Who is Bradley on the Run?

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A HUGEΒ welcome to new readers who are arriving at my blog on my ‘spotlight day’ via the awesome blog hop hosted by Kristy at Runaway Bridal Planner! I am extremely appreciative of Kristy, and her commitment to running the blog hop, which clearly takes a lot of time and energy. Due to my participation in Kristy’s blog hop back in February of this year, my blog and social media presence have grown more than I had ever imagined, and I’m really grateful!

To those of you who are regular readers – thank you for visiting again, and for your ongoing support!

Over the past few months, many most of my blog posts have been race recaps – it’s been quite a running season! Today, I’m just going to shareΒ a bit about Bradley on the Run!

Why is your Twitter handle @bjcjapan?

A legacy from the 6 years I spent in Japan, this was my original email address. It’s funny how a moment in time can be captured in 8 letters and stick around for so long! Japan holds a special place in my heart, and I was so excited to visit again last December and run in Kyoto for the very first time. I plan toΒ hang onto that Twitter handle – you’ll always know where to find me!

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Running along the Kamo River in Kyoto

So, do you speak Japanese?

I do, in fact, know enough Japanese to hold my own in a conversation.

How/When/Why did you start running?

This is probably one of the most common questions I hear from folks when I mention running. I’ve written in some detail about my inspiration to start running, but here’s the short and sweet version:

In the early days of 2009, after some wine and a viewing of ‘Run Fatboy Run‘, I signed up for the BMO Vancouver 8K. I had never run a step in my life, considering myself ‘the antithesis of an athlete’. I always hated sports, and was extremely self-conscious about my lack of athletic skills.

But something about itΒ clicked, and my passion for running has continued to grow! And living in beautiful Vancouver, BC – where year-round running isΒ 100% doable – certainly doesn’t hurt!

What’s up with the #WestVanRun?

I participated in the 2014 West Van Run 10K and loved it. I achieved a PB – my first ever 10K run in under 50 minutes. This race was myΒ inspiration to start blogging as Bradley on the Run – and the topic ofΒ my very first race report! When I ran the 2015 West Van Run, I achieved another PB which still stands at time of writing!

Earlier this year, I was invited by the West Van Run’s Race Director, Kirill, to become a #WestVanRun 2016 ambassador! It has been a heck of a lot of fun, and an honour, to represent the West Van Run – I’ve made some awesome new friends and enjoy the experience immensely. The West Van Run will be held on March 5 and 6, 2016 (5km on Saturday, 10km on Sunday) – use ‘bradley’ as your 15% discount code!

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Why is 2015 the #yearofthehalf?

Last year, I ran my first full marathon – the BMO Vancouver Marathon. Originally, the Honolulu Marathon was my target first marathon, but I somehow persuaded myself to do a ‘trial run’ earlier in the year. My theme for 2014 was #42for42 – running 42 kilometres (well, 42.2km, to be exact) in the year I turned 42. Achieved!

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Back in January of this year, I started working out my race calendar for 2015 and shared some of my race plans on Twitter. #yearofthehalf was actually coined by @THESFMARATHON in response, and I adopted it as my 2015 theme.

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By February, I had committed to running the San Francisco First Half – and by the end of this year will have completed 12 half marathons in 2015! The final one – the Laughlin/Bullhead Half Marathon in December – will beΒ my birthday present!!

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Hey, I heard you did a podcast?

Yes! Back in March, I had the honour of being asked to record an episode of Miles Not Included. It was a great experience, and gave me a chance to talk a bit more about my running experiences. Should you be so inclined, you can hear the episode here. Regretfully, Miles Not Included is no longer producing their podcast, which is a shame – but life got in the way, as it sometimes does.

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You seem to wear a lot of orange – what’s that all about?

There was a bit of a ‘running joke’ (pun absolutely intended) about my orange cap, and that fact that people could easily spot me in the crowd during a race. That’s how @debrakato found me at this year’s First Half Half Marathon!

