Monday, March 30, 2015

In Real Life

I think I'm just old enough that part of me is kind of creeped out about meeting someone online first, and then in real life.  But I may finally be ready to let go of that -- I've had nothing but the best experiences, and now I have a full trifecta!

The first time it happened was Megan, whose blog was also the first or second local Dallas blog I ever read.  I found her through Mike, and read what she wrote quietly for some time, and eventually started commenting sometimes.  She wrote about trying different cross-training options, and I invited her to join me and my husband for boot camp.  Not a lot of people are game for the kind of 5:30 a.m. intensity that we love, but she said she'd try it.  I still remember setting it up and making sure she'd have her own car and could follow us, just because it seemed so sketchy to me to meet someone from the interwebs in real life. 

And it worked out!  We go to boot camp together about three mornings a week, and occasionally run the same local races (and occasionally even run them together).  On the horizon -- potentially a marathon (New Orleans!).  She's a daily positive factor in my life -- actually, in our lives, my husband thinks she's the bomb too.  So first internet stranger turned out to be incredible and now a real friend. 

The second time it happened was Sara, another Texas blogger, who was going to be running our local marathon on her birthday as her first marathon this past December.  So I made sure I knew what she'd be wearing and watched for her as I cheered with friends near our house, and then planned to find her again near mile 20 and jump in the race to run a few miles with her. 

And it worked out!  She heard me cheering near mile 7 and waved since I called her by name, then we got to chat when I ran with her for a few miles starting at mile 20.  And we even met up to celebrate for her birthday dinner, along with her friend Amanda, a new-to-me Texas blog.  Fun night and we'll hopefully cross paths at more Texas races in the future, especially since we both run San Antonio most years. 

Well, this weekend, I was going for the third "in real life" meeting.  This one was different because I have read Aimee's blog for as long as I can remember reading and really following blogs.  I think I started in 2012?  And I think maybe I found her through Friend Making Mondays?  Or a comment on Bella's blog (which I think was the first I ever read)?  When I started reading, she had a young son who's now a little person.  Running was obviously something we had in common and by far the inital reason I started reading, but there was so much else I loved reading about -- her life, her family, her work, her time in the Peace Corps, and her voice resonated with me. 

When I was trying to decide whether or not to run Boston this year, one of the factors in my "pro-Boston" column was that she said she'd be there cheering again, and I figured we'd be able to grab coffee or something.  But then I decided not to register for Boston, so that plan wasn't going to work.  But then some time ago, she mentioned that she'd be in Marshall, TX this weekend for a vegan healthy eating convention (I wish I'd paid attention to what she was attending, because it would have been really interesting to have gone myself).  Marshall is only about 150 miles away from our house, so I sent her an email and said that if her schedule worked out, we should meet up.  On our drive home from Mardi Gras this year, I took note when we passed through Marshall and kept my eyes peeled for potential meeting places in between. 

And it worked out!  We had dinner on Saturday night, and we basically closed down the Italian bistro in Italian that we chose since we sat talking for so long!  It was so much fun and she already feels like a real friend.  I got home after midnight, so I ended up too tired to go run with my friends Sunday morning and had to do 13 solo miles, but it was so worth it! 

I'm thinking the internet's a pretty great place! 

I wonder if I'll meet anyone else, and if so, who?  Would it be Jennifer if I go visit my in-laws in Pittsburgh in April?  Bella when we go to San Fran for a little while in May?  Amy at a beer mile challenge?  Mike if I end up mediating a case in Corning, which oddly enough may happen in May?  Gracie if I run New Orleans?  Meredith at a race?  Newlywed Grace somewhere?  This is why I like reading blogs where I can tell the author is someone I'd like!

12 comments:

  1. Let's find a race!!!! This year's out as it's all triathlon triathlon triathlon, but maybe in 2016? Boston 2016??? (If I qualify in a few weeks.) Pittsburgh is only 3 hours from where I live. I've never raced in Pennsylvania. Is that a usual trip for you?

    I remember when I first met Amy from 26point2ers. We both just about freaked out!!!

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    1. I don't think I'll have a qualifying time for Boston 2016! I didn't re-Q in the fall, and my next marathon won't be until after Boston 2016 is likely full :(
      But maybe something in Pittsburgh! My in-laws are there, so we go a couple times per year usually.
      I remember reading about when you met Amy, I found your blog through hers!

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  2. Yay! Awesome with the meet-ups! I have managed ... zero. :( Would be cool if you were in the area - last year when I was in Houston I had hoped to meet someone, but it didn't happen!

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    1. I'm hoping you'll end up with a Dallas trip, or I'll mediate in Corning, or one year I'll run Wine Glass or Steamtown and meet you at one of those!

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  3. You know, I still have to knock a marathon out in Texas! (although, I think it might be bandera 50K in san antonio next january). I am pretty confident that we will end up doing the same race one of these days, though!!!

    And I hope you know if you are ever in Nashville to let me know!!

    I've met quite a few people from my blog. Like Meredith said... we randomly bumped into each other and I think that made me TOTALLY awkward (but she was cool and awesome). When I'm intentionally meeting someone, I seem to be a bit more relaxed. Haha.

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    1. Well, if you pass through Dallas on your way to SA, let me know. I usually have friends doing Bandera. Our paths will inevitably cross and I will hope it involves alcohol and laughs!

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  4. I hope it's me! :) I love meeting online people in real life. So far it's just been local people for me. I love matching up real people with their blog personalities.

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    1. It would be fun! Depending on my work travel calendar, I'm going to try to be in PIT the weekend of April 25-26. Will keep you posted!

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  5. You should totally run New Orleans! It's PR city (flat flat flat) and obviously - plenty to do here :)
    Bonus: I'm not even an axe-murderer!

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    1. Hmmm, I've wondered if you stashed bodies under that new pavement on your street thinking it would be the perfect place...

      Haha, New Orleans is 100% on my radar. Registration wasn't open yet last time I checked, but let me know if you hear it is. I'll keep an eye on it.

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  6. It was so great to meet you! I think we are both very much who we are on our blogs, no BS. I have no doubt there will be another Boston in your future. I look forward to meeting up with you in Mass. Until then I might have to explore a little more of Texas since I only saw a very small part. New Orleans sounds like fun too!!

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  7. by the way, i am already registered for SARNR full, so if you're going to be running it we should meet for dinner the night before. i love that we got to meet and my favorite part of the dallas marathon (aside from the obvious of it being my first full and that it was done on my birthday) was that you ran with me for a while. that was the best! i ran my fastest miles when you ran with me and we talked conversationally the whole time. it was awesome!

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