Last week I was honored to participate in Fitness Magazine’s “blogging meet and tweet”. I drove up the night before and stayed at Amelia and Danielle’s house because it would have been quite the commute from South Jersey. If they were not kind enough to allow me to sleep on their comfortable sofa (which I’ve decided I’m going to buy one exactly the same for my house…), I wouldn’t have gone. I’m not commuting 3+ hours to get into the city. I hate driving an hour, let alone driving, taking a train and then walking.
We got into the city around 9:30. It was a bit overwhelming to head in during rush hour time. The Fit Blog NYC, was hosted inside a really nice (and made me jealous) fitness center.
I met several awesome people I’ve been “following” for years such as Laura (Mommy Run Fast), Amanda (Miss Zippy), Erica Sara and Michele (NYC Mama). Wow, I met so many people and learned so much…but where to begin?
We were provided with breakfast.
After consuming half of the breakfast buffet by myself, I mingled and listened to several speakers. The speakers were all interesting. My favorite talked about the female athlete triad as well as running injuries. (When she was talking about stress fractures, I resisted the urge to wave my hand).
As someone who has worked with those diagnosed with mental and physical health issues, it was so interesting to me. She talked a lot about eating disorders and their correlation to fitness blogs.
I plan to do another blog post dedicated to this very topic soon: but not having your period is not normal (no matter how athletic you are). One thing I miss about working in a public health setting is educating people on overall health and wellness. It is something I would like to get back too.
After lunch (so sorry no photos, such a blogger failure) we visited various booths and tables by the sponsors of the event. We received a lot of great items.
I’ll be honest that my favorite booth were the Hokas. First, we got a free pair of Hokas. I’m a runner and free running shoes are awesome. Second, I’m coming off a stress fracture and was going to buy a pair of Hokas to alternate with my Asics Nimbus anyways. So when they said we were getting a free pair, I thought my next step was to get a lotto ticket (edit to add: I bought a scratchcard and didn’t win).
With my moving I kept most things in the bag they gave us. Thankfully Laura took some great photos…I’m going to blame it on moving but in reality I am not as fancy to take great photos like these.
As well as the Hokas, there were also quite a few beauty and personal use items they gave us. While I’m not a beauty blogger and don’t have any “beauty routine”, it was nice to receive these items too. If I find any products I especially like then I will be sure to share them! They are all great products but I don’t have a lot to compare them too.
After browsing the booths a panel of bloggers talked about negative criticism, etc. Of course not everyone is going to like you. That being said just because someone leaves a negative comment doesn’t make them a “jealous blog hater”. I think feedback (both good and bad) is important to blogging. That’s just my opinion though. One quote that really stuck with me was: “You can be the ripest, juiciest peach that exists but there is always going to be someone that doesn’t like peaches”. I want to write a post sometime about constructive criticism and blogging. Long story short, I don’t really think that people publicly bash you because they are jealous of your life. Going to Fitblog gave me a few post ideas.
We left with a very large gift bag. To be honest, I felt both overwhelmed and excited by all of these “free things”. The event was free and now they were giving me all of these items. I felt guilty that companies were just giving me things just because I blog. That being said I was extremely grateful too. I am sure I will like most of these great products and I’ll share some of my favorites. After I take more time to get to use some of these products, I’ll write a post sharing my favorites.
I had never been to a “blogging event” so this was a new experience for me.
So long rambling short, I had a great time and I will hopefully be back next year. I don’t even know who I am anymore…I’ve been to NYC twice in a month. I honestly cannot take credit though because Danielle has led me into the city giving and allowing me to follow her like a lost dog. I know for a fact I wouldn’t have made it into the city without her or Amelia.
Questions for you:
Have you ever been to a blogger meetup?
Are you a urban or suburban type of person?
YOU GOT FREE HOKAS?????????????????
I was so surprised! I was going to buy the Clifton the next day. I honestly felt weird, I just tried them on and they gave them to me. My feet don’t smell that bad…
Can’t help but be super jealous with all the free things! But it looks like going to the event was hard work 😉 so you deserved it! Hope the Hokas make for pain-free runs!
I would love to attend this next year! Looks so fun. I’ve never done a blogger meetup but I really want to start getting involved with things like this.
That’s pretty amazing you got free hokas. The other free stuff is great too, don’t get me wrong… but free shoes are always the best (especially as a runner, shoes are my biggest expense). It looks like you had a fun time overall.
I really love that quote about the peaches too. so true.
I haven’t been to a blogger meetup yet, but hopefully in 2015 I will! I used to think of myself as a suburban type of person – driving on roads with more than 2 lanes terrified me. After moving to Denver, I’m much more comfortable in an urban setting…that being said I don’t think I’d want to live downtown.
You hit the free stuff jackpot; don’t feel guilty!! That’s what you get for having an awesome blog! I’m jealous about the sparklysoul headband. Those things are great! Let us know how the Hokas go.
Sounds like an awesome time and HOKAS! 🙂
Sounds like fun! Love all the free things too 🙂 I really liked the peach quote. Very simply stated, but so important to realize, otherwise you will let people get to you!
Don’t feel bad for getting free stuff – the brands need you to help promote them and spread the word. I literally wouldn’t know about Hokas if it wasn’t for blogs! And hearing reviews on different products is always useful to me. Sounds like an absolute blast, glad you had a good time!
I’ve been to a very small meetup with Vega, but nothing as cool and amazing as FitBlog. I’d LOVE to do something like this, but I’d definitely have to travel to the US for it and that’s $$$. Hopefully one day! 🙂
I hope you are able to too Ange!
