I started blogging over seven years ago. I’d always loved writing so it was something I had long wanted to do. But I spent many years not knowing what I should write about. I didn’t feel I had enough expertise for a mummy-type blog. With two young kids, I didn’t get around much to have a travel blog. A lifestyle blog seemed over-ambitious given my limited knowledge of all things ‘lifestyle’. I didn’t think I was philosophical or worldly enough to write about… well, what philosophical and worldly people write about. But around this time, I was growing increasingly unhappy about being unfit, overweight and just unhealthy. I decided I would start running. And then it dawned on me. What better way to chart my progress and hold me accountable than blogging about it? It was at that moment that “The Gaborone Runner”, both the person and the blog, was born. I’ve since written over 300 blogs. To be exact, this blog is my 327th!

My blog very much reflects my growth as a runner. At first, I mostly focused on training plans and race recaps. Then as I my relationship with running evolved from one of “I’m only doing this as a means to an end” to “Wait, I can’t live without running”, I became more creative – I still shared race recaps as a way to document my progress but I started writing more about my interesting running adventures, the raw lessons I was getting from being a back- sometimes middle-of-the-pack runner, my successes and my many failures, and when I was brave enough, I started sharing tips about running. When I travelled to exciting new destinations for work, I jumped on the opportunity to run and write about my experiences. I was also excited to start sharing other runners’ experiences that I couldn’t personally talk about like running Comrades, running with arthritis, endometriosis or lipoedema, or running after a motorbiking accident.

Towards the end of last year, I stopped blogging. At first, I blamed work and life challenges, but when a few months went by, I knew something was wrong. I still haven’t quite been able to pinpoint what it is. Have I run out of stuff to talk about? No. I still have a long list of great topics just waiting to be written, not to mention several race and running recaps from as far afield as Ethiopia and Türkiye. Have I just run out of steam? Maybe. I have felt quite overwhelmed the last few months. So it could be that? Am I bored of blogging? I don’t think so. I do think I’ve lost some motivation though. Am I frustrated about the time and money spent on blogging without any concrete returns? This does creep into my mind sometimes… a lot more, on bad days. I put a lot of work into my blog, and I often wonder if anyone is even interested in what I have to say. Does anyone even read anymore? Anyway… in this blog, I thought it would be good to do what I do when I stop running – ask myself why I’m doing this. So here goes.

Why I Blog

I Get to Channel My Creativity. Although there is some room for creativity in my work, it’s not enough. Blogging allows me to tap into my creativity and share my experiences, thoughts, and feelings about something I love. I also love the symbiotic relationship that exists between my running and blogging. Chasing blog content always has me thinking about new places to run in and different challenges to tackle. The more fun I have with the sport, the more I have to write about, and the more I write, the more creative I want to be with my running. Also, not wanting to be repetitive, I’m always looking for a new spin on a topic or a different way to recap a race or challenge. Blogging challenges me to think deeper about issues and to find different ways of doing things.

Blogging Keeps Me Focused. Having this creative outlet, this combination of running and blogging, just makes me more composed and focused on other aspects of my life. That’s why I know I can’t really blame not having time. At my busiest, when my kids needed so much more attention and my work had even more demands, I was still able to put pen to paper. Blogging has taught me critical lessons in self-motivation, goal setting, planning and managing my time. Not only that, it has also taught me to be patient, resilient, take risks, and seize opportunities… although I’m still working on these last two points!

Blogging Increases My Confidence. When I first started blogging, my husband was quick to talk about my blog to others. He kept telling me to market it more – “Your blog should be monetised”. I would always feel embarrassed. Maybe not so much embarrassed as vulnerable. I’m a very private person but on the blog, I put it all out there – my fears, my insecurities, my failures. You know how scary it is to say you’re going to smash a race, only for you to flop and then have to write about it? But with time, I’ve become more confident about owning my journey and my writing… with all its flaws. I’m confident about sharing my knowledge, ideas and opinions. I’m more confident about meeting complete strangers who say they read my blog. I do always wonder though whether the person they meet is who they assume me to be from the blog!

I Can Share My Expertise. I don’t want to brand myself as a running expert. I’m not. There are several experienced runners out there alongside running coaches, pundits and experts who know a lot more about running than I ever will. BUT I know what it’s like to start running in my late 30s as a complete amateur. I know what it’s like to not be able to run further than a 100metres. I know what it’s like to feel too embarrassed to run on the road. I know what it’s like to run 17 races my first year of running. I know what it’s like to run 16 Half Marathons (and counting!) as well as an ultra-trail marathon. I know what it’s like to train for 12 weeks to run a sub-60 10km time. I know what it’s like to run every street in three different neighbourhoods in Gaborone. I know what it’s like to be mugged on a race. I know all the insults a woman can get on the run. I know what it’s like to run on my own as a foreign woman in several towns in Tanzania, Ghana, Ethiopia and Türkiye. I know because I’ve done it.

I Get to Make a Difference. In one of my first few blogs, I wrote about inspiring just one person to get out there and run. When I wrote that, I had no idea just how many people would one day approach me and say I did just that. I am always floored when I meet runners or read comments by readers who tell me what a difference I’ve made in their lives – that they’ve run their first 5K, that they’ve finally run a Half Marathon, that they have discovered more about their towns after my constant pleas to #KnowYourCity. The term “If I can do it, you can too” seems so cliched but I truly think it’s a great way to describe my blog. I’m not a great athlete and never will be. I’m an average runner (on a good day) who chose to do something consistently for long enough to achieve some great physical and mental health benefits. And it is not just about running – I write about running in this “obscure” little city in a country many people can’t locate on a map (No, we don’t border South Sudan!). So, I love when people tell me they want to visit Botswana because they’ve read my blog. That just feels great.

This has been a great reminder of why I love blogging. I still have a lot more to write about, many more experiences to share, and a lot more adventures to go on. It’s time to make a plan so I catch you up on everything you’ve missed out on! Should I start with my husband’s Ironman 70.3 experience in Durban or my experience running in Istanbul or the fact that I have a new Half Marathon PB?

If you’re a blogger: Have you ever questioned why you still blog? Have you ever taken a long break from blogging? If you’re a reader: What have you been up to since we last connected? What are you looking forward to in June/ July? What content would you like to see from me?

Joining some of my favourite bloggers – My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida for Fit Five Friday! Be sure to read their blogs for some awesome inspiration!