Going Long (again) in 2024

Collingwood Half Marathon

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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
197.18
Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 90.00Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 73.18Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 34.00
Weight: 160.54
Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive.  Easy pace.  I ran one at Tempo Pace (7:55) just to see how it felt.  Starting next week, Wednesdays will be my regular Tempo Run day.

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

Goodwill Drive; 9:00 easy pace.

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 159.50
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Total Distance
4.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:54 easy pace.

I'm driving the 3 1/2 hours to Collingwood today for a Half Marathon tomorrow morning.  I don't plan on racing it - just want to enjoy the scenery and use it as an easy long run.

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 4.00
Weight: 160.00
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Race: Collingwood Half Marathon (13.1 Miles) 01:43:10, Place overall: 32, Place in age division: 4
Total Distance
13.18

I have run this event a few times.  Last year I ran it just 3 weeks after my 100 miler.  This year, it was 4 weeks.  My body felt much better than last year.

My intention was to relax and enjoy the beautiful fall scenery.  Basically, an easy long run.  In fact, I considered pacing the 1:55 race time, but was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep that pace.  However, my initial miles were all around the 8:00/mile pace, and it felt easy.  So I just went with it.

It never really felt hard, and I kept that pace to the end.  The last 2 miles, I ran both at 6:57.   So, essentially, I ran a 13 mile Tempo Workout.  If nothing else, my confidence of being able to run a 3:30 marathon in January was boosted.  The 18 weeks of training should make that possible, although today's race temperature of 2C/35F is likely a tad more favorable than Fort Lauderdale's temperature will be.

The 1:45 pace bunny came in at the same time as me.  

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 13.18
Weight: 159.00
Comments(1)
Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:50 pace.  Light rain, but warm.  A little sore from yesterday's Half, but not too bad.

Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 158.50
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Total Distance
8.00

Speedwork at the track.  8 x 600 with 400 recoveries.  All in the 2:28 - 2:30 range, equivalent to a 6:40/mile pace.  A bit faster than my goal, but it felt okay.

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 159.50
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Total Distance
9.00

Tempo pace run on Goodwill Drive.

Averaged 6 miles at 7:53 pace.  Low of 7:50 and high of 7:55.  I was aiming for something in the 7:55 range, so pretty close to my goal pace.

 

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 9.00
Weight: 161.00
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Total Distance
7.00

Goodwill Drive Easy Run; 8:59 pace.  Crisp.  Gloves might soon need to give way to mittens.

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 7.00
Weight: 161.00
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Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:59 pace.

This week has been glorious, but today is likely the last of that.  Cold and wet for the week ahead.  I'm going to take my motorcycle out for what will likely be one last ride this season.

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 161.00
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Total Distance
10.00

"Long Run" on Radar Road; 8:08 pace.

I'm supposed to run my Long Runs around 8:30 pace, so this was a bit of a fail.  Just couldn't dial back on the pace.  Will have to focus better on that next time.

Finally discovered the source of the pain in my right hip and left foot:  Arthritis!

The good news:  It's not a running injury, and running won't make it worse.

The bad news:  Some days, it just hurts.  After Wednesday's Tempo run, I was limping for a few hours.  

The conclusion:  Getting old hurts!  But running helps mitigate the hurt.

Oh, and ELIUD KIPCHOGE - A record Marathon time of 1:59:40.  Just incredible!

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 10.00
Weight: 160.50
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Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:54 pace.  First time I had to run with my headlamp.  Days are rapidly getting shorter, and it didn't help that it rain/sleeted the whole time.

5C/40F with a strong wind.  And that nasty sleet/rain, of course.

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 161.00
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Total Distance
8.00

Some speedwork on the track across the street.

6 x 800 with 400 recoveries.

Laps were:  3:17  3:15  3:22  3:22  3:20  and  3:21.

Again, a touch faster than my goal pace (3:25), but I didn't feel like I was pushing it.

0C/32F with just a touch of wind.  The sun came out partway through, which felt great.

Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 161.50
Comments(1)
Total Distance
9.00

Tempo Run Wednesdays.

Goodwill Drive.  Cold, wet, windy.

Again, aiming for a pace of about 7:55/mile.  Actually averaged 7:48/mile, with a high of 7:51 and a low of 7:43.  That's a little too fast.  I'll have to dial it back a bit.

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 9.00
Weight: 161.00
Comments(1)
Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive.  Easy recovery run; 8:54 pace.  Cool, at 3C/37F.  But it was the bitter North wind that was tough.  Gusting to 30 mph.

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 161.50
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Total Distance
8.00

Easy run on Goodwill Drive; 8:40 pace.

I fell.

No reason.  The toe of my right foot caught the pavement and I went down hard.  Right at mile 5.  Maybe there was a bump there.  Still, it shouldn't have happened.  It was light out and the conditions were good.

I didn't do my best tuck and roll, cause it happened really fast.  Landed on my right side.  Right knee, elbow and hand hit hard.

I quickly determined the knee was okay, as I was able to keep running.  The arm I thought might be broken, but it's not.  Just beat up, bleeding and now a bump.  The right hand hurt a lot, but I kept my glove on until I got home.  Then I could see it was bleeding generously.  Worst was the thumb, where I gouged out a chunk of skin.

Ah well.  Nothing that will prevent me from keep on running!

Oh, and it snowed ever so slightly.

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 159.50
Comments(1)
Total Distance
8.00

Skead Road; 8:57 pace.  Gorgeous Fall morning (and no fall for me today!)  1C/34F, with blue skies and no wind.  Still some leaves on the trees, so a stunning golden hue all around.

Aftermath of "the fall":  Achy right knee that does not impact my running, big bump on my right elbow along with an open wound that needs a bandage, and a gouge taken out of my right thumb that is difficult, but not impossible, to cover with a bandage.  So, basically, none the worse for wear.  Keep on running!

Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 161.50
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Total Distance
7.00

Goodwill Drive; 9:01 pace.  Very little wind; 4C/40F.  First run where it was completely dark start to finish.

Oh, found out last night when I was foam rolling that I also banged my right hip pretty good when I fell.  Ouch!  Obviously doesn't affect my running, but foam rolling on it is out for a while.

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 7.00
Weight: 162.50
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