Juliana Moves

It’s not even November and I already can’t believe all the running I’ve done this year. 2024 really has been the year of races and big running and seeing what my body can do. In the past I’ve stuck with maybe doing one or two races a year and I was never really racing. I was just out there putting my training to use and having a great time. Don’t get me wrong – I still don’t race as if I am going to beat anyone, but I have focused more on actually pushing myself and my PRs.

2024 is also my 11th year of being a runner. I started running in 2013 after I graduated high school and really leaned into consistent running during my freshman year of college. I started by running 1 mile very slowly and then started adding 0.25 miles to every run. I vividly remember running 5 miles for the first time (author’s note: it wasn’t actually my first time running 5 miles, but it was the first time since I had started this running journey) on the indoor track at Gregory Gym. It smelled like basketball court and I listened to Counting Stars by OneRepublic and I was so unbelievably proud of myself.

I am in constant awe about how much my body can handle and how well it adapts to new training stimuli these days. I still get tired and pretty worn out at times, but I have gotten pretty good about taking good enough care of myself to rise to the challenge. Let me hold your hand while I say this: this resilience and sturdiness does not come by accident. I think most would agree when I say that I am wildly consistent and dedicated to the work. Hard work is supposed to be hard work and I love that. You want to start running? You want to lift weights? You want to find some sort of fitness routine that you love and doesn’t feel terrible every time you try it? You have to do it. And then do it again. And again. And again. Even when sometimes you really don’t want to. You just have to keep doing it. 

Find what works for you. A workout class? Signing up for a race with friends? An accountability partner? Try it. And keep trying it. Get the memo? Anyway, I say all of that because when I reflect on my running I sometimes think “I can’t believe I can do this” and then I remember why and how it is I can do this.

So let’s get to it! Here are some of my favorite running milestones for each month of 2024.

January

Houston Marathon! I just pulled up my Strava recording for that race and it has the quote: “Thou shalt party when it’s party time.” I’m pretty sure that’s what kept Erica and I laughing through the race. I remember being pleasantly surprised by how fun the course was, too! Turns out Houston is a pretty neat city.

Immediately after this beautiful Texas day an ice storm hit and we were effectively trapped at the airport for 12+ hours. But we made it home! The frozen lasagna in my checked luggage did not, but that’s a story for another time.

February

Two big MMT Exploratory runs! I ran a 50k+ on February 3 and then again on February 24. Big big training month! VHTRC has four established group runs to run on different chunks of the MMT course. I couldn’t do the first two, so I ran them solo with Patrick as my support. I’m so glad I did this.

On the second training run (see picture #1), Erica joined me to pace the last 10 miles and it unexpectedly SNOWED when we were up on the ridge. It was so beautiful and so cold and I kept offering my emergency blanket to Erica because she was only wearing a single long sleeve. The final few miles were just us descending from the ridge on pretty smooth trail, so it felt amazing: a winter wonderland while we were cruising down the mountain.

March

We moved houses and my go-to running routes changed! We basically live at the top of a big hill so I was forced to learn to love hills since I can never avoid them these days. Saying goodbye to my old running routes was more of an adjustment than I would’ve expected.

This month I had more big training runs, including a night run at Rock Creek Park with Patrick. I remember being so worried that we were going to be shot at because there was still one more day of overnight deer hunting allowed in the park! We were fine, it was just a tad spooky. Patrick also forgot his headlamp which was a total rookie move.

April

 A lot of weekend running on the MMT course. I remember a particularly enjoyable run on Short Mountain with Erica and Derek, followed by pretty mid Mexican food. I also forced myself to run on Kerns Mountain again because I hated that section of the course and needed to face my fears.

I had so many photos to choose from! I think I may have gone out to the course every weekend in April. The course is even more fun with friends. ❤

May

Massanutten Mountain 100 (attempt)! LOL. It really turned out to be MMT 50. I can’t remember if I’ve actually written in length about that attempt, but it was the time of my life. It hurt and was joyous and scary and painful, but all around worth it. I can’t wait to try again in 2025!

I started running again maybe 5 days after this attempt. I felt so tired for the first 2-3 days after the run, but then I was antsy…

June

Since the summer started off pretty cool, I did a lot of Big Mountain Days! I really probably should’ve taken more time off after MMT but I was so restless and ready to put my training effort into something. I guess that’s probably a good sign that I was eager to run and not burnt out!

I also kicked off training for my half marathon PR race in June!

Side note: Remind me to really soak in June extra next year. The weather is superb and the month is so fresh.

July

Fun times trail running in Colorado! I also slogged through speed work during some of the nastiest, most humid summer days that Virginia had to offer. I think I was guzzling LMNT and Nuun all month just to stay alive! My hydration pack got so stinky. Even after I washed it, the smell remained. Just being real.

If you want to take up running, I would not recommend starting in July or August. Those months are for serious character building, not a fun transition into a new activity!

August

Ashland Half Marathon – my new half marathon PR! I’ve already written about this, but after dying through summer heat during my training… race morning was oddly (in a good way) cool! The other day I was commenting to Patrick that I was so excited for brunch after my race, only to not have an appetite at all. I guess when you have your nose to the grindstone for 13 miles you just really don’t feel great after!

I didn’t think I was capable of working that hard for 13 miles, so I sort of blew my own mind with that one.

September

I started working with my coach in September. It felt like a massive shift for me as I had always made up my own training plans, but it was 100% a worthwhile move. I’ve loved just following the plan and only having to show up for myself as an athlete – not having to be my own coach too! 

This month was about a lot of local miles and constantly crossing my fingers that the weather was going to change.

October

So far October has been a lot of running workouts and doing a little more trail running. I am running the Richmond Marathon with Erica in November, so we’re building up to that! I feel a little weird to not be doing a ton of big trail runs, but I also know that this winter I’ll be wishing for the days when I could just do a silly little road run from my front door. Sleeping in is nice too. I’ve got some ideas for some trail runs this month, but so far I’m just slowly reintroducing it!

After the Richmond Marathon I am going to begin training for MMT again and I am psyched. Registration opens on Halloween so that will truly be a highlight for the month.

Patrick and I are also going to run a turkey trot together this year on Thanksgiving. It feels like another throwback to my early running days when I’d run the trot in The Woodlands. It should be super fun!

Two more months to run joyously this year until we start again in 2025! Let’s do it!

Love,

JN