How/Why did you become an ART Boardsie?

ecoli

Usually get such threads about starting running and that but the question of what attracted people to boards rarely pops up

So how did you find ART boards? and why did you decide to start posting?

Hopefully this should encourage some new topics and also remind some of the Old heads as to why they started in the first place;)



For me I was coming off long injury and spend alot of time training on my own getting back to fitness. Ended up on few runs with people from here which helped me back.

Found some people with great knowledge of the sport and was a great place for results and a decent replacement to the Leevale message board.

Through alot of discussions and learning got me on the path of coaching

Rineanna

I only really started following athletics in late 2005 and 2006, so following the track and field threads on here helped me learn the trade a bit.

ecoli wrote: »

Found some people with great knowledge of the sport and was a great place for results and a decent replacement to the Leevale message board.

There's a blast from the past. You needed boxing gloves and armour on to enter that war zone!

Pisco Sour

I began to post heavily here when I decided to run the Rotterdam Marathon, but stuck around as it gave me the opportunity to discuss elite athletics with other people who are just as passionate. I know very very very few people in real life who have a clue about athletics (those that I do know, I know from here ironically) so it was nice to be able to have a discussion with people who had a decent level of knowledge as to what is going on in elite track and field.

donothoponpop

I came across this friendly forum back in 2008 when I was first starting jogging, and instantly spotted a power vacuum. I posted pleasantly at first, all the time plotting to wrest control, dreaming of they day when I would wield the ban stick and begin a reign of terror, asked a few questions and found the place very helpful and informative. I've always gotten a lot more out of it than I've put in, and it remains somewhere that I'm interested in logging onto most days.

ecoli

Rineanna wrote: »

There's a blast from the past. You needed boxing gloves and armour on to enter that war zone!

Unfortunately not always as bad as it was coming to the end (maybe people who saw its digression wouldnt mind the "heavy handed modding" here as much )

rainbow kirby

Started posting here when I ran my first race (Rathfarnham 5k) in October 2008, which was about 3 months after I started running. Was a boardsie who frequented other parts of the site for a very long time before that though.

Clearlier

I'm a relative newbie here. I've known about boards for a long time as I had a friend who mods on other forums who talks about it occasionally. After I entered Dublin last year I decided to drop in and see if I could find out some specific piece of information (can't remember what it was now). I stay because for obvious reasons there's an Irish focus here and I enjoy that especially living in England.

robinph

Many moons ago when all around here was fields there was only the Athletics forum, although I'd watch the occasional bit of skinny Kenyans on telly I had no interest in talking about them so generally kept clear.

Then for some reason I decided to start running a bit again, had some queries about how to eat vast quantities of sugar on the move, posted over on another forum, they knew nothing, got moved over to the then new Marathon forum which I don't think I'd spotted before then, got lots of helpful replies, stayed around, someone had some daft ideas about a club, forums got merged, stayed a bit longer.

Now I can't leave.

elvis jones

Info and advice.

Its been great and along with joining a triathlon club its brought me from not being able to run 500m to entering my 1st olympic triathlon and dublin marathon this yr ( oh down 2 stone as well and counting )

average_runner

Decided to do a marathon in 2008 and i found this forum. Think i was a stalker of the forum for along time before i posted.

Lots of info and good advice here.


Its took me this long to start my training log here yesterday:D

Krusty_Clown

First started posting in the Motorcycles forum, when my interest was motorcycles. Then I moved to the Poker forum, when my interests shifted to all things Texas Hold'em. Been an inmate here since early 2007, when I ran my first half marathon in Connemara in the cracking time of 1:52. Thinking of moving to the food 'n' drinks forum next, if they'll have me.

elvis jones

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

First started posting in the Motorcycles forum, when my interest was motorcycles. Then I moved to the Poker forum, when my interests shifted to all things Texas Hold'em. Been an inmate here since early 2007, when I ran my first half marathon in Connemara in the cracking time of 1:52. Thinking of moving to the food 'n' drinks forum next, if they'll have me.

