April 21, 2007 | Issue #1!
In this issue...
Introduction
Welcome to the first edition of the Complete Running Network (CRN) Newsletter! We're excited about finally starting an "official" newsletter because we've got lots of great stuff to share.
Before we get started, you might be wondering how you got on our mailing list. Most likely it's because you are a member of the Running Blog Family, or you contacted Complete Running some time during the past couple of years. Either way, you got this email because we finally set up newsletter software and put your email address (along with about 1000 others) onto our mailing list.
If you don't want to be on this list, just click on the link near the bottom of the notification email you received and our newsletter software will take you off lickety-split (even though we'll be sad to see you go).
About Us
For those of you who know about the Running Blog Family (RBF), but who are not familiar with CRN, here's a bit of info to help us get to know one another.
CRN is, of course, a web site. But what kind of web site? Well, we're a web site that exists to connect and support the web's running community. We've become most known for hosting the RBF - a tremedously energetic and positive community of roughly 1200 running blogs. "Community" is very important to us. Everything we do is centered around making our community a special place.
Our focus on community is what led us to add "Network" to Complete Running. The transition from Complete Running to the Complete Running Network was about recruiting some of the best writers within the RBF to contribute to what is now essentially a multi-author web site. We write on all aspects of running including; tips, news, humor, inspiration and much more.
So that's what CRN is. That's who CRN is. Welcome to our community!
What' s New @ CRN?
We've got so much stuff to share that it would be overwhelming to put it all in one newsletter so we'll focus on just two things today:
- CRN Forum: One of the things most often requested of us is to provide a discussion area for our readers and bloggers. Well folks. You got it! The CRN Forum is open for business and it's waiting for your brilliant conversational abilities. What makes this forum special is that we think it will become the meeting place for our readers and members of the Running Blog Family. In other words - you! CRN would like to thank Aaron Engelsrud for creating this special place. Thank you Aaron.
- Custom Google Running Blog Search: Have you ever wondered what running bloggers are saying about a subject you're interested in? Have you ever wished you could find out what hundreds of them have written ...without visiting them individually?
Let's say you were interested in buying a Garmin Forerunner. You don't know anyone personally who owns one, but you're pretty sure someone in the running blogosphere must have one and you'd like to know what they think of it.
You could search on Google ...but the results would not be limited to blogs. In fact, you'd probably get a lot of results from sites that sell Forerunners - not exactly the kind of personal testimonials you're looking for. Right?
Or you could go to the RBF Directory and start visiting blogs ...but that would take you forever.
You could post something on your blog and wait for answers ...that might be successful. Then again, it's probably more likely that it won't.
What about searching on Technorati? Technorati is great for finding out what's going on at this very minute but it can be very hit and miss and it's not very good at showing you what was written in the past.
Is there another option? A way to search hundreds of running blogs all at once? Yes! Using Google technology, CRN created a brand new tool that searches all 1200 RBF blogs at once.
Check out CRN Running Blog Search and be sure to note the cool tools on that page for adding the search box to your Google Home Page and blog or web site.
Stuff For Your Blog
We'd like to point you to three terrific services and products. The reason we are promoting these services is because all three are provide by bloggers we know well. They are all long-time members of the RBF:
- Breaking the Tape: BTT has a terrific system for recording your running stats and displaying them on your blog. BTT is the brain child of Jeff aka The Amazing Hip. Check BTT out.
- Sumy Designs and the Masthead Factory are a wonderful, creative venture put together by RunnerSusan and her sister. Looking for a nice, custom design or masthead for your site or blog? Look no further.
- Michelle from Bondi Band makes all sorts of colorful running bandanas. Check 'em out!
Question of the Day
Who's your favorite running blogger? We're starting a new feature on CRN and we'd love to here who you think are the most inspiring, talented, amazing running bloggers in the RBF. Please tell us your stories at this link.
Bye For Now
And with that, we bid you a fond farewell ...till next time. Please tell us what you think of our newsletter here. We'd love to here your suggestions for how we can improve.
Thank you from the CRN team!
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