Ma 2 cents on blogging popularity

I was going to write about sport wash and getting clothes not smelly today, but since everyone likes a little drama, I thought I'd give my thoughts on the weird social dynamics in Blog-topia.  

This was spurred by Rose Runner's post regarding the blog summit speakers and the general costs of the Blog Conference.

Really quickly, I'd like to address the cost of this event:  $110....it sounds like a lot, but I'm guessing Squires Group isn't trying to screw the blogging community over.  Just venue rental, breakfast, lunch, and a happy hour (which is what's included in the package) probably runs somewhere around that cost.

But I'm likely not going to the conference...if there's things I don't really enjoy doing, they are gambling, indoor stuff, staying up late, and crappy weather.
In a word:  Vegas.  For me, just location and the amount of travel I already have to do trumps the amount that I really do want to meet everyone!

I also don't think Squires Group is trying to rip us off, although they might be barking up the wrong tree by charging $110...even if it is just covering costs.  From what I guess, us running blogging girls are not super wealthy and unfortunately, this cost may price some out of the market.  Our community seems to be majority teachers, stay at home moms, students, etc who share the passions of GIRL POWER FRIENDSHIP, TAKING RANDOM PICTURES OF THEMSELVES, and RUNNING!

Which brings me to my next point - Why do you blog?  

For me, it really is that ability to connect with girls (and guys) across the country on their running triumphs and tragedies.  To see the sweet photos of their runs and learn about their workouts.  It's a camaraderie in the running community that I haven't felt since my high school cross country days.  And of course, just like high school, there are the popular kids...the blogs with tons of followers and traffic.   And that's just a natural occurrence in life.   

I think blogging and why we do it is different for every blogger.  For some of us, it's the desire to document our workouts, to feel accountable for them.  For others it's to network and connect people and form a community around our content.   Maybe some of us just want to talk about our day and have someone listen who understands.

I also think people's blogging identities change.  For people like SkinnyRunner, I believe she has evolved from having a blog where she is holding herself accountable for her workouts to being so widely read she is her own brand.
Skinny Runner: A girl who kicks butt at running, looks good doing it, will link you if you ask, and likes fun stuff like celebrities.  
*(Let me be clear...and this is an edit from my original post...I mean this "branding" term in the most positive way.  I want our successful running bloggers to get even bigger and go and compete with the Rumi Neely's and Cupcakes and Cashmere's of the world).

Do I feel a little jealous of these super successful bloggers?  Sure...who wouldn't....they get all sorts of free stuff in the mail and the attention of so many people.  

I want to be a pretty, fast, clever, entertaining writer too!  And maybe someday I will be.

But for right now, all I can do is send myself stuff in the mail to review, write about my workouts and read about yours, and get super geeked up whenever I see a comment on my blog or a new follower.


I really hope I am providing entertaining content for someone out there.    

Let me know if you're ever in Orange County.  I'd like to think we'd all get along swimmingly in real life.  =).