Going Long (again) in 2024

August 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
163.50
Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 55.00Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 40.00Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 46.50Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 14.00Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 159.35
Total Distance
8.50

Skead Road; 8:41 pace.

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 8.50
Weight: 158.50
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Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:36 pace.

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

A zippy run on Goodwill Drive.  Average pace was 7:26.  I didn't intend a fast run, but mile one at 8:15 just came so easy.  The next was 7:47.  Then I knocked off three at 7:12, and finished with a 6:58.  Other than a push at the end, it just felt natural.

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

Back to Goodwill Drive; this time a more pedestrian 8:45 pace.

It has been cooler for about a week now, with morning running temperatures in the low teens Celcius or low 50's.  I'm sure that's what has made the running feel so easy as of late.

I have had no internet for nearly 2 weeks now.  I'm bumming off friends when I can.  I'm between companies, and there was a glitch.  Hopefully, I'll be up and running soon, before my friends run out of patience.

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 157.50
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Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:28 pace.

And I have internet again!  Switched over to a new company to save the parish money.  Also switched the 2 parish phone lines to VOIP.  So far, so good.

Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 157.50
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Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:30 pace.  

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

Goodwill Drive; 8:37 pace.

Just past mile 5, I startled a large deer that was just about to cross the road at the same time I got to its path.  It startled me too when it bolted.

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 159.50
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Total Distance
10.50

Radar Road; 8:20 pace.  

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 10.50
Weight: 160.00
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Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:34 pace.

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

Goodwill Drive; 9:49 pace.  Slow and easy.

Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 158.50
Add Comment
Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:45 pace.

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 159.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
10.50

Radar Road; 8:37 pace.

They re-painted the lines this morning, so I had to run with the scent of paint wafting through the air for the 3 middle miles.

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 10.50
Weight: 160.50
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Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill  Drive; 8:41 pace.

After several days of birthday parties and other such gatherings, my weight is up past my comfort level.  Doesn't feel good at all.  Will have to drop back to the 160 level this week.

Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 162.50
Comments(2)
Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 7:43 pace.

As soon as I started, I knew it was going to be a fast run.  So, I decided to try to control my pace and make it a Marathon Pace run.  I'm not sure what my marathon pace is at this point, but I likely still ran a bit faster than it.

Mornings are cooler now.  It was 12C/53F with a bit of rain along the way.

 

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 160.50
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Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:47 pace.  Cool morning run at 8C/46F.

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

Goodwill Drive in the rain; 9:37 pace.

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

Goodwill Drive; 8:51 pace.  Lately I've been doing pretty good keeping an even pace.  Basically, I am taking note of my first mile's pace - varies day to day depending on who knows what - and then try to keep the next miles in that range.  More of a game than anything else.

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

Goodwill Drive; 8:42 pace.  Heavy fog.

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 159.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
10.00

Radar Road; 8:50 pace.

Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 10.00
Weight: 159.50
Add Comment
Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:42 pace.

I got stung by a bee.  Twice.  It flew into the collar of my shirt and stung me on the neck, then slid down into my sleeve and stung me on the bicep.

I was wearing a long sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up to my elbows, so the only way I could get it out was to take off my shirt.

Maybe it was attracted to my flowery personality.  Or maybe it was the bright yellow Boston Marathon tech shirt.  Or maybe it was just a jerk.

Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 159.00
Comments(1)
Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:42 pace.  Cool morning - all the way down to 5C/42F.  Great for running.

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 160.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
8.00

I decided to do some speedwork at the track today.  Just because.

6 x 800's with a 400 recovery lap.

The first three were in the 3:19 range, the next two at 3:17 and the final one at 3:15. 

Rained the whole time.  13C/56F.

I'm trying to decide what direction to take my running for the Fall.  I'm considering entering the virtual New York Marathon.  Alternatively, I'm considering following a 5k training plan to work on speed for a change.  Or, I may just continue with base training.  Decisions, decisions, decisions!

Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 158.50
Comments(2)
Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:44 pace.

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 162.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
8.00

Skead Road; 9:06 pace.

Steady drizzle the whole time.  Soaked through and cold at the end.  No legs today - feeling the effects of Thursday's speedwork.

Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 159.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
163.50
Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 55.00Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 40.00Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 46.50Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 14.00Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 159.35
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