I have three awesome tips for your today!!
1. There is a Sriracha Festival coming to Los Angeles Oct 27th!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Except, I’m going to be on the other side of the country that weekend 
So please go in my honor. Info on tickets here.
2. Nancy Clark, the RD I presented with at Fitbloggin last year did this podcast that’s super interesting on “Women, Weight and Running: Myth, Truth and Gender Differences.”
Here’s the link to the mp3 audio recording of the Nancy Clark interview:http://www.iawr-connect.com/audio/NancyClark_113010.mp3
She had me when she said something like, “Men have permission to eat (in our culture)… women get a yogurt…”
Right?!
3. Emails. Every day I get the most awesome emails from readers sharing their running or weight loss journey. It’s personal and powerful and I realize how special it is that I get to share that with you.
Those emails or tweets make me smile and are the thing that gets me through bad days…
But I also get a bunch of random emails from PR companies that want me to promote Chinese growth hormone or jock straps or kitten mittens…
Like I’ve said before blogging is NOT rocket science. I can read and kinda know how to work this computer machine – it’s not difficult or particularly impressive. But it can be time consuming and I can only do so much in a day. I feel bad when I don’t get back to your emails. And I know other bloggers are probably in the same position too!
So I wanted to share a little tip to help get your email answered… ask specific questions.
A LOT of the emails I get just ask for ‘tips’. Things like, “Do you have any tips on… taming my dragon? finding a 4 leaf clover? life??”
That’s hard because it’s vague. I don’t know what you need or want from me. I suggest keeping it specific…
“Hello. I am running my first 10k in 4 weeks. It’s going to be sunny. Do you have a favorite running hat you like to wear for races?”
That way you get info that is specific to you instead of whatever random tips I think are helpful.
Disclaimer: I feel like this post kinda makes me sounds like a bitch. Which I may or may not actually be, but I’m not trying to be mean. I just want to help you get your questions answered in a timely fashion. The end.
NOW… Who is going to the Sriracha festival????!?!
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
I think this is a great post. If you receive tons of emails a day it’s probably a lot easier to respond if you get asked specific questions.
I’m not going to the Sriracha festival but maybe if a donut festival came to town…
Literally an hour before I saw this post I got a text about the Sriraca festival. I think I have to make an appearance (eat all the food).
I love this post! It’s hard to answer an email that is really vague because you aren’t exactly sure what to say. Direct questions make it so much easier to respond sooner and more effectively!
Your post is totally justified. I can only imagine the randomness you get. When I taught college students, I wrote in the syllabus very specific directions for how to email their professor and what is appropriate/not appropriate. I cannot even tell you the # of times I would get emails addressing me “Hey,” no name or anything, just Hey.
That made me laugh
Hey.
I am a college professor and I have this discussion on a DAILY basis. The emails I receive look like text messages, and they require at least 5 replies back-and-forth because they do not provide any information that I need.
This is just one of the many things that running helps me deal with on a daily basis
Sarah, I hear you and I feel your pain! Running is absolutely an outlet for that. Coherency is not something many kids these days have.
It drives me crazy when people aren’t specific, like when my students (who are advanced, cream of the crop kind of kids) walk up to my desk and say “I need help.” Need help with what? Writing a thesis? Applying to college? Breaking up with your girlfriend? Efficiency is key for busy people.
You should totally post about kitten mittens. That would really entertain me
That doesn’t make you sound witchy at all! It is better for everyone
Kitten mittens!!!! Bahahahahaha Day man ahhh ahhhh fighter of the night man! I hope you watch it’s always sunny if not you should!
I’m don’t watch a lot of it, but I am a fan of the night man song
Hey you have to be blunt sometimes.. I like that you tell it like it is, that’s one of the main reasons I follow you! lol
Im so jealous of the sriracha festival! I live on the East coast so I will have to keep my eyes open for one here. I didn’t even know they existed!
I want to go to the Sriracha festival! It’s the same day as the Marine Corps Marathon, though, so I will be across the country as well
Ugh! Wish I was in LA for the Sriracha Festival! My favorite condiment
& I think being more specific with your inquiry is very helpful advice regarding emailing bloggers but can probably be applied to any email you send! The less I have to think, the quicker your email gets a response ha.
Well I hope you have also seen the kitten mittens episode ha aha ha ah hilarious!
I haven’t actually! I just heard about that episode from someone.
this podcast is awesome! thanks so much for sharing!!
Awww…shucks! Am gonna miss the festival too…maybe I should console myself by getting a bottle on my way home tonite
Not bitchy at all! If someone wants “running tips” Google is a good place to start. If someone wants to know which sports bra you use and prefer, THAT’S a blogger question.
Unfortunately not going to the Sriracha festival, BUT I just discovered putting srirache on pumpkin seeds and roasting them….life. changing.
I need to do that!
Man, Philly needs a sriracha festival… all we get is a weird mushroom festival. womp, womp.
I am disappointed in myself for not knowing there was a sriracha festival. I feel like I’ve failed just a little bit . . .
I don’t think this sounds bitchy! Specificity is important, with both questions and running!
Really enjoyed that podcast – very thoughts provoking. Thanks for sharing.
Hello!
I began reading your blog about 3 weeks ago. I really appreciate it. I recently began training for a Half Marathon about a month ago. I’ve been trying just to eat like I normally do, but I actually have lost some weight…and I’m actually already pretty trim. I don’t really want to lose any more weight (my friends think I’m crazy!) I am sure you are on a high Meal Plan since you run SOOOO much. Can you email me separately to let me know what you’ve eaten over the course of 2-3 days (ALL that you’ve eaten) as I need a better idea of the amount of food and calories that I need to eat and athletes who are doing a LOT of activity eat. I thought, “Who better than to ask ‘Run, Eat Repeat’ because she’s the perfect person who is strong, beautiful and runs a ton!
I’d really appreciate it. Thank you.
~Amy
Some of my friends are going! Too bad I don’t have a “hot” tooth