At my first blogger meetup I managed to drop my slice of cake into my glass of water. Real smooth!
That quote is fab. Spot on for blogging!
SO glad I got to meet you!!! <3
Me too Lindsay! You are hilarious!
‘I felt guilty that companies were just giving me things just because I blog. That being said I was extremely grateful too. I am sure I will like most of these great products and I’ll share some of my favorites. ‘
Hollie, this is what separates you from the vast majority of bloggers. Getting so much expensive gear for free is a huge privilege (on top of the fact that the entire blogging community is privileged on some level, and I include myself in this despite not receiving free products) and it really gets to me that no-one seems to acknowledge that. It’s as if some people think they’re so great that they inherently deserve to be given everything in life on a plate. It’s so refreshing to hear your thoughts on this…even though I’m bloody jealous that you got free Hokas 😉
I think said Hokas will be great for your feet: they’re like running on clouds, even though they do take a lot of adjustment form-wise (or maybe that’s just because I’m clumsy and have trouble picking my feet up off the ground at the best of times).
I did my research beforehand on Hokas. I had planned to get the shoes beforehand which I think made me more grateful for them afterwords!
Free running shoes are the best shoes! I’ll be interested to hear what you think of the Hokas. I’ve tried them on a treadmill, but haven’t done any legitimate distance in them.
This looks like it was a lot of fun! I have no idea how people get invited to these things – I think I envy that more than the free stuff. (Which you shouldn’t feel bad about receiving!)
Are those blue shoes the Skyscapes? Those are SUPER COMFY.
They are indeed. I haven’t walked around in them just yet!
Wow, look at all that swag! This looks like an awesome event – I’m going to be honest and say I’m a little jealous. I would have liked to listen to the talk about the correlation between eating disorders and fitness blogs.
It was so interesting. I’ll write a post about it soon!
Looks like a wonderful time! I think an event like that would be so much fun! But I am so new to blogging, I think I need a lot more experience under my belt before I can call myself a blogger, and go to events like this! One day… 😉
If you blog, you are a blogger Karen! 🙂
SWEET Hokas! I can’t wait to hear how they feel! I won a Running Co. gc this weekend so I’m on the hunt for shoes 🙂
I’ll be at Mullica on Saturday and Haddonfield on Sunday if you want to come when I’m working! 🙂
And I didn’t even notice the coffee spill–just you, who I was so thrilled to meet!
We are lucky indeed: blogging can take us amazing places.
And I loved the peach quote, too, and the healthy message by the doc–can’t wait to hear you expound on it, b/c it’s a message that needs to be preached.
I feel like it’s really relevant to the blogging world too 🙂
Dannnng girl! Talk about a swag bag!! I hope you love the Hokas! I have a pair that I should probably wear more often, once I get back to running 🙂 NYC is so overwhelming to me. I wouldn’t have been able to do a trip like that on my own!
I wouldn’t have been able to without Danielle honestly!
Interested to hear about the Hokas – a lot of people have recommended them for the injury-prone like myself.
If I were to go to a blogger meet-up, I would totally make sure it was this one! I can’t wait to read your follow-up posts!
Totally agree on the amenorrhea thing – I write about it often and will probably address it again once I finish digesting the Meet and Tweet and Runner’s World weekend lol…Oh and the goodies given away, totally amazing and overwhelming! I can’t get through them all yet and I think it’s even more than last year. I hope to meet you next time!
Wow I’ve been reading some of the Runners World recaps and they all look like so much fun. I would love to do that at some point!
OMG Hollliiiieeez, you’re such a REAL blogger now 🙂 Haha. Actually, I’m totally jealous of all the free stuff! How awesome!!!! I definitely agree that people are not haters online cause they’re “jealous.” Really, they’re probably just miserable or just really find you (a collective “you,” not “YOU you”) annoying! People really don’t have to like everybody. I read some blogs that annoy the shit out of me. I tend not to read them again… but still… and I read pieces of blogs that annoy me as well but in real life, I may love my friends, but that doesn’t mean they don’t get on my nerves at times too. I actually really want to go to a blogger meet up! Not necessarily like that one (I WOULD like that one too though), but just a local one would be cool that’s not hosted at all. Is that even the word? I LOVE cities, but I hate parking in them enough to not like them that much. I really do like exploring them (except NYC- it’s the only city I’ve been to that I’ve really, really not liked) and think it’s so fun to see the differences in cities, but I definitely prefer nature over cities and I really like living right outside of the city, rather than inside of it. I have no idea what Hokas are (kinda ugly, actually) but I’m curious to see what your review is! They look so bulky!
Looks so fun 😄
I have never been to a blogger meet up but it looks like A LOT of fun! and lots of goodies 🙂
My blogger meet ups involve you, me, Heather and Britt. Personally I have no complaints about that. Although this does look like it was a fun day and you got to meet some awesome people!
My doctor just gave me info on Female Triad~ had never heard of it before, and she feels I have some ‘symptoms’. Some blood work ruled out anything else. So weird that I’ve now heard that term twice in a short time frame! Looks like you had a great meetup 🙂
Holy Cow, that is so, so, so, cool that you were invited and able to attend!!!
It seems like Hokas are the darling of the running world right now I’ll be interested to hear what you think of them!
I’ve never been to a blogging anything, but man o man it looks like the Fitness Magazine event has some incredible SWAG 🙂
Ah, the crazy picture of us with our Hokas graces your blog. Amazing! And, great meeting you!