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Then, back in April, I applied to become an ambassador forΒ BibRaveΒ – a website where you can review races online.Β As it happens, BibRave’s theme colour is orange – and I’m now a proud #BibRavePro! This has provided the opportunity to get some free running swag, to connect with other BibRavePros, and to get a free entry to the Platte River Half MarathonΒ (10% discount code: ‘bibrave10’) next April in Denver, Colorado. I’ve just been accepted to represent BibRave for another year, and I’m really excited!

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Orange is my favourite colour!

What’s next for Bradley on the Run?

I’m going to continue working on my blog, doing my best to keep it fresh and authentic. I love sharing my running experiences, and reflecting back on what has happened over the past 2 years. I’ve got a few plans for 2016 – but I’ll save those for another day!

Hope you enjoyed learning a bit about me!
Anything I’ve missed? Or have I told you more than you want to know?

58 Comments

    • bjcjapan

      Thanks for dropping by, Christy. Glad you enjoyed the stories. I had a great experience at one race where total stranger were cheering for me because they recognized my orange hat at different points along the course. Such fun!

    • bjcjapan

      Orange rocks, right? It actually was my mom’s favourite colour, too, but I didn’t appreciate it as much as I do now that it’s my running theme colour!
      Japan was a great place to live, and I always enjoy going back for a visit. If you can ever make it, you should absolutely go!
      If you make it to RnRVan in 2016, let me know! Love connecting with blogging/social media friends in person!

    • bjcjapan

      Thanks Kristen. Somehow I’ve ‘become a runner’ in the past few years. Crazy! Japan itself is very cool, and I love that I can communicate with the people there.

    • bjcjapan

      Deborah, it’s a pleasure to connect with you! I guess I moved along with running to make up for lost time! Haha. Usually I don’t have a lot of birthday run options, so I’m really excited about this one (plus it’s an inaugural race AND the race director invited me, so yay!) – thank so much!

    • bjcjapan

      Thanks so much, Lynda! Sorry to hear you had to back out of a race – a DNS is never a fun thing. I am totally flattered that you consider my blog to be a source of inspiration. That means a lot to me. Look forward to hearing about your 2016 plans!

    • bjcjapan

      Thanks, Kathryn! Yes, 12 is a lot! Because I’ve done a bunch of distances, I’ll be over 20 races for 2015! I’ve signed up for 3 halfs already in 2016, but we’ll see what happens. I’m hoping for the odd free entry along the way if I can get them! Appreciate you dropping by!

  1. It’s so cool to connect with male runners on here. Your demographic is so underrepresented, Bradley.
    Love the Twitter handle. Love the reference to Run Fatboy Run (I loved that movie and it’s such a great running inspiration). Those are random but very interesting tidbits.
    I look forward to sharing more of your adventures on here.
    http://runwright.net
    Runwright recently posted…Love Is All We NeedMy Profile

    • bjcjapan

      Thanks so much, Karen! I have noticed that there aren’t an awful lot of guys blogging about running – especially in this hop! Haha. I appreciate the shout out!
      A lot of people have never heard of ‘Run Fatboy Run’, but it’s an awesome movie! I think it’s almost time for a rewatch (honestly, I haven’t seen it again since I started running!)

  2. Wow! 12 half marathons in one year! That’s amazing!! I am aiming to do my first next fall! Here’s hoping! How was Hawaii? I’ve been to the Big Island twice (my grandmother lives there in the winters) and am in love with it! I would move there in a heart-beat if it wasn’t so far from my family! I look forward to learning more about your training philosophy and maybe adopting some of it into my own training!

    • bjcjapan

      Hi Rachael! Which half are you doing next year? It will be such an awesome experience for you!
      Hawaii was amazing! My bucket list goal is to run a race (ideally full marathon, but maybe half) on every one of the islands! I’ve only been that one time to Oahu, so I need to get working on that!
      I’m not sure if my training ‘philosophy’ is something worth emulating, but glad if I can provide some inspiration!

    • bjcjapan

      Hey Mary Beth with the awesome purple shirt – that’s my next favourite colour after orange! 3 halfs is a great accomplishment…which did you enjoy the most?

