What we've gained through our blog


A lot of people start a blog to hold themselves accountable to their goals, whether it be weight loss, to train and complete their first race, or something else.  To be honest, that is not why we started blogging. It's been several years now since we've started this blog and I don't really remember our official "why" we started the blog but I'm certain it came from a place of loving to write and sharing our stories/experiences with others.

Over the years, this blog turned into many things for us and some of that we would have never expected.  Here is just a peek into a few things we never expected from our blog.......


1. We never expected that we would make friends through the blog. And when I say friends, I mean REAL LIFE friends. Not just virtual friends ( although our virtual friends are great too). I mean friends we talk to on the phone, friends we run with, friends we vacation with, and friends we exchange text messages with. Never in a million years did we think we would make a new friend with someone because they read our blog!

2. We never expected that our blog would turn into a timeline of our life. I have to admit that I've gone back through the blog more than once to relive a race recap or to see when the symptoms of my injury started, or to just see what we were doing a year or two years ago. I've never been one to keep a personal diary or journal, but I love reading back through old blog posts. I am so glad that I documented certain things, especially things about my injury. Those little tidbits that I would mention on the blog throughout the year have proved to be very helpful to me looking back.

3. We never would have expected to have all the experiences we've had because of writing this blog. We've been invited to VIP events with Run Disney, Runner's World, and Competitor (AKA Rock n Roll).  Again, through these events we have met even more runners and bloggers and got to participate in things that we probably wouldn't have been invited to otherwise.  For that we are grateful.

4. We never would have known about programs like Influenster, Sweatpink, Fitfluential, Smiley360, etc.  We participate in these programs by having fun with campaigns and contests that they run.  It's even nice that we get sent little packages every once in a while. I mean who doesn't like getting fun mail?

5. We would have never been so active on social media. Okay, I know that we aren't extremely active now, but before blogging we were non existent on Social Media.  I barely had a facebook account, I didn't understand twitter and thought only the most narcissistic people used Instagram. Boy was I wrong!  Still, neither one of us is very techy, but I GET IT! I like social media and Instagram has slowly become my favorite. If you want, you can follow me @fairytalesnfit and I'll follow back.  Okay, I have to say that I am NOT going to fall into the whole Periscope thing. Don't we already have enough ways to follow people?


What have you un-expectedly gained from your blog? If you don't have a blog, have you gained something or learned something from reading other blogs? 

We are linking up with the gals from the Friday 5 where the theme is "Surprises".

33 comments:

  1. The most unexpected thing for me was one you said- Having a timeline of my life! It is really like a diary in some way. Especially my Weekend Wrap Ups. I can go back and look to see what I did every weekend for over the past two years!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Totally agree with the whole Periscope thing. We already have enough social media outlets! Not sure what has been unexpected about blogging, but probably the amount of interaction with other runners!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think the most surprising is how really deep connections can be started through blogging. I guess we share so much we know each other pretty well.

    ReplyDelete
  4. These are all great! The personal friendships gained from online blogging friendships is amazing! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Agree with all these. I didn't expect the community to be so supportive! In my real life, not a lot of my family and friends run so they don't really "get it" the way people here do. It's great to have people give suggestions on how to improve and also cheer you on when you get a PR! I love the blogging community :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm not even thinking about Periscope! It's way too "instant" and confusing for me. I agree with you on the friendships too!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I just got Instagram and I don't feel comfortable with Periscope. I've watched friends use it, and not to be anti-social, but the comments from all over the world is a bit creepy.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I never knew that I would gain so many new friends. The best thing about blogging is the amazing community there is, full of people supporting and encouraging each other.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I can't believe the things that arise from blogging! I guess something that was totally unexpected for me was a private message via facebook from Hal Higdon immediately after the Boston Bombings asking if he could quote me in a book was a pretty huge deal for me! I love that I've met friends in real life as well. And it's pretty funny to be at a race, or the vet actually lol, and someone say, "Are you Heather from Girl Goes Running?" LOL that is too funny!
    p.s. I love your blog :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love the "friends" I've made through my blog, even though I've been a bit lacking in the blogging the last few weeks...I know I can pick it back up! Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I agree with so many of these. Like so many others, I started blogging as an accountability measure for myself, and never ever imagined the opportunities that I'd be offered as a result of blogging. And don't get me started on Periscope. I can barely keep up with the other social media outlets that I use!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I agree with so many of these! I never realized that my blog would serve as like an online journal of sorts to where I could go back and relive my life. It's been such a blessing for that reason alone.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I LOVE the blogging friendships I have made through other bloggers and readers! And I love that I continue to make new friends as new people come along!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. The timeline has been huge for me with my blog - I started it so I could remember how hard I worked to get the weight off, but being able to go back and see when I did what, or how long I've had a pair of running shoes, or whatever, has been great. Plus the internet-turned-real-life friends can't be beat!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Yes to all of the above! (Except I have signed up for periscope) ;) The timeline thing is so surprisingly helpful - I've also used it to check when I did something, or what my training looked like at a certain point in a training schedule.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yes to everything on your list!!! The blogger friendships have been the best, by far. It's also been so great to be able to look at my race recaps and really reflect on the training lessons. I've learned so much about potential races by reading others' recaps of their experiences, too! It was such a pleasant surprise to find out how much of a true community the blogosphere is!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh, my gosh; definitely the virtual friendships with so many amazing people have been such a huge surprise. I've really enjoyed finding this community and sharing our adventures with one another! Hope you have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Preach it... its a world people don't understand but so many cool things come out of it.