Garmin Man:cool:

BeepBeep67

My 1st post re the St Stephen's Day 5k in Wicklow - was looking online for results and guess where I found them.

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

First time running this (have watched it a few times).
The start is a little cramped, there was a bit of pulling and tugging but once underway all was fine.
One suggestion I would make in reply to another poster - who missed the 1k mark, stick a few bodies around the course, either with a k marker or calling out the time.
Overall very enjoyable - at least after the the 2k anyway :rolleyes:.
Do they plan to keep the same course? Looks like there is an opportunity for an alternative when the town relief and port relief roads are complete.
Thanks Tim for posting the results - still not on the Wicklow site - do you know when the Vets Cross Country will be posted.


Happy New Year
Dom

I lurked and posted occasionally until I latched onto the 1000 mile challenge which led me to start a training log after the 2009 1000 mile target was completed.
Now it's probably my most frequented site, I've made new friends and running buddies through A/R/T and I'm looking forward to meeting more.
Keep up the good work everyone - the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts!

tHE vAGGABOND

I have been on boards since before it was boards, when it was a single quake forum on a UCG webserver - so as it has expanded I have changed what forums I read based on what my interests are at that time..

So when I started loosing weight last year I was all about the Health and Fitness and Nutrition & Diet [and still lurk on them every day].

That lead me to my quickly loosing the will to live when working in a gym due to abject boredom and realizing people were not going to stop, point and laugh at me as [then] a fat bloke running outside..

And as with every obsession, I needed somewhere to vent/learn/stalk - so here I am

donothoponpop

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

My 1st post re the St Stephen's Day 5k in Wicklow - was looking online for results and guess where I found them.


I lurked and posted occasionally until I latched onto the 1000 mile challenge which led me to start a training log after the 2009 1000 mile target was completed.
Now it's probably my most frequented site, I've made new friends and running buddies through A/R/T and I'm looking forward to meeting more.
Keep up the good work everyone - the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts!

In fact BeepBeep67 is a great example of how the forum works...

There was a thread a couple of years ago where posters were sticking a pin in a Google Map to their location. At the same time, I was organizing the first Wicklow Way Relay Boards AC team. One of our required vets had dropped out, and there was a last-minute scramble to find a replacement. All alleys were dead-ends, everyone we chased couldn't do it, until one evening I was looking at the map, saw a runner based in Wicklow, guessed that his birthdate was a veteran-magic '67, sent a PM, and voila! A team was born, and BB's love affair with the cow-slop on leg 8 began!:D

Cabaal

Started with Couch to 5km in February 2010 and started a training log here, also asked questions, have also I've been on boards years as well

marchino

Had lurked around since early 09, having heard something about this boards thing from a person in our club.
I hadnt been running long.
I have found it most helpful and to be honest it was a way of life on here and a change from the 'are you going out' attitude which surrounds most younger people in ireland and beyond!
It is good when you are training hard and looking after yourself and find like minded people.
i have since recommened this forum to many other newbies i know aswel.
It helps to keep you informed and is interesting on a variety of levels.
90% of those on here are sound and we all appreciate the sometimes heated discussions.
There does however seem to be a bitchy side to this sometimes, which we could all do without..RE: operation transformation 5k thread.
A reason one ot two other athletes i know dont bother going on here anymore

For the most part it has been a pleasure though.
You never know where this forum could leave you.
From pacing in cork, to flying to barcelona on a tour, its a non stop adventure :-D
keep it coming!

Oryx

Ive been posting on the site since 2004, when I happened on it via the Paranormal forum. Boards has seen me through many a crisis (midlife and otherwise) since then, and the variety of forums I post on makes me seem like I have multiple personality disorder.

