My running word for the third quarter of 2024: Build

Posted on by Vanessa Junkin (She Runs by the Seashore)
Photo of ice cream next to ice cream running shoes with the text "July 64"
Selfie of Vanessa Junkin holding Smith Island cake with the text "August 100.95."
Selfie of Vanessa Junkin holding a smoothie with the text "September 90."

It’s continued to have been quite a busy year, and it’s now time to wrap up my third quarter of running. Here’s how my runs went in July, August and September. The heat is my least favorite temperature to run in, but I always enjoy the many hours of sunlight into the evenings.

I’m picking “build” as my word for this quarter because although July’s mileage was less than usual, I did really start getting into my marathon build (my marathon is six days away now, on Nov. 24) and getting back into some longer-distance runs, setting the stage for the rest of marathon training to come.

  1. I ran 64 miles in July, 100.95 in August and 90 in September. After breaking my 100-miles-per-month streak in June, I didn’t have much motivation to run extra during July, and ended up with my lowest monthly mileage of the year so far. I did come in slightly over 100 in August and then close to it in September.
  2. I ran my fast 1600s in 8:53 (July), 8:43 (August) and 8:33 (September). While not too close to the sub-8:00 I like to shoot for, I am glad that these decreased each month.
  3. I ran five races. I didn’t run any races in July; ran the Dog Days 8K Cross Country Run, the Naylor Mill 7K and the Mike Sterling 10K in August; and the Run, White & Blue 5K and the Historic Stevensville Running Festival 8.15-miler in September. Both the Dog Days and Historic Stevensville races were new to me and part of the RRCA Grand Prix; the others, I’d run many times before.
  4. I cycled more and then participated in the DC Bike Ride in September. This was a fun experience, and I enjoyed getting into cycling more as a DC JoyRider, an ambassador for the DC Bike Ride. I need to get back into it!
  5. I finished The Islands Tour. This was a fun experience that ran from June through September. I completed the longest run of the Tour, Kent Island (15.57 miles) in September. Here’s my recap.
  6. I ran in other fun places. In addition to the race and Tour locations, I ran in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, while visiting family; and at Pirate’s Wharf Park in Quantico, Maryland, as I prepped for the Pirate’s Wharf 5K with our Eastern Shore Running Club race committee. It was so hot and especially humid in Florida!

Onto the rest of the year. Only about a month and a week to go!