LOLZLetter 300: Happy 300 Newsletters
Plus a *Shoe* Giveaway
In 2019, I started the FueledbyLOLZ newsletter. If I'm being honest, I was a little bit burned out, bored, and I thought blogging was dying. Well, LOL, lucky for me, blogging is still around, and so is the newsletter.
So why a newsletter?
In February 2019, I started the weekly newsletter. I had no idea who would subscribe. I wanted a place where I could just write down thoughts without worrying about SEO and using the right keywords to make it searchable. Over the past six years, the newsletter has covered everything from shoe information to interviews, current events, and whatever else is on my mind. Most of the time, like today, I end up writing the newsletter the same day before publishing.
The newsletter is a different direction than blogging. I've blogged for over a decade, and like everything, it has evolved and changed.
I’ve blogged since before I started dating my husband and even when I still swam competitively. Then I blogged when I entered the whirlwind that is now the military world and my job in the run specialty (which I love!). Heck, I blogged before Instagram and Twitter were “cool.” 2014 was probably the “height” of blogging. Then slowly, blogging waned, and most of my favorite bloggers stopped. I wrote about that a few years ago.
With Instagram, anyone can post a photo with a 10,000-word caption and give advice. I mean, why listen to someone with 1,000 followers when you can listen to someone with 100,000? I’ve been guilty of listening to others just because they have X amount of followers or even being jealous of not being chosen for campaigns because I didn’t have enough followers. That’s all silly and irrelevant, but hey, I’m only human! These days, I take far fewer sponsored posts because so many just don't feel right.
I knew I didn’t want to create a podcast or YouTube channel. There are plenty of both out there, and hosting either is not my scene.
I also knew I didn’t want to give up blogging. I know one day I will, but this year is not that day. Blogging has evolved more into product reviews, trails, and even diner reviews. The newsletter is more personal, focusing on topics I’m interested in, knowledgeable about, or interviews with people who are experts in their field.
So thank you to everyone who has continued to read, subscribe, or comment.
A Giveaway:
To celebrate the newsletter, I'm having a shoe giveaway. One person will win a shoe of their choice (under $200).
All you have to do to enter is be subscribed to the newsletter and share the newsletter and tag me.
Sharing could be through emails, Threads, Instagram, Facebook, the new Bluesky—whatever. There is no limit to the number of shares. Just please don't forget to tag me or CC me through email so it doesn't get lost.
Paid subscribers will get 20 additional entries, and if you would like to become a paid subscriber, I appreciate everyone who does.
Here are some of the most popular newsletters since 2019.
Some of my Favorites (this wasn't easy):
Mental Health: I've written about mental health on the blog, and it's always a topic that is important to me.
Why are Some Runners So Entitled? I shouldn't be amazed, but I am, at how rude some runners are when a race needs to be changed or cancelled last minute.
How Running Shoes Have Changed in the Last Decade: It was fun to look back at this!
How Your Favorite Running Brands are Affected by COVID-19: While this was not "fun" to write, it was definitely interesting.
Social Media Versus Real Life (2022) Most of the time, what you see on social media, is a product of who you follow.
Thoughts on Updated Boston Times (2024): A recent newsletter and my own thoughts on the updated times.
Readers Favorite:
Is the Nike Vaporfly worth it? One of the earliest newsletters is still one of the most popular.
An Ode to Kelvin Kiptum Cheruiyo: Rest in peace Kelvin
Most Read:
Running as You Age Series featuring 3 women in their 30s. This is the most read newsletter which is both surprising and not. Women are crushing it!
Most Underrated:
Why You don't Need to be Married to your GPS Watch:This was one of least opened newsletters but to be fair, it came out on Boston Marathon day.
Last-Minute Gift Guide for the Holidays Who knew tweezers could be so popular? It was one of my favorites to write, but coming out shortly before Christmas made it one of the least-read newsletters.
If you have any ideas or things you want to see in the newsletter, please leave or comment or send an email at fueledbylolz at gmail dot com. I love hearing what readers want to read about!
Finally, many people have asked how they can support the newsletter. There are so many ways without paying anything :-)
Subscribing and opening the newsletter
Commenting or sharing
Being a paid subscriber
What's Keeping Me Entertained?
ASICS Superblast 2 Shoe Review
In Conversation with FED Collaborative's Mel Lodge Mel is doing the real work by translating REDs research into digestible takeaways and *doing* the REDs research we need.