  3. Wonderful getting to know you better! Yes, Kristy has done an amazing job with this blog hop. I am grateful to have been able to participate as well. Good for you and all your running and so many travel runs! I think that is the coolest type of vacation. Running a race AND exploring a new city/area all in one trip. I look forward to seeing your River Race review. We were just in Laughlin for a little river fun a few months back. It’s only a 4 hour drive from here. I hope you enjoy the race and maybe a little gaming if you’re into that kind of thing. Happy running and blogging Bradley!
    Diane recently posted…How to Go the Extra Mile During Your Next Long Distance RunMy Profile

    • bjcjapan

      Thanks so much Diane! I have really enjoyed the opportunity to combine running and travel, and feel extremely fortunate to be able to do so. I think running is the best way to experience a new city. I’m excited about my upcoming races, and will certainly be reviewing all of them! What was Laughlin like? I was personally invited by the race director, so I couldn’t refuse – plus, birthday race! I will put at least one coin in a slot machine for sure!

  4. I have to tell you, I had always wondered what the Japan meant. That is really cool, and even more cool you can actually hold a conversation in the language.
    And thank you, that makes my day to know the success you found during the original hop back in February, I knew the idea I had when I started these would work because it’s how I built my own blog up (minus the hops) originally. But when I hear success stories like this, it just makes me very happy for you!
    Since I follow you on Facebook I have enjoyed seeing all your races this year, man you have done an awesome amount of them and some pretty great ones to boot, you’ve ran in some gorgeous parts of the world that is for sure!
    I knew you had done a lot, but 12 half’s this year! AWESOME!!!!
    Oh, and good luck in your upcoming birthday present race:) What better gift is there than that, right!!!
    Runaway Bridal Planner recently posted…Who is Runaway Bridal Planner and Do I Really Want to Know Her?My Profile

    • bjcjapan

      Haha – I realized a lot of folks wondered about the Japan thing – so worth an explanation!
      Honestly – since your February blog hop (which was the highest number of views until that point), my views have consistently been higher. Not every month has been amazing, but that is usually due to how many posts I write (or not). Really, though, you’re the reason I was able to grow my blog for sure!
      It’s been quite a race year, and I’m very excited about my birthday race! I’ll keep you posted as things happen! πŸ™‚
      Thanks again!!

  5. I LOVE your enthusiasm! Even in all of the pictures you posted, your smile and obvious energy is just absolutely infectious. I also love the color orange and the color yellow for basically the reason that it is just so bright and so exciting. It is almost impossible to be in a bad mood when you are wearing those colors haha. My bedroom used to be yellow for that reason. I always woke up happy – like the sun was smiling at me…. Congrats on all your recent accomplishments! I hope 2016 is amazing for you with whatever all your plans are!
    Kaitlyn recently posted…The Girl Behind The FitnessMy Profile

    • bjcjapan

      Aw thanks Kaitlyn! It’s funny when people ask me to do a ‘serious’ face or show off my ‘face of pain’ when running. Not that I don’t feel the pain sometimes – but I’m generally pretty happy, especially when running – so I’m usually smiling! I think orange has proved to be my colour of choice for that reason! I look forward to 2016 – and hope yours is equally awesome!

  6. Great to (finally) meet you! I have seen you “around” but didn’t make the connection to who you were (duh). Anyways, similar to you, I’ve been running for the past 10 years, and if you would have asked any of my childhood friends (or teachers) if I had any potential to ever become a runner…well, the answer would not have been very encouraging LOL. Total klutz and NO coordination, whatsoever, and minimal (at best) athletic “skills.” Back then, “athletes” were the fast runners, and the ones who could dribble a basketball (at the same time without tripping over their shoes). Fast forward (I won’t disclose how many years), and I’m glad I am where I am πŸ˜‰ Congrats on your successes, and best wishes for a great finish in your quest for 12 half marathons!
    Kim Hatting recently posted…My Driveway is my CanvasMy Profile

    • bjcjapan

      Kim, you are truly my kindred spirit when it comes to childhood athleticism! I tried out for the boys volleyball team in grade school, and the coach let me on the team because I was dedicated and he felt sorry for me. I ended up being more of a mascot than a team member! Any ball sports truly reveal my lack of coordination! But something about running just…works for me. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m only competing with myself, and there are no balls to catch! Thanks for your kind words and encouragement!

