Going Long (again) in 2024

July 2020

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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

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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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Miles:This week: 28.00 Month: 189.50 Year: 588.50
Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 Lifetime Miles: 412.40
Brooks Cascadia 11 Lifetime Miles: 302.00
Salomon Speedcross 4 Lifetime Miles: 160.25
Brooks Launch 8 Lifetime Miles: 153.00
Asics Metaspeed Sky Lifetime Miles: 32.20
Brooks Ghost 13 Lifetime Miles: 358.50
Saucony Triumph 18 Lifetime Miles: 372.50
Ghost 13 Blue Sole Lifetime Miles: 363.00
Hoka Bondi Lifetime Miles: 386.00
Triumph 18 Treadmill Lifetime Miles: 120.50
Hoka Bondi 8 Treadmill Lifetime Miles: 102.50
Total Distance
167.00
Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 56.00Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 60.50Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 50.50
Weight: 159.08
Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:54 pace.

It's Canada Day, a national holiday, so was surprised to see they were working on the road today.  They had a water truck working on dust control today, so that was good.  The guy operating the packer/roller truck was smoking weed.  I guess that's his way of celebrating the holiday.

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 159.00
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Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 9:38 pace.  Road rebuild continues today.  So does our heat wave.  It hit 88 degrees yesterday, and is shooting for 91 degrees today.  This morning, it was still pleasant enough for running, at 22C/71F with a gentle breeze.  I'm going to head out in my kayak this afternoon.

Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 159.00
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Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:41 pace.

Today would have been my final day of riding to Sinister 7.  4 hours from Medicine Hat, SK to Sparwood, BC.  Tomorrow would have been 'go time'.

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 158.00
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Total Distance
10.00

Skead Road; 8:50 pace.  It felt a lot cooler for running, but was still at 20C/68F and heading up to the high 80's again today.

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 10.00
Weight: 157.50
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Total Distance
8.50

Run on Skead Road.

Around dinner time yesterday, the skies opened up and for an hour there was an absolue deluge.  I couldn't see out my window, the park across the street had a massive river flowing over it, and the hail punched holes in the leaves of my squash plants.  Massive rainfall.  Nice to watch - through the window.

Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 8.50
Weight: 159.00
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Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Road; 8:37 pace.  91% humidity.

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 158.00
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Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:47 pace.  More monsoon rain yesterday, so a bit cooler today.  Heading back up to the high 80's by this afternoon, however.

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 158.00
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Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:44 pace.  I presume they will eventually put some sort of hard surface down.  For now, there is a water truck going up and down the road for dust suppression.  I'm thankful for that.  And he turns the water off as he passes me, which is a bonus.

Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 160.00
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Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:52 pace.  Heavy legs today.

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 159.00
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Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 9:03 pace.  Light and steady rain all the way.  No dust.

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 159.00
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Total Distance
14.00

Radar Road; 9:00 pace.  Cooler morning, with a misty rain falling most of the run.

Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 14.00
Weight: 159.50
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Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:44 pace.  I haven't been down this road in a week, and see the rebuild of it is complete.  They used a compound to bind the gravel, so it's a semi-hard surface.  Decent enough to run on.

On Monday afternoon, while digging a trench for a conduit, I threw out my back.  Still very sore, but after three days of not running, I felt the need to get out there.

Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 159.50
Comments(1)
Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:42 pace.  The back is much better.  Still achy, but at least I am not grimacing every time I move.

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 158.50
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Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:21 pace.  Got a bit more of the bounce back in my stride today.

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 160.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:36 pace.

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 159.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:48 pace.  Cooler and a light rain.   Great for running.

Yesterday, I picked a basket of blueberries.  I hadn't done that in 5 years.  

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 159.00
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Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:44 pace.

Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 159.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 7:58 pace.

Progress run.  First mile was 8:38 and last one was 7:10.  Not intentional.  I just ran faster and faster as I went and never felt like I was pushing it.

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 158.00
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Total Distance
10.00

Radar Road; 8:43 pace.  Gorgeous morning.

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 10.00
Weight: 158.50
Add Comment
Total Distance
8.00

Skead Road; 8:46 pace.  

Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 159.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
8.50

Skead Road; 8:23 pace.  I picked it up at the end and ran the final 3.5 miles at marathon pace.

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 8.50
Weight: 159.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 7:45 pace.

Honestly, I don't know what got into me.  I ran the final 3.5 miles at marathon pace yesterday, and the entire 6 miles at that pace today.  Not trying; just full of energy for some reason.

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 160.00
Comments(1)
Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 9:45 pace.  Really focussed on slowing it down and taking it easy today.

Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 162.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:48 pace.

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 160.50
Add Comment
Total Distance
167.00
Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 56.00Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 60.50Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 50.50
Weight: 159.08
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