Share the High is for Runners

It may or may not be obvious what Share the High is all about when you first visit the site, so I thought it might be helpful to jot down a few ways in which you might find the site to be of value.

1) Discover running inspiration & information

This was the primary force behind me wanting to start this site. I am only in my second year of more “serious” running… and as I train for an upcoming marathon (Chicago 10/10/10), I am definitely hitting days when I need a little boost. There are so many great stories out there that offer hope and inspiration. I enjoy thinking about those stories when I am feeling a little out of energy.

What if you are already chock full of inspiration? Well then – share some of it with your fellow runners by submitting stories, blog posts, or just your own words! Most of the posts here at Share the High are links to other content, but the submission process currently lets you post just text as well. Here’s an example of a post like that.

2) Build and participate in a new online running community

The web is full of social networks, and if you are like 99% of the rest of the population of planet Earth, you likely have a facebook page too. But here’s a chance to help build a new online running focused community. This site isn’t out to collect your personal information. The primary focus is to share inspiration & information.

What’s new in the running world? How do you sift through an ever increasing stream of information & news?

Although in the beginning, this site will be mostly one big bucket of news and posts that have been voted on… there is an opportunity through the activity of its members for this site to become a rich repository of running related content. To make this happen, I need to stay focused on ensuring posts have good tags, and that over time – the right categories are put in place.

Check out the tag cloud now for an example of a new way to find running news and information – this will only get better over time.

Here are ways to help this community evolve:

1. Submit content. Spend a little time trying to write a decent summary. Use good tags. The title can be of your own choosing as well.
2. Vote on posts that you think are high quality, interesting, or new.
3. Comment where you feel you have something to add to the conversation.
4. Get to know the other members of the site. You can “follow” other members, as well as send & receive messages.
5. Invite your running friends to join.

3) Promote yourself & your running related products, services, or content

This site is a way for me to bring together several of my passions into one form of expression. In working on Share the High – I can continue to learn about social media, practice the web development arts, and support and learn about the running community all at the same time.

Even though I am only a few weeks into this venture, I am already impressed and inspired by the number of other folks I am encountering who are looking for ways to blend their running passion with other interests.

This is a great place to promote those efforts. If blatant spam is submitted – those users and submissions will be deleted. But if you are an active member of this community and are wanting to promote your own products, services, or content – it is welcome.

If you do submit content – don’t stop there. Let your friends & followers know about it so that they can come here and comment and vote on things too.  Items in the submissions area don’t get anywhere near as much attention as items that make it to the front page.

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I hope it helps explain a few of the ways you can use and find value in Share the High!

The social news site for runners

http://sharethehigh.com has been live for only a few days, but already things are going well.

This great comment was posted today on the site by @runnerspassion:

“this is a great idea for a running site. I’ve been looking for something like this for awhile so hopefully it catches on with lots of other runners and we can watch this community grow”

And the first “real” post made it to the front page this week. It is “Quotes About Running: 26 Inspiring Quotes to Help You Reach Your Goals!”

I’ll wrap up this quick post with my favorite quote from that list:

“If you want to run, then run a mile.  If you want to experience another life, run a marathon.” – Emil Zatopek

Why do you run?

“Why do you run?”

Do you ever get asked this question? Or – better yet, find that you are sometimes asking yourself this question?

Whether or not I am asked, I find myself often thinking about the many reasons I run. I wanted to stop this morning and begin to list out some of those reasons.

So in no particular order, here we go:

1. It keeps me grounded.
2. Running melts the stress away.
3. It is my “me time”.
4. It’s like meditation – without all that annoying sitting still stuff.
5. I meet great people.
6. Running does great things for my body, mind, and soul.
7. It connects me to nature… and the weather!
8. I run because I want to be alive and kicking for a long time to come… so that I can run a race with my grandchildren someday.
9. Running is actually fun (some of the time).
10. It helps me sleep well at night. Or, in the case of marathon training season – in the middle of the day sometimes too.
11. I love the feeling of anticipation at the start line – before the gun goes off.
12. And even more – I love how I feel when I cross that finish line.

So what are your reasons for running? If you post about them on your own blog – feel free to submit it at Share the High. You’ll get my vote.

And while you are there – please consider voting for this submission as well :)

About Share the High – the new social news site just for runners

I thought it might help to introduce this blog and share a few of the reasons why I am launching Share the High – the social news site for runners.

To understand why this site and why now – it might help to first share a bit more about myself.

My name is Roger Oney, marathon maniac # 2534. Share the High is more than a way to explore two of my great interests – running and social media… it is also a way to share with the world one of the greatest aspects of running – the running community.

This community is already on display all around the world – with fund raising for charities, great local races, and running clubs large and small wherever you go.  And there are a lot of great running websites on the web as well. This site is a great meeting place, and a great jumping off place. It is a site where you can share the latest training information you are finding, or find the perfect bit of inspiration you may be craving.

You can share with the world or your friends. You can vote on links submitted by other members – or just watch what your friends submit. How you use the site is up to you entirely.

It could also simply serve as a place where you store all of your favorite running related links for future reference! For example, here’s the URL to my links so far: http://sharethehigh.com/user.php?login=Roger&view=history

Here are a few more reasons I have started this site…

1. I am looking for all of the inspiration and motivation I can find between now and marathon day. So bring it on!
2. There’s a tremendous amount of new and emerging data about running coming out all the time… why not look for new and innovative ways of navigating that content?
3. Running has changed my life for the better, and I couldn’t have made it this far without a great local running community. Maybe this site can serve a similar role and help other runners when they need it the most.
4. My non-running Facebook friends are probably tired of seeing my posts about running.
5. Besides, doesn’t Facebook know enough about me already!?!

…looking forward to coming back in a few months and sharing the many unexpected and unforeseen benefits as well!