Tuesday, November 05, 2019

Thank You For Reading!

Sixteen years ago, I started A Trail Runners Blog. What began as a "fitness diary using this new-fangled Internet thing" quickly blossomed into a decade-long multimedia experiment to capture the magical journey and tribe of this crazy sport of "trail running". This blog evolved right along with me, as I ventured from newbie, to elite, to old guard.

(Me circa 2004 as the journey begins...nice iPod!)

In the early days (2004-5), the blog was called "RunTrails", and largely chronicled my rookie mistakes as I slowly built up my trail running skills in the California area. I was just discovering the richness of the sport - all the epic courses, distances, lore, and the fascinating characters along the way. My favorite runners were the old guard, still out there kicking my ass and having a great time. It was all about fun, and the stories just wrote themselves. 

In 2006-08, ultrarunning grabbed a hold of me and didn't let go. I found a global community who, like myself, couldn't get enough articles and news about ultras. I interviewed the stars of our sport, took lots of pictures, wrote fiction, and even gave out tips on how to write your own blog. As blogging itself grew, my traffic skyrocketed, and I watched many other great sites and blogs spring to life that would soon surpass all of our expectations. 

In 2009-2011, I became a faster runner, much to my surprise. My goals became more competitive, my PR's dropped, and the sponsors arrived. The writing focused more on the race up front, how to squeeze a few more minutes off your times, and the rising stars among our ranks.

By 2012-17, the journey evolved to testing my limits, and the races became more epic in scope. Ironmans, 100-milers, UTMB, Comrades, multiple Boston/Big Sur weekends...if an event threatened to break my will and help temper my soul, I was in. Even the stories I wrote became more raw and truthful, each one a fresh personal challenge to define the core of the experience. The more I did, the more I found my limits (and a few of yours), and learned to appreciate each moment to the fullest.

In 2018+, trail running became a spiritual journey. I'm now one of the old guard of the sport, always appreciative of any chance to run, no matter what the format or distance, alone or with soon-to-be best friends. There is rarely a watch on my wrist, but always a smile on my grey-bearded face, and usually with a story or two to tell. I can connect deeply with nature in just a few steps, and count on it for daily meditation. It is where I am supposed to be.  

(Me circa 2019, old guard and smiling)
I love that my trail running journey, and that of A Trail Runners Blog, have come full circle.  It feels like a natural ending to close the books on this here blog, 1,000+ stories later. My deepest thanks to all of you for reading and encouraging me to tell our stories, and sharing your comments. I will still be active in the sport, for sure, right up until I'm on the other side of the dirt. I look forward to sharing some miles and smiles with all of you! 

- Scott

31 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing over the years, has been insightful & inspiring, and I have ALWAYS enjoyed following your wanderings.

    Pat

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    1. Thank you for the kind note, Pat! I'll still share stories on Instagram, so hope to see you there. Or at a race!

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  2. Ah, another blog fades to black. Thanks for all of the fun tales over the years. Best of luck in your next endeavors.

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    1. Thanks, Jill! Your photos have been a part of the blog for nearly a decade. We'll stay in touch on Insta...perhaps I can compete with snow pics this year!

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  3. Oh my goodness -- end of an era -- say it ain't so! Your blog has been a constant in this changing sport. I've always appreciated your blogging, and you as a role model for an evolving, always appreciative and improving runner. I hope you'll continue sharing your writing in some way, and I hope your blog will live on as an archive. Thank you for all you've written and photographed!

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    1. Agreed re: what Sarah said about your blog living on as an archive. My favorite of your posts is the one about the Wall, the Pit, and the Abyss.

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    2. Thank you both! Yes, the archive will stay up for srue.

      Sarah, I look forward to your continued blogging/writing. Watching your voice come to life was a great part of my blogging journey!

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  4. From helping me discover the best trails in the South Bay to Lake Como, this blog was the go-to spot for trail running inspiration for so many of us for so long. Thanks for the wild ride. We are so fortunate to have you as an an Old Guard in our sport.

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  5. Definitely the end of an era, Scott. It was great to run and race with you in the "old days" and you have always been a huge inspiration for me. Thanks so much for this amazing blog (I can't believe this is blog post 1000!) and I hope to run into you on the trails somewhere some time. Take care!

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    1. Thanks, Peter! I'm sure we will stay in touch on Insta/Twitter/FB. Our Ultra Series duel will forever be captured here!

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  6. Thanks, Scott, always enjoyed reading your blog.

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    1. Thanks, Tim! I'll see you on the trails!

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  7. oh man! i grew up as an ultrarunner reading your blog! I got so much out of reading it...thank you. i guess that means i'm in the old guard too :-0

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  8. I found your race attitude to be infectious. Once I began reading your recaps I approached my own races differently - with a smile at almost all times and enjoying the comradeship of those around me. Thank you!

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    1. So glad to hear it, Karen! Many trail miles to come, and I hope we can share a few.

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  9. Thank you Scott. I've been a lurker all these years. A a 10 miles a week runner I really enjoyed living vicariously through your writings.
    Love the :Like the wind" magazine too.

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    1. Like The Wind is the best!!! I'll be writing for them again for sure.

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  10. Thanx for Writing, Scott D.,

    Has it been that many years. I have been receiving your blog in my eMail since about 2005, or so and have appreciated your consistency and candid point of view. - And most of all, your love for the sport.

    I looked for you watching the Berlin Marathon on TV, but I didn't notice you on camera, here in south Florida, USA.

    I wish there was still a way be in contact, to see how things a still going with your (future) races. You will be missed, by me and many others.

    Ciao! :) Bella, Guy - Scott
    JOeD
    Joseph DiBella

    P/S: Proudly wore my Adidas Rockadilia all-terrain Trail Running Shoe on yesterday's workout / run at the Park.
    ..

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    1. Thanks, Joe! You can still find me on Instagram, and I'll be sharing the future journeys there.

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  11. Hello to the Trail Jedi of Woodside! I’ve always enjoyed reading your blogs and learning so much from it. I feel like I’m reading a college guide to trail running with a student mentality- always a learner. Thanks, Scott for being such a good mentor and resource for the sport! Hope to run with you in Europe soon. Cheers! - Karen

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  12. loved your blogging scott, best wishes on other ventures and would love to see your occasional commentary.

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  13. Happy trails, Scott! Thanks for all that you've done and written, and even more thanks for helping me figure out everything I needed to know about the Dipsea Race when I finally started running it a few years back!

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  14. Sorry to see the blog end. Long time reader and always envious of your accomplishments.

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  15. The demise of blogging has been one of the sadder phases of Internet for me, though I've mostly fallen victim to it as well. Thanks for the fun blog over the years.

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  16. I'll miss you and your stories. Thank you for sharing all these years. Don't you have more world records to crush? Fastest Marathon in a Chicken Suit? I still blog and rarely get any comments, but it's part of who I am now. Cheers and happy trails.

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  17. Thanks for your contributions to the MUT community in general and for the tips you provided me about Sierre-Zinal in 2018 in specific!

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  18. Thank you! It was great following your all those years.

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  19. Thank you for sharing your journey and inspiring me. I will miss hearing about your epic adventures. I hope I have many more miles ahead of me, and perhaps we'll meet at a race in person someday.

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  20. Hey congratulations for completing sixteen years here! Keep going Scott.

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  21. I have been following you for awhile. You provide great motivation for many of us. Thank you!

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