I first started getting into fitness when, in a moment of madness, after a row with someone, I went out running, Forrest Gump styleee. Two months in, I decided to enter Tough Guy in the UK, having managed to run 10k for the first time ever, and thinking, sure I was brilliant, and how hard could it be? (Answer: bloody hard) During a year posting in Health & Fitness, and getting up to marathon distance, I discovered there was also a place called A/R/T and it was just full of stuff I needed to know. I moved my training log here at the end of 2009 as I changed from running/strength work to see if I could master triathlon. This was in spite of being barely able to swim and completely unable to ride a bike.

And here I still am. This place is great for checking out events, seeing what hours and distances you should be doing in training, and picking up precious nuggets of information that would take you years of mistakes and learning to find out by accident.

This year, I've entered two HIM's, something I would not, could not, have considered possible three years ago. And deep in the back of my brain, a little voice wont stop repeating 2012...Ironman... for which I hold this forum (and particularly Izoard) responsible.

BeepBeep67

donothoponpop wrote: »

In fact BeepBeep67 is a great example of how the forum works...

There was a thread a couple of years ago where posters were sticking a pin in a Google Map to their location. At the same time, I was organizing the first Wicklow Way Relay Boards AC team. One of our required vets had dropped out, and there was a last-minute scramble to find a replacement. All alleys were dead-ends, everyone we chased couldn't do it, until one evening I was looking at the map, saw a runner based in Wicklow, guessed that his birthdate was a veteran-magic '67, sent a PM, and voila! A team was born, and BB's love affair with the cow-slop on leg 8 began!:D

And there's me thinking it was because of my speed and navigation skills

Brianderunner

I'm another from the former Leevale message boards. Lurked on here for a while before posting. It was Rotterdam and Cork last year when i met many of the regular posters and since that i have been regulary posting on this site (and winding people up) ever since.

slowsteady

Started training for 2010 DCM with a 30-year-old guide and only decided a week before the marathon that maybe things had moved on and there might be more up to date information elsewhere - realised what a goldmine this was and have been keeping logging on ever since.

As a matter of interest, have the numbers logging on to the A/R/T forum gone up or down over the past 2/3 years?

Ruu_Old

I am based in the US but love to keep in touch with the scene in Ireland how things are going. It is very important to me. Lots of great advice from new folks to veterans.

elvis jones

Oryx wrote: »

Ive been posting on the site since 2004, when I happened on it via the Paranormal forum. Boards has seen me through many a crisis (midlife and otherwise) since then, and the variety of forums I post on makes me seem like I have multiple personality disorder.

I first started getting into fitness when, in a moment of madness, after a row with someone, I went out running, Forrest Gump styleee. Two months in, I decided to enter Tough Guy in the UK, having managed to run 10k for the first time ever, and thinking, sure I was brilliant, and how hard could it be? (Answer: bloody hard) During a year posting in Health & Fitness, and getting up to marathon distance, I discovered there was also a place called A/R/T and it was just full of stuff I needed to know. I moved my training log here at the end of 2009 as I changed from running/strength work to see if I could master triathlon. This was in spite of being barely able to swim and completely unable to ride a bike.

And here I still am. This place is great for checking out events, seeing what hours and distances you should be doing in training, and picking up precious nuggets of information that would take you years of mistakes and learning to find out by accident.

This year, I've entered two HIM's, something I would not, could not, have considered possible three years ago. And deep in the back of my brain, a little voice wont stop repeating 2012...Ironman... for which I hold this forum (and particularly Izoard) responsible.

Mine is saying half Ironman for 2012...........:D

Oryx

elvis jones wrote: »

Mine is saying half Ironman for 2012...........:D

And damn right too.

pgmcpq

Ironically I was looking around for info on my ITBS when I stumbled onto a (presumably locked:D) thread here. Looking around I found a ton of info I had never seen elsewhere - there are posts here I still have book marked so I stayed and lurked. I really enjoyed reading training logs from start to finish.
That it was an Irish site was just a coincidence (I'm an 1980 exile). That is was an encouraging athmosphere for a newbie was was kept me here. In 2010 I was bullied into signing up for the Dublin marathon and so started a training log here ... this log has now replace the speadsheet, paper scraps etc ... My times have continued to come down and for that I owe thanks to many, many people here.