    • bjcjapan

      Thanks Sarah! I know absolutely nothing about coding! It’s just a template that WordPress had on file. I appreciate the positive words all the same! I’m really enjoying all the runs and hope to continue for a long time to come!!

  7. Nice to meet you Bradley! I love the story behind your Twitter handle. Traveling to Japan is on my bucket list for sure! I’m so tempted to run Laughlin/Bullhead City but I doubt my doctor will give me the green light so instead I’ll be cheering you on through Twitter!

    • bjcjapan

      Elizabeth – great to meet you too! I’ve had a few people ask about my Twitter handle, so I thought it was a good idea to talk about it! You know, there’s a 5K in Laughlin/Bullhead as well – you could do that one? If not, I’ll gladly accept the cheers! Thank you!!

  8. Hi Bradley, nice to meet you via the blog hop!
    Congrats on the 12 halfs for the year! Love the hashtag, may have to steal…err, borrow it for 2016, as it will be all halfs or less distance for me next year! πŸ™‚
    I’m back as a BibRavePro in 2016 (was one in 2014), so looking forward to getting to know you better through that and your blog.
    Shannon @GirlsGotSole recently posted…Thankful Thursday 11/19My Profile

    • bjcjapan

      Hey Shannon! I’m sure I’ve seen you ‘around’ at #bibchat and whatnot. Glad we’ll be joining forces as 2016 BibRavePros! You’re more than welcome to make use of the #yearofthehalf since I’ve used it well this year! πŸ™‚

    • bjcjapan

      Glad to connect with you as well, Tricia! I still use my Japanese at some of the local restaurants here in Vancouver, which sometimes gets a double take! Haha – kind of fun. I always enjoy #bibchat, although it bumps up against choir practice, so I sometimes run out of time!

    • bjcjapan

      Thanks for the positive feedback on the blog. I always hope it will be positive and, if I’m lucky, inspiring to others. I appreciate the visit. Great to meet you through the hop!!

    • bjcjapan

      It’s funny – up until this year, I’d never done more than 3 halfs in one year (although I also did 2 marathons in 2014…) but I was so excited about a bunch of the race opportunities in 2015, I wanted to run ALL THE HALFS. 12 seemed like a good number. Look forward to hearing about your 2016 races!

    • bjcjapan

      Japan is totally worth the visit! I loved living there, and always enjoy my visits backs…especially the food! We’re blessed in Vancouver to have lots of Japanese and sushi options! Awesome that you’re going to tackle a second half! Look forward to hearing about it!

  9. Funny, I never really noticed the orange until you mentioned it and, yes, you do wear a lot of orange. It’s good to know the reason behind it.
    I love the smiles that are in your pictures. Running has obviously been kind to you.
    Themes make it easy to drive ourselves. My theme of the month is “speed” as I need to get it back into my legs – stat! As windy as it was tonight, that theme made it easier to drag myself out into the biting win to run a tempo on my own.
    I’ve been a follower on Twitter for a while. I’m glad that I’ve been able to learn a bit about your through the blog hop.
    Cynthia recently posted…How Did I Become a Soccer Mom?My Profile

    • bjcjapan

      Hi Cynthia – thanks for the kind words! I love the way orange ‘pops’ in pictures and on the course…especially if the weather is a bit dull. I can’t help smiling when I’m running, it just brings me joy (most times…)
      Themes are great, right? Not sure what my 2016 theme will be yet. I like your ‘theme of the month’. I’m terrible with speed work, so maybe that’s one I should adopt!
      I really appreciate the follow and the engagement. Great to know you!

  10. Greetings through the blog hop! I am looking forward to following your blog for running inspiration! I have always seen myself as the last person to be one with running, as as you say “antithesis” or pretty much anything athletic! I hated ninth grade PE too! And avoided it the remainder of my high school years by taking yoga for credits at the local college instead! I’m glad we’ve both found our joy for fitness and running!

    https://curlycaroline.wordpress.com/

  11. Vivian

    Agree with the orange hat being easy to see in the crowd. It is also easier on the eyes than neon yellow. I am also known as “my friend in the orange hat” at Kintec in Port Moody. Although nothing rhymes with orange, it goes well with its complementary colour, blue.

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