hello! New to reading your Blog! Congrats on 8 years!
Meghan
Thank you so you much for your blog! I look forward to reading it everyday!
Lori Sigfridson
Hello,
So glad to have found your blog four years ago. It has been a source of daily inspiration since.
Carrie Poole
Hello!!!!! Love your blog!
Jen W
I might be too late, but hello, Janae!!!!!!! :) I just commented on your post from today–I’m playing catch up here! :)
Joanna
Hello! Thanks for blogging. Its been fun watching your running over 8 years! So glad you ran sub 3!
Christina Tsaros
Hello! Congrats on 8 years!!
Yvonne
Hello!
Congrats on your sub 3 – super awesome. Wow, 8 years, I have contemplated blogging again, I have only done it for a couple of months on end yet your blog is really motivating me to try and blog consistently. You make it look easy yet I know you are passionate about it. Love reading your blog!
Stephanie C.
Wow! I can’t believe it’s been 8 years!! Congrats!!!
Chrissy
Hello! You’ve given me such inspiration for running and I think of you and your advice when I’m out on a tough run.
Rachel Clark
I have followed your blog for years! I love reading. Thanks for always being so real about everything. :)
Megan Castle
Happy Monday! I love your blog and you have been such an inspiration. I am currently less than 2 weeks out from my very first marathonan!
Kelly
So happy for your and sub 3 accomplishment!!! My son is in 8th grade and was so wanting a sub 11 in his 1.8 mile cross country race, and he GOT IT!! 10:58!
Collette
Hello!
I recently found your blog and have loved following your story!
Caitlin
Congratulations on your sub-3! I recently PR’d in a 10k, and was so happy with just that small accomplishment.
erin
Hello!! Congrats on the sub 3! I seriously cried when I saw it! :)
Mandi
I can’t believe I’ve been reading this blog for 8 years! Haha it’s a part of my morning coffee routine now.
Celeste
Congrats on 8 years! Love reading your blog!
Michelle
I have followed your blog for a long time now and love hearing about your running and family!
Rachelle
you have inspired me for many years that I CAN and I WILL!
Lindsey Billingsley
Hi :)
I’ve been following you for several of these 8 years!
April
Happy blogging anniversary!
Erica
Hello. I LOVE Brooks and LOVE your blog and keeping up on everything in your world. Congrats on sub 3.
Jenny
Hello! I competed in my first half marathon yesterday… reading your posts about training, while I was training, was so motivating!
Danielle
Happy anniversary! It’s been so awesome to grow with you. :)
adrianna
i know i’m super late to this party, but i just want to say how much i’ve LOVED being a reader of your blog over the past 8 years! you are something truly special and i think its just the best getting to be virtual friends (i’m a weirdo!). for real though, its been really great to be along with all your journeys. your running life its so stellar, too, and tips, tricks, advice…all things running…THE BEST. keep up all you do, Janae. seriously you rock!!
Samantha
Happy anniversary to one of my favorite blogs!!!