We Did It!

You guys. It finally happened.

This blog has reached:

See?

And it only took 6 years, 6 months, and 8 days.

Now, you might think that is a very long time to reach 1 million hits.

You would be wrong because it is, in fact, an extremely, stupendously, enormously long time to reach 1 million hits. It's like...whatever the opposite of dog years would be.

Regardless, I have a lot of people to thank for visiting this site a million times!

And the bots.

They sure help my numbers, but of course the most important people to thank are you all, who come and actually read my new posts.

I know this blog is not everyone's cup of tea (despite my early illusions that everyone would love it!)

Oh well.

It doesn't fit into a specific niche and my schedule has become rather uh, sporadic. That makes it also fall off a lot of people's radars so when I see those of you dedicated to keep coming back, I feel very fortunate.

I know I could increase my readership again by visiting and commenting on lots of other blogs, but that wears me out and it feels too self-serving to pop up in the comments in the hopes that the writer might return the favour; especially when I don't post regularly. I do still read blogs, but don't always comment and no longer go to every blog on the list.

I know we're all in it together but TriGirl is a full on introvert.

Plus, I prefer organic and real interactions over the quick accumulation of views (even though that is fun.) I may not post often, but I'm just not ready to retire quite yet because I love drawing my little adventures. And every time you visit, comment, or share my site, it fills me with gratitude.

So for that, you, my readers, get a big thumbs up.

UPCOMING POSTS: BACK TO MARATHON TRAINING

Happy Anniversary to ME and a Giveaway for YOU!!

It is unbelievable to me that it has been 3 whole years since I hit publish on this:

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It All Started with One Conversation

To start, let me just say that if you are looking for serious how-tos for training for a triathlon, this is NOT the site for that. This will catalog my own personal experiences--both real and perceived--with multisport racing. It is my goal to show humourous depictions of my training in all three sports, two of which I have little to no experience in. I am a total klutz and the majority of my “athletic” background comes from eleven years of ballet and jazz; from the ages of 3-14, to be precise. I danced up to 4 times a week, and ultimately left due to artistic differences. I saw myself as talented,

and they saw me as klutzy, inflexible and not anorexic.

The full post is here.
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While the first thing that strikes me is how my drawings have evolved, I also love that I can look back on what I have done in my life over the past 3 years. I think that might actually be the point of a blog, isn't it?

Here are the best things about blogging:

1. I have met many fellow bloggers/triathletes/runners, some of whom have become my closest friends!

 

2.  I became an ambassador for FitFluential and Sweat Pink.

And I just joined the Tough Chiks!!

3.  Over time, I also got out of my comfort zone to try new things, like Hot Yoga.

It was nasty.

Indoor cycling classes and aqua jogging.

A Masters Swim class, and a Jillian Michaels Shred class.

 

Sometimes I do these things just for you, my faithful readers.

I got to join my sister and nephews as they ran their first 5k and became runners!!

And one year I was in a 1300 person flash mob!!

Most recently (you're not sick of me telling you yet, are you?)  I ran a MARATHON!

Over the past 3 years I have discovered that I can do so much more than I had ever thought possible.

Oh, and I also discovered that I really like high fives.

 A lot.

So.  In order to celebrate my 3 year blogiversary and to say thank you THANK YOU! A million times thank you!! for reading, I am  doing another...

DRAWING FOR A DRAWING!  

The winner will get their own personalized stick figure drawing, courtesy of TriGirl.  I promise to make it cool and totally awesome.

This contest is open to absolutely anyone!

You can enter by leaving any type of comment you want.  If you would like additional entries, you can: 

1.  Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment with your Twitter handle).
2.  Tweet this post (leave a comment with a link to the tweet).  You can tweet daily and leave a link to the tweet in the comments for an entry.
3.  Tell me a good joke.  Tell me lots of good jokes.  Just put each one in a separate comment so it counts as an entry.

Official stuff:
The drawing will be open until 12:00pm PST (Pacific Standard Time), Saturday December 14th, 2013. Winner will be chosen at random, using Random.org. Winner will be notified via email and blog post. If there is no response after 48 hours, a new drawing will take place.

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!  THE WINNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN AND ANNOUNCED HERE!

UPCOMING POSTS: REVIEW OF THE KOSS FIT SERIES EARBUDS FOR WOMEN, HOW I TRAINED IN PARIS, HOW MY SUPER-LONG MARATHON TRAINING RUNS WENT

A Drawing for a Drawing and a TriForever Coupon Code!

Hi guys!

I hope you all know how much I appreciate your visits and comments.  But, just in case you don't know, I have not one, but TWO thank yous  for you today.

THANK YOU #1:
I asked Rachel at TriForever if we could get a coupon code for those of you who are interested in purchasing from them (they also have a lot of running stuff!)  The code is TRIGIRL10 and is good through October 16th!  Thanks TriForever!

THANK YOU #2:
The first time I did a drawing for a drawing I was celebrating my first 100 followers.  The second time I was celebrating 200 followers and 10,000 hits.

This time, I'm celebrating 40,000 hits!  I know that's small potatoes in bloggy land but honestly, I'm so grateful for all of your support (even if it includes some robots).
And, with any luck I'll get 3 more followers this week and make it to 300!

I finally had an excuse to draw that picture.

So, what is a Drawing for a Drawing?  Well, it's a giveaway in which I draw a stick figure version of the winner!  People have liked it in the past, so I'm putting it out there again.  This contest is open to EVERYONE.  I email the drawing so if you have an email you have a chance to win!

ENTRIES:

1.  You have to follow me via Google Friend Connect (I like the validation).  Leave a comment saying that you do.

2.  Tell me you want a stick figure drawing of yourself in a comment.

THAT'S IT.  WANT MORE CHANCES TO WIN? ANY OR ALL OF THESE WAYS WORK WITH ME:

1.   Follow me on Twitter.  I'm @triingathlete.  Leave a comment saying that you do.

2.  Tweet about the giveaway.  Come back and leave a comment saying that you do.  

3.  Follow me on Pinterest.  I'm TriGirl. Come back and leave a comment saying that you do.  

I will keep the contest open until Saturday, October 13th at 12:00 p.m. PST and will use Random.org to select a winner.  Good luck to everyone and I sincerely thank you for reading.

UPCOMING POSTS:  SWIMMING, A RACE RECAP, MY RETURN TO PT,  TORTURE POST (not sure why I feel compelled to keep the subject a secret)