New Site for Runners!—Runnertalk.net

I'm such a social-media nerd, especially when it comes to running-related social sites. There's just something so cool about connecting with runners from all over the world. In previous posts, I've mentioned various great social network sites for runners such as Athlinks, Dailymile, seriousrunning, and Runners'Lounge. Now I've come across another site with a slightly different twist that I'd like to add to the list—Runnertalk.net.

Runnertalk was initially started as a blog by 20-year-old runner and information technology student Patrik Pettersson from Sweden. After lack of time updating the site, Patrik forgot about it for a while. Almost a year later, he decided to reinvent Runnertalk as a social media site for runners. Patrik loves how there are many good blogs and websites about running out there, so he designed Runnertalk as a place where all the best articles from those sites can be made available. Before he started the site he had seen a lot of sites like this (digg clones) in other niches such as finance, health, and web design, but he had never seen such a thing for runners, so he thought it was about time one was created.

Patrik's vision is to make Runnertalk THE place to find and discuss great articles about running. His dream is that it can be a site that's available to everyone. The members will find great posts and the bloggers (whose posts are submitted) will hopefully find new readers. He knows at the beginning there won't be a lot of submitted stories, but as the traffic grows to Runnertalk so will the traffic to the stories. The site is in constant development and new features will continue to be added. For example, Patrik's planning to add some buttons for bloggers and webmasters to put on their sites to make it easy for their readers to submit and vote on their stories.

So how does it work? When a user submits a link it will land in the upcoming section. Other users can now vote on the link. If the links get a lot of votes it will be transferred to the Popular section, the main page of runnertalk.

Do you have to become a member? By signing up as a member you will be able to affect the content on the site by submitting, voting on and commenting on the links you like the most. The sign-up process is quick and most importantly, it's free!

How can bloggers participate in the site? As a blogger, your posts will get more exposure and more readers will be driven to your blog by submitting your articles to Runnertalk. When they are available, be sure to add one of the links/buttons to your blog, making it easy for readers to vote on your posts.

So, take a few moments and check out Runnertalk. If you have a running blog, try submitting a few of your favorite posts!

Need to Set A Running Goal? Let The Circle Help

Are you a goal-oriented person or do you need to set some goals to help get yourself motivated to run? In either case, I have the perfect site for you! TheCircle.org is a new goal-oriented social network with resources and support that can help you achieve your goals. How does it work? TheCircle.org is a free site that gives registered users access to Circles where you can meet others with similar interests who may have already done what you seek to accomplish and who can share advice and encouragement to help you to succeed. As a registered user, you can ask questions and get insights on what steps to take to accomplish your goal.

Each Circle has a mentor that hosts a weekly blog and acts as a guide and moderator for the circle. Mentors are people who have a passion for and an above average knowledge of the subject matter related to the circle in which they participate. They offer their time and knowledge to help members learn more about the subjects they are interested in and to help members become more fulfilled people. Mentors may be professionals or just lay persons with training or experience that gives them special knowledge about a certain subject area.

TheCircle asked RunnerDude to be the mentor for two of their running-related circles—Run for Fitness and Long Distance Running. I'm excited to have this opportunity to connect with even more fellow runners, share the knowledge I've gained over the years, as well as learn from the circle members.

The idea for TheCircle.org grew out of a book written by Joe Mellett in the early 1990s called The Circle. The book is an inspirational work that offers those in need a way to organize their life to achieve goals and, ultimately, to get to know one self better. The book will soon be published on this website and will be found under the Tools section. Understanding that self improvement does not mean going it alone, and in fact, that a mentor or guide, as well as a social group of people with similar interests, could aid one in taking the steps necessary to achieve a goal, Joe had the idea of creating a website where people could share their advice and encouragement to the end that all involved come away with a sense of self-fulfillment. TheCircle.org LLC was formed in 2006 to create this website built on Joe’s ideas of self-improvement, self-fulfillment and community.

The site is growing with new members each day. I encourage you to check it out. While you're there, take a look at their other circles. They cover a wide variety of topics such as fitness, hiking, training for a triathlon, competitive swimming, sewing, travel, relationships, stress management, and much more.

Don't worry, RunnerDude's Blog isn't going anywhere. It's going strong (thanks to you, the readers) and daily posts will continue as well as the fun contests that you've made so successful.