RoyMcC

I forget. I see my first post was shortly after I arrived in Ireland in '08. Even though I've been gone 18 months now I still log on for the information, entertainment, banter and very good advice that it contains. There's certainly no local or UK equivalent, unless you like climbing into bear pits.

Met a few top guys/girls through here as well.

copacetic

Read here a lot but don't post so much, forum came to life around 05/06 for me. Was on the runners world forum 2005 Dublin marathon thread and so were 3 or 4 people who joined boards at the time and gave their time to really get the place motoring. Running is more of a just go and do it than discuss it for me, but do still like the odd gear discussion...

shels4ever

RoyMcC wrote: »

I forget. I see my first post was shortly after I arrived in Ireland in '08. Even though I've been gone 18 months now I still log on for the information, entertainment, banter and very good advice that it contains. There's certainly no local or UK equivalent, unless you like climbing into bear pits.

Met a few top guys/girls through here as well.

Well started a comeback 3 years and 3 months ago, and I think you replied to my first thread, happy to say the comeback is still a work in progress ... but one of these days i'll step it up...

huskerdu

I went back to running after no 3 was born and spent 8 months plodding around the roads trying to get fit. As soon as I caught the running bug, I was struck down with ITBS which took 8 months to clear. I found ART while injured and frustrated. I quickly became addicted to reading about running instead of actual running.

I have gained a huge amount of knowledge about running and training techniques and what I learnt here has really improved my running.

opus

After the Cork marathon in '10 I came across this forum & think my first post here was asking if it would be ok to do the Berlin marathon as well that year, unsurprisingly the answer I got was that it sounded perfectly reasonable

Mr Slow

Like many others I came on here looking for advice, I've made some good friends and now for me running and boards are a package.

poconnor16

I've been Boarding for a few years, frequenting the Animal & Pets and Nutrition & diet. I started running last year and like other forums I came here for newbie advice.
Some of the stickies can be biblical really. And some of the regulars on here can be very encouraging, both in their advice and in their exploits!

Training log was coming in handy until I got injured, at least now I have somewhere to moan :rolleyes:. 'dear boards....':D:D

RayCun

OH found the forum when we were looking for information about the Jingle Bells 5k in 2009 - her second, my first race, so we had all the usual worries.
After that... well, I'm always in the market for internet timesinks :rolleyes::pac:

PaulieC

I was looking for somewhere to show photos that I had taken from 2010 DCM.

The very next day a mate, who had just done the marathon, put it up to me to start running. So I did and then came back here for the running chat...

Izoard

Oryx wrote: »

And deep in the back of my brain, a little voice wont stop repeating 2012...Ironman... for which I hold this forum (and particularly Izoard) responsible.

Glad to be of assistance:)

What I like about A/R/T is that all levels are generally well respected and the potential elitism is kept to a minimum - a good place to virtually hang around in.
I lurk on some of the UK sites, but there is a degree of "just banged out a monster 300km bike ride in 4 hours - what did you do today...?" stuff:)

You'll be fine for the IM in 2012, BTW...

TheRoadRunner

shels4ever wrote: »

Well started a comeback 3 years and 3 months ago, and I think you replied to my first thread, happy to say the comeback is still a work in progress ... but one of these days i'll step it up...

In 108 days to be exact!!!!!!!

asimonov

Izoard wrote: »

Glad to be of assistance:)

What I like about A/R/T is that all levels are generally well respected and the potential elitism is kept to a minimum - a good place to virtually hang around in.
I lurk on some of the UK sites, but there is a degree of "just banged out a monster 300km bike ride in 4 hours - what did you do today...?" stuff:)

You'll be fine for the IM in 2012, BTW...

