| Location: Garson - Sudbury,ON,Canada Member Since: Apr 20, 2013 Gender: Male Goal Type: Other Running Accomplishments: I ran my first marathon in 1998: "The Friendly Marathon" in Massey, Ontario. I was 32. I had never raced in a shorter event, and I trained really poorly - ended up running it in 4:00:30. After that, I gave up running for the most part for 6 years. I got into karate a bit more seriously, until I got my knee kicked out and had ACL surgery. Then I became a 'fair weather runner' and started to run half marathons every so often. As a priest, entering weekend races always meant having to book a holiday, so it just didn't happen much. My holidays were primarily focussed on various canoe and kayak trips.
At some point, I started training more consistently, and started to think of myself as a runner. I guess doing that in your 40's is better than never doing it at all. I even started to wonder if I had it in me to qualify for Boston. Well, I did. First time didn't count, I suppose, since I didn't make the "cut". But the second time was a charm, and on my sixth Marathon, run in Chicago in 2015, I beat my BQ by almost 6 minutes. And now, running a BQ is routine for me, not that I have any desire to run Boston again.
Through it all, I've made tons of mistakes - and have had lots of injuries to show for it. Hopefully, now that I'm in my late 50's, I'm a bit wiser and can use that to my advantage to continue running for a very long time.
My PRs:
5k (12 run): Guelph, ON. October 10, 2016 (50 yrs.) 20:10
10k (10 run): Collingwood October 5, 2013 (47 yrs.) 43:37
Half Marathon (25 run): Cleveland May 18, 2014 (48 yrs) 1:33:08
Marathon (12 run): Ste-Jerome, QC October 3, 2021 (55 yrs.) 3:22:10
Ultras (5 run):
Run for the Toad 50k Trail September 30, 2017 (51 yrs.) 5:31:23
Niagara Falls 100k June 17, 2018 (52 yrs.) 12:26:30
That Dam Hill 24 hours September 15-16, 2018 Completed 100 Miles in 23:20:44
Sulphur Springs 50 mile Trail May 25, 2019 10:37:27
Haliburton Forest 100 mile Trail September 7-8, 2019 26:46:27
Pacing my sister in her 1st Half Marathon. Short-Term Running Goals: After a broken right foot in 2022 in the later stages of a marathon training cycle, then adjusting to a 1/2" heal lift in my right shoe to compensate for a leg length discrepancy, and then a left plank plate rupture in the late summer of 2023, I had to decide: go fast or go long. I opted for long, for this year at least.
May 2024: Sulphur Springs 50 Mile Trail (revisiting it after 5 years)
July 2024: Limberlost 54KM Trail
September 2024: Haliburton 100 Mile Trail (also revisiting it after 5 years).
Everything this year is really focussed on the Haliburton 100 as my key event. After that, and depending on how things go, I'll reevaluate. Long-Term Running Goals: Run until this old body of mine won't let me run any more. I was inspired in the Spring of 2016, watching the start of the Ottawa Marathon. Near the back of the pack was an 'old man', running with his walker. I loved it! I thought ... there's me in 20 years. Maybe.  Personal: I am a Roman Catholic priest of 30 years, ministering in the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie. I spent 8 years ministering in the small town of Wawa (where I helped establish the annual Blackfly Run) and 9 years in Sault Ste. Marie. I have been in the Sudbury region now for 13 years. Currently I Pastor 2 small Parishes: St. John the Evangelist in Garson, and St. Bernardine of Siena in Skead, covering the area just Northeast of the city, surrounding the Sudbury Airport. |
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| Mizuno Wave Sayonara Miles: 7.00 | Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 24.00 | Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 20.00 | Brooks Glycerin Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Tempo run on the treadmill. 5 miles at a 7:14 pace. No issues re: my hamstring. I had a massage on Monday, and my therapist tells me it's the 1st time in quite a while that both hamstrings felt the way they should.
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| Mizuno Wave Sayonara Miles: 7.00 |
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| | 6 easy treadmill miles; 8:27 pace. Fresh snow last night. Will it ever end?
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| Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | 6 miles outside at an 8:11 pace. SO nice to be able to get out. Being that it's Good Friday, there was very little traffic. Clear and sunny, with little wind, and a balmy 1C/33F.
I'm hoping things keeping warming up so I can continue outside. I am aiming for my long run outside tomorrow.
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| Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 6.00 |
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| | 14 miles outside at an 8:00/mile pace, for a running time of just under 1:52:00. It felt great to finally do a long run outside, rather than on the treadmill.
Beautiful morning - eclipse of the full moon while it was setting, and clear skies as the sun was rising.
Cold though; it was only -10C/14F. So my sports drink turned to slush. Oh well - still great to be outside. Hopefully, I can now leave the treadmill behind for good.
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| Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 14.00 |
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| | 6 easy miles; 8:14 pace for a run time of 49:25. Felt some of that right hamstring pain return - will have to baby it and work on my hips today.
