It’s Monday, so you know what that means! Today I am excited to bring you Julie from Running In a Skirt.

 

Name: Julie

Blog: http://www.runninginaskirt.com

When did you first start blogging and why?

I started blogging on Running in a Skirt to document my Chicago Marathon training and race experience as a Girls on the Run SoleMate. I was hoping the blog would help me raise more money and it did! I kept the blog going after the marathon and two years later the site has morphed into a lifestyle blog with a runner’s heart. I feature fitness, recipes, healthy living, travel, fashion, beauty and mountain living in gorgeous Asheville, NC. I am now blogging even more after recently leaving my 13 year career as a TV news meteorologist to pursue a healthier more balanced lifestyle!

 

What is your most helpful blogging tip?

Blog consistently and plan ahead. I have seen the most reader interaction when I blog regularly and on the same days. People learn to expect that you will be there with fresh content so they check back often. I’ve found I need to have a general plan about what my posts will be at least a few weeks out so I don’t get writer’s block.

 

What is your favorite fitness activity?

Running has my heart! I started running a little over five years ago and it quickly became my go-to fitness activity.

 

What motivates you?

I feel better when I stay active and eat well. I’ve had some bouts with illness in my life and that has made me value feeling healthy even more.

 

What has fitness changed about your life?

Fitness has made me aware of how important it is to take care of your body. I even eat better when I am working out and running.

 

What is your favorite pump up song?

I start all of my race day playlists with “Gonna Fly Now” (Theme from Rocky) Duh-Duh-duh-duh-duh….It get’s my head in the game!

 

What is your favorite running distance?

5 miles is a good combination of distance and speed for me and I generally don’t feel too worn out after running it.

 

What is your favorite motivational quote/mantra?

There is going to be a day you can’t do this, today is not that day!

 

What is your favorite piece of running/fitness gear?

A running skirt, of course! And my GPS watch. I’m always wanting to know my pace and distance.

 

What is your favorite “treat”?

Ice Cream. It’s a full blown addition. I will run far for chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.

 

What is a long term running or fitness goal you have for yourself?

I finally set a couple big ones of mine including running the Chicago Marathon and FINALLY running a sub 27 5K.
My new long term goal is to run the Disney Coast the Coast Challenge. It may take me some time to logistically figure out how to make it happen, but I will.

 

Tell us something unique about yourself.

I worked at Disney in high school as a character. I was a bunch of them, but was most often Pluto.

 

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who is starting out running, what would it be?

Start slow and don’t be discouraged if you can’t do much in the beginning. You can even walk if you need to. Just keep going.
When I started running I literally could not run a quarter mile at a time, but I slowly started building up and eventually made my way from a 5K to the full marathon. Give yourself plenty of time to make that happen, and you can too.

 

How do you find/make time to train?

I mark off time for my runs in my planner like any other meeting or appointment. I plan the week’s runs on Monday and it is non-negotiable.

 

What’s an accomplishment you are most proud of?

Two things:

1) Running the Chicago Marathon. It was hands down the most physically challenging thing I have ever done. I would never have been called an athletic person before, but now I’m a marathoner and no one can take that away.

2) Deciding to make a major career change. It was so hard to leave something I loved so much but the stress and schedule (waking up at 2AM!) were making me sick and I needed to put my health first.

 

Head over to Julie’s Blog and check it out! You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

If you would like to be featured in the Bloggers on the Run feature – please go here.