I was lured on here by Izoard in '08 when i started training for my first marathon. Stuck around for the advice and support (and the chance to see various ULTRA's going absolutely nuclear online). I lurk now more than I post; but have developed a good network of like-minded friends through here. It would be an even better place if HM came back though.

Oryx

Is it off topic to ask where HM is?

W.B. Yeats

Was trying to motivate myself to do some exercise in 2009 and came across the forum on Boards. Liked the advice and general banter
Had never felt compelled to post before on boards but registered to ask a few inane questions and its largely the only forum on here that I post in
I went away for a while when I wasn't exercising after the birth on no.1 but came back around this time last year and I check in practically everyday now.
Have met a few Boards folk at various events and I haven't found any oddballs/serial killers/stalkers (yet!)

LaHaine

Long time lurker. Found the forum through a random google search. Have enjoyed following since. Im not a big poster but I find this place brilliant for information and sharing personal experience.

asimonov

Oryx wrote: »

Is it off topic to ask where HM is?

Maternity ward? Actually not sure, the M2M situation might have killed off her grá for boards.

Oryx

asimonov wrote: »

Maternity ward? Actually not sure, the M2M situation might have killed off her grá for boards.

Only just realised she was expecting. During the Ballbuster in March I chatted to a woman on the run section who said that when she was having her children she looked on labour as one long interval session. So HM's training should come in handy.

RedB

Oryx wrote: »

And deep in the back of my brain, a little voice wont stop repeating 2012...Ironman... for which I hold this forum (and particularly Izoard) responsible.

+1 (no. I'm not stalking )

Got here via the Cycling forum when I started cycling in 2009 and some cycling buddies mentioned Boards in the context of the Sean Kelly event. I also started 'doing' Tri's that year so it was a logical place to also have a look at. Plenty of support and well intentioned advice. Did a proper log in 2010 but been hit and miss with it this year . Got encouragement and inspiration from others here even though I've only physically met a few. I used to think that I didn't have enough time or energy to train at this stage of my life with work, family, travel, etc but then I see what others are able to squeeze in and that motivates to give it a lash anyway :rolleyes:. I respect what other more experienced heads are able to offer even when its just HTFU. There's usually a 'Yes, you can' vibe here apart from the odd rants or divergent opinions. Overall, its a good place to check out when I get the chance even if its only to lurk.

MrCreosote

Joined up late in 2008 when I was planning moving back to Ireland and wanted to get a feel for some events. Was very helpful leading into the DCM especially.

Doing a bit more lurking these days being away again. I like the occasional thread that gets people's blood pressures rising. Going long better than going fast, mini marathons, power balance bands...that kind of thing.

The logs are good too. I remember reading Shotgunmcos/mcos log when he announced he was going for Roth, turned to MrsC and said "Holy Sh*t! Shotgun's going long!". Not being a boardsie, she didn't quite get my surprise.

Bally8

I stumbled across boards in 2007 while looking up info on broadband providers. It took me a while to find the athletics forum but once I did I found I couldnt leave. I remember my first post was in Krusty's log. Once I started my own log I was hooked. I find most people on here supportive and the information and advice is excellent. I do miss the likes of Amadeus and HM but I like the constant influx of new people and opinions on the forum. When I joined A/R/T forum there was no one in my real life interested in running so I was very isolated and it was great to come on here and find like minded people to talk/moan to:D. I dont think I would actually still be running today if it wasnt for the support of many on here!

shotgunmcos

LOL interesting thread. I originally joined at the end of 2008. Someone I knew in real life was browsing some other animal realted forum and mentioned there was a Marathon thread in there somewhere. I was training for my first DCM so I ventured in. AFAIK my original log was the first training log on the new sub forum, then hunnymonster transferred hers over from fitness and put us all to shame, I miss that log The regular posters at the time, jaysus where they are now... this was back when Krusty was running 45 minute 10ks :cool:

Krusty_Clown

shotgunmcos wrote: »

this was back when Krusty was running 45 minute 10ks :cool:

...and proud of them, I was too!