    ReplyDelete
  19. This post made me smile the entire time, I was nodding my head the whole way!
    I never would have expected when I started to blog that I would meet people on it, not just any people. But amazing friends. I am pretty sure my circle of blogger friends know more about my current life and happenings than the friends I grew up with.
    I am go glad I have gotten to know you, I enjoy our chats it's been fun to get to know you and spark idea's off each other!
    One of these day's when I get back to running and make it back east, we are totally going to have to get together!

    ReplyDelete
  20. It really is amazing how a blog can have such an impact. The biggest impact for me is being part of such an awesome community, virtually and in real life. When I first start running, I knew no one else who ran. I would go to races and see everyone talking to their friends while I was there alone. I truly feel blessed to be a part of the running community!

    ReplyDelete
  21. ah love this totally true! I never expected that my blog would have such an impact on my life and allow me to meet so many other very cool inspiring people/

    ReplyDelete
  22. One of the reasons I started was to keep in touch with all my friends and family around the world. But you are right, it has turned into so much more ! Great post.

    ReplyDelete
  23. i love being able to go back and read my race recaps when I do a race again. I always pick up little tips that I had forgetten the first time.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I also like having a timeline of things. I find it really useful to go back and read race reports to see what happened, how I did and how I felt. I had my blog long before twitter and IG were a thing but it is crazy how much social media has grown. I will admit I don't get snapchat or periscope??

    ReplyDelete
  25. I started my blog as a way to remember and document my races. I was starting to forget. A huge plus is that I have met "real" friends too. And I love the virtual connections I've made. I find both amazing! I'll be running the Disney marathon and hopefully will get to meet you in January!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I think the biggest thing that I never expected was the friendships that I've made as well! It has been so much fun to meet so many like minded people!! And I'm with you on Periscope :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. This is a great post. I just started my blog in May, but I've already been surprised by how much being vulnerable in my writing has affected me in a positive way.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Love this! I started blogging Jan and I have to say I truely love it and it's somewgat therapeutic!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I started blogging for the accountability, but am loving the relationships I've built. I'm also like you in that I'm enjoying having this record of the last few years. It can be fun to look back at where I've been!

    ReplyDelete
  30. love this! i would def say the sense of community and the friends (real ones, like you said). great post!

    ReplyDelete
  31. My absolute favorite part of blogging is the people I've met and the friends I've made. I never realized how that could happen!

    ReplyDelete
  32. The blogging community is by far the best part of it all.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I had no idea I would meet and become IRL friends with other bloggers! It has been a joy.

    ReplyDelete

Fairytales and Fitness is a personal blog authored and edited by us, Meranda and Lacey. The thoughts expressed here represent only our own and are not meant to be taken as professional advice. Please note that our thoughts and opinions change from time to time. We consider this a necessary consequence of having an open mind in an ever changing society. Any thoughts and opinions expressed within our out-of-date posts may not be the same, nor even similar, to those we may express today. Some links may contain affiliate links. Some links are just to pages we'd like to share.