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| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Hamstrings again - sigh.
6 miles outside. Right hammy a little tight at the start, but I went slow and it loosened up. Just before mile 4.5, however, I stepped into a little dip on some unlevel ground, and I felt it give and there was instant pain. I limped the final 1.5. I'm not impressed.
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| Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | No way I can run. I was limping all day yesterday. Not quite as bad today, but I'll need to take a few days off from running to let the hamstrings heal.
So, one hour on the spin bike. One minute hard and 4 minutes easy x12.
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| | Same as yesterday on the spin bike. 1 hard/4 easy x12. Still got a ways to go with the hamstrings.
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| | Same as the last 2 days: 60 minutes on the spin bike. 1 hard and 4 easy times 12.
The hamstring is feeling better today; I'm tempted to try a run tomorrow, but will wait and see how I feel then.
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| | Okay, I'm not impressed. Decided to try a very slow run. Not nice. I had to stop a few times to stretch out the hamstrings. Was going to do the 4 mile loop, but at 1.5 the pain was unbearable, and I decided to double back for 3 miles. However, at just past the 2 mile mark, I had to stop running and walked the rest of the way home. So, more time off, I'm afraid.
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| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 2.00 |
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| | Not impressed. Every day this week, I stuck to the spin bike for 1 hour. Today, I tried to run on my treadmill. After 1 mile, I had to stop. Walked for 3 more miles without a problem, so there is something about the running that is hurting my hamstring.
Sucks.
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| Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 1.00 |
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| | Decided to try something new - run/walk on the treadmill. So, went for one hour ... a quarter mile walk at a fast pace, and then a quarter mile run at a slow pace (10 minutes/mile). Total of 8 sets for 2 miles.
Managed to keep the pain to a dull ache, and it was nice to run even at this slow pace.
I am going to see a physiotherapist today to see if he can help speed up the healing process.
Boston Marathon day! Exciting to think I'll be there next year.
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| Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 2.00 |
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| | Same as yesterday - 1/4 mile walk at 15 min/mile pace and 1/4 run at 10 min/mile pace for one hour.
My physiotherapist told me the hamstring is torn, but wanted me to get an ultrasound to be sure. I saw my doctor and she gave me the requisition, so I'll get the ultrasound on Wednesday, and will be seeing my physiotherapist 3x/week.
He gave me the green light to exercise as long as I had no pain. Discomfort is okay. So, at least now I have a baseline of what I can do - 1/4 slow jogs. I'll try to increase that distance and speed over the next few weeks. And I'll stick to the treadmill - like Tom says - there are no potholes on my treadmill! :)
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| Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 2.00 |
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| | Decided to stay off the treadmill today, and so one hour on the spin bike instead. My ultra sound is tomorrow. Physio later today.
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| | Picked it up a bit - 1/2 mile run and 1/4 walk (x6). Increased my running speed to a 9:30/mile. Wasn't too bad for the 1st 2 miles - just tight. But at the 2.75 mile mark, there was a sharp pang of pain in the hamstring, so I stopped.
Ultrasound today, so I'll find out the extent of the damage.
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| Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 3.00 |
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| | 1 hour on the spin bike. Physio this afternoon.
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| | 1 hour on the spin bike. Tried a run/walk on the treadmill first, but I couldn't even run at a very slow pace without pain, so gave up on that idea. I'll wait until I find out what the results of my ultrasound are and then plan my next moves re: training.
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| | Okay, a few things have happened.
First, my hamstring is not torn. I got the ultrasound results on Monday. My physiotherapist is a bit mystified, as he tells me I have a big lump in there and very little strength on that side, but the results show no tear and no bleeding. So, we're going with the strain theory. After 3 weeks, it should be getting better, although 6 weeks is really what it needs.
Next, I got into Chicago yesterday! I'm pumped about that - have always wanted to run in a larger event. So, now I have extra motivating to heal.
Finally, I rode my spin bike for one hour on Monday and Tuesday. Today I did it for a half hour, and then hit the treadmill for a half hour. I walked a lap, then ran a lap, for a total run of one mile (slow!). No pain, but for sure a nagging tension still. But I'm glad I can run that little bit slowly. It's a sign of hope.
Oh, and I got my motorcycle on the road yesterday too!
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| Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 1.00 |
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| | Decided to push a bit more on the treadmill today. One hour total. Ran VERY slowly (10 minutes/mile) for a half mile, and then a fast walk for a quarter mile, for a total distance run of 3 miles.
No real pain, but general tightness and soreness. Still, 3 miles is the most I've run in 3 weeks, so there is progress. Physiotherapy again this afternoon.
Also booked a place to stay in Chicago for the marathon!
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| Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 3.00 |
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| Mizuno Wave Sayonara Miles: 7.00 | Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 24.00 | Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 20.00 | Brooks Glycerin Miles: 8.00 |
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