Over at the Runner's Lounge, they throw out questions every Thursday.  Bloggers can then respond on their blog and then get some link happiness over at the Lounge.  Today, they've announced a reverse TIaRT.  They proposed that we ask our own burning question and get some feedback from it.

So, here's my question:

Do running blogs (reading or writing them) make you run more, less, or do they make no difference?  Are blogs facilitating your physical activity?  If they're not making a difference in how much you run, do they make a difference in how you do it?  How would you be different as a runner without blogs?

Okay, that's a bunch of questions, but I'd love to hear your comments anyhow.

Writing a running blog when you're not actually running is something of a challenge.  Reading running blogs?  That I can do.

Today's Take it and Run Thursday topic is running blogs.  Boy howdy, there sure are a lot of running blogs out there.  One of these days, I'll get the chance to do some research on what kind of an effect blogging has on runners.  

I have lots of questions.  

Do bloggers run more because of blogging?  Train harder?  Smarter?  Are we less likely to skip a run because we know we'd have to 'fess up on our blog?  Or do we just stop blogging?  Is there a real sense of community among bloggers?  What's necessary to get that sense?  What about lurkers?  Do you have to join the conversation to feel like you're a part of things?  Are lurkers different, somehow?  How is blogging different from what one might get from joining a running club?  Are people blogging instead of joining their local club? Do you end up with more access to social capital?  Less?  Is anyone making any real money off of their blogs?  Is there a difference when there are extrinsic rewards attached to it?  Why are people blogging about this stuff, anyway?  Why do people read running blogs?  What makes a running blog popular? 

I could go on.  Instead, here are some of my favorite blogs:

Being a confirmed nerd, I completely love the Science of Sport.  As far as I'm concerned, this is academic blogging at its best.  They take complex issues that they're interested in as researchers, break them down and make them accessible and interesting to everyone. Good science makes for a fun way to look at running.

I read Half-Fast, of course.  Vanilla is always good for a laugh, even if it's sometimes at his expense.

Lately, I've been reading Coffee Betsy.  I'll admit, I follow this blog as much for the adventures of Jack as for the running.  What a cutie!

I don't know about you, but when I run I have this running monologue in my head.  I don't think I could reproduce it if I tried, but it sounds a lot like what you might read over at Jog Blog.

I also like to see what Razzdoodle is up to over at Running Off at the Mind, and what kind of crazy thing Laura is going to do next over at Absolut(ly) Fit.

I'm going to stop there.  I just counted, and there are 28 running blogs in my Google Reader.  If you haven't tried it, you should think about Google Reader for your aggregator.  It's got nifty features, but mostly it's about the search.  Whenever I want to send someone a link to a particular post, I just jump on Google Reader and search it.  Every blog post I've ever read is magically collected, so I can always find it.  

Chances are, I'll pick up one or two more, by reading what people post in the Lounge.  Just what I need to help me finish that dissertation.  

Oh, well.

 

This week's Take it and Run topic is the running community.

I wish I could post about how I run with the local group, or even a friend. Unfortunately, I don't. Originally I was just too shy about how slow I was to even think abour running with folks on any of the weekly runs hosted by local running stores. (What would we do without our local running stores?) This semester I have this insane schedule, and my night classes preclude me joining folks for a group run.

None of my friends run. My wife doesn't run. This means that I run alone. I don't mind too much, although I know that when friends and family participate in exercise, that facilitates participation. Nevertheless, I've done just fine motivating myself.

That doesn't mean I'm not indebted to the running community. Thanks to an active local running community, I'm able to take my pick of races. The bus I rely on doesn't run on the weekends, which makes it exceedingly difficult for me to volunteer at races. Nevertheless, I've made a mental promise to do that as soon as I can, and I'm always aware and openly appreciative of the folks who give their time so that I can enjoy my race.

I'm also thrilled to be part of the blogging community. Blogs mean that I can get my fix of nerdy science information about running, and stay on top of the latest research. I can imagine myself doing the kinds of insane trail running and ultrarunning I know I'll never do, while keeping myself more grounded by reading more ordinary runners' blogs.

Even when I'm running alone, I know I've got a community at my back.  Sort of like you see in those Verizon commercials, but a maybe little less creepy.