2014: The Year of the Bee

Flashback a year to January, 2014. I'd been blogging for less than 6 months, and I wasn't sure if anything was really going to come of it. Sure, it was fun and all, but my readership was about the size of a chihuahua, and I was feeling pretty guilty writing when I should have been studying for my Master's.

Then, on the morning of January 17th, everything changed. I woke up to discover my first T-Nation article had been published. Suddenly, I had a flurry of new admirers. People were looking to me as an expert. It was on that day I realized I was no longer just another blogger. I was a fitness writer — a subtle but important distinction in my mind, and one that was further solidified with my second T-Nation article a few months later.

Over the course of the year, I hobnobbed with some of the biggest names in the business, writing articles for the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bret Contreras, Eric Cressey, and Greg Nuckols. I also continued to blog for my own site, including a collaboration with a whopping 23 fitness pro’s for a post on the topic of leg position for pull-ups.

I was even fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit a couple of the best facilities in the country, including Cressey Sports Performance and Endeavor Sports Performance. It's one thing to read about the phenomenal work they do; it's quite another to see it in person.

2014 also witnessed the release of my free e-book on the setup and execution of the basic barbell lifts (available for download with a subscription to my mailing list), as well as the launch of my own video podcast series and fashion line. (Can it be considered a "line" if there's only one item? Perhaps I should stick to exercise...)

Last but not least, the year was also chock-full of athletic firsts, including an Olympic distance aquabike (the swim and bike portion of a triathlon), an adaptive CrossFit competition, and a host of new feats of strength, including one -- my hanging dragon flag -- that Men’s Health took to, and another -- my squat snatch -- that went viral on the nets:

Post by Travis Pollen - Fitness Blogger.

As I work to finish my Master’s degree this Spring, everybody (well, at least a few people) wants to know what’s next. I haven’t quite figured it out yet, but when I do, I promise to let you, my loyal readers, know.

Lots of great things in store for 2015, so keep your eyes peeled.