Going Long (again) in 2024

October 2017

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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: 12.00 Month: 117.50 Year: 516.50
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: 362.00
Triumph 18 Treadmill Lifetime Miles: 120.50
Hoka Bondi 8 Treadmill Lifetime Miles: 54.50
Total Distance
67.00
Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 50.50Saucony ISO Triumph Miles: 11.00Saucony Kinvara 6 Miles: 5.50
Weight: 160.88
Total Distance
3.00

I know it has only been 9 days since my race.

I know I planned on taking a full 2 weeks off from running.

I know my body got beat up and needs time to recover.

But I'm going stir crazy - needed to run!  That, and I'm putting on weight.

So, a very slow and easy 3 miles on the train route - without actually making it to the tracks - at a 9:15 pace.  

Nothing hurts.  Just a bit achy during the run.  I'm glad I went.

Future plan:  A 100 km race next June.  The Niagara Falls Ultra.  I love that trail along the Niagara River.  Niagara-on-the-Lake to the brink of the Falls and back, and then repeat.  This is a paved walking/biking trail and mostly flat - except for the 270 foot part where you go up the escarpment.  I'm still not sure if I like the trail aspect of running.  This will give me a chance to see if training for and running an Ultra on something more road like will be to my liking.  The only downside to the race is the heat that time of the year.  The entry gift?  A sweatshirt!

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 3.00
Weight: 161.00
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Total Distance
4.00

Easy run; 8:36 pace on the train route.  Still working out the kinks from the race, but everything seems fine.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 4.00
Weight: 161.00
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Total Distance
4.00

4 easy miles; 8:27 pace.  My body seems to be handling this distance well enough 2 days in a row, so will step it up next week.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 4.00
Weight: 161.50
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Total Distance
6.00

Pushed it to 6 miles on the train route; 8:29 pace.  All in all, felt fine.  A little heavy in the legs at the end.

Getting cooler now - had to wear thin gloves.  -2C/28F.  But sunny.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 162.00
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Total Distance
5.00

Easy run on the train route; 8:13 pace.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 5.00
Weight: 161.00
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Total Distance
6.00

Easy run on the train route.  8:16 pace.  It would have been faster, but I had a mishap.

I went earlier than usual, so it was very dark.  I didn't bring a light.  Mile 2.5 (at the tracks) to mile 3 (turn around) is absolutely black.  At the end of that mile, I was distracted by looking at the stars, and I didn't remember the slight turn in the road.  I ran off the road, and into the middle of a swamp.  I think knee deep, but I face planted into it, so was completely soaked through from the waist down, and pretty much everywhere else too.

It took a few seconds for me to find the way out - I wasn't sure where the road was.  For the next 2.5 miles, I was cold, squishy, and picking strands of cattails from my body.

Temperature of 4C/39F made it a tad chilly.  Fortunately, the only thing hurt was my pride.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 160.00
Comments(1)
Total Distance
4.00

Easy run towards the train route, cut short.  I hadn't planned on going past the point where I swam yesterday anyway, but today, at about mile 2, a fox ran out from someone's front yard and started to run beside me.  Literally, right at my heels.

I stopped - it stopped.  I ran - it ran.  It was dark and I wasn't sure what it would do, so I turned around to run home.  It followed right behind me for a quarter mile, until I came to a set of lights.

I'm sure it has been fed by the people in that neighbourhood and was just looking for a hand out.  Still - you never know.

8:15 pace.

Saucony ISO Triumph Miles: 4.00
Weight: 160.00
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Total Distance
5.50

Strong wind and steady rain.  Good thing it wasn't cold!  Ran a variation of the Train Route.  8:27 pace.

My youngest sister ran her third Half in Toronto on Sunday, and ran a PB of just below 2:08.  I am SO proud of her!!!

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 5.50
Weight: 161.00
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Total Distance
5.50

A bit faster today on the Falconbridge-Maley Drive route.  7:56 pace.  I guess technically, that is my Marathon Pace.  Wind and rain.

Saucony Kinvara 6 Miles: 5.50
Weight: 161.00
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Total Distance
6.00

Train route; 8:17 pace.  Brought along a light, but had an equipment malfunction.  The batteries died.  So, I ran it in the dark.  But no fox, coyote, bear or swamp swim.  So, all was good.

Maybe my last run in the dark on the train route, as I move into my house on Tuesday.  Next 2 runs will be in daylight.  Maybe.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 160.00
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Total Distance
7.00

Fast easy run; 8:05 pace.  Falconbridge Road to Garson and back.

Didn't plan to run it that fast, but the last three miles I clocked at 7:47  7:36  and  7:25.

Everything feels great.  It has been a month since my Ultra.  I'm going to bump it up to run 5 days/week now.

Saucony ISO Triumph Miles: 7.00
Weight: 161.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
5.50

Faster side of an 'easy' run; 7:56 pace.  Falconbridge-Maley route.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 5.50
Weight: 161.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
5.50

Easy paced run (8:25) on the Falconbridge-Maley Route.

Last day in the hotel!  I've beening living here since July 4th ... nearly 4 months.  I will move into my new place later this morning.  The work there is far from completed, but I managed to muck out a living space for myself there in the interim.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 5.50
Weight: 161.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
67.00
Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 50.50Saucony ISO Triumph Miles: 11.00Saucony Kinvara 6 Miles: 5.50
Weight: 160.88
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