Going Long (again) in 2024

Run for the Toad Trail Race Ultra

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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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to Ukraine's Armed Forces
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
Race: Run for the Toad Trail Race Ultra (31.069 Miles) 05:31:23, Place overall: 49, Place in age division: 5
Total Distance
31.07

Well, I did it.  I ran my first Ultra Marathon.  

I just got home a little while ago.  It's the Monday night after the Saturday morning event.

I re-read my blog from 1 year ago when I ran the 25K event here.  Two loops.  This year I doubled the distance and ran the 4 loops.  I won't go into the description of the trail, as it was the same route as last year, except that the hills all get bigger the third and fourth times around!

Cutting to the chase, my results:

Total time of 5:31:23.6

Average pace of 6:38/km ... 10:41/mile

Came in 49 of 111 overall

5 of 15 in my division

34 of 72 males

Total elevation gain of 1,560 feet.

Comments:

The weather was picture perfect.  Virtually no wind and no clouds.  Mostly dry trails, and temperatures beginning at around 7C/44F and increasing to 15C/59F.  

I was hoping to average a pace of 10:00/mile, so I fell short of that.  My splits (mats every half lap) showed a steadily declining speed, beginning at 8:47/mile in my first split and finishing with an average of 10:41/mile.  I could see my average pace number climbing until it hit my goal average pace of 10:00 at exactly mile 21.5.  Close, but no cigar!  After that, I fought to keep it under 11:00, which I did.

After I completed the second lap, I knew I was in for some 'ouch time'.  I didn't quite hit the balance with my nutrition, and so battled some GI issues the last 2 laps, and was severely gassed out by the time I started the 4th lap.  Had to make a few emergency stops along the way too.

My right knee was screaming at me for most of the final lap, and I was limping by the end.  I don't recall anything that might have hurt it, so I'm guessing it was just the terrain and the way it got pounded.  It's okay today, so no significant damage, fortunately.

So, it was an exhilarating experience for me, and I'm glad I did it.  I haven't decided yet if I will push to run a longer distance.  I'll think about it for a few weeks before I decide.  Honestly, I enjoy the marathon a lot more, but I have to give it time to sit.  Maybe I'll think differently about it later.

 

 

Brooks Cascadia 11 Miles: 31.00
Weight: 157.00
Comments
From Tom K on Wed, Oct 04, 2017 at 19:28:46 from 174.58.51.37

Congratulations on the finish of the big, big race! That is a really long way to run.

You're looking lean in that new profile picture!

From Rob Murphy on Wed, Oct 04, 2017 at 19:31:05 from 67.166.78.47

Congratulations! I enjoyed reading this. Be careful with the knee in the coming days.

From Dan on Sat, Oct 07, 2017 at 11:10:26 from 74.140.172.126

Congrats! That is such a huge race - I know my first one was this year and I think I mirror your thoughts. I will do more, but I prefer the marathon for sure.

Either way, hope you knee is well and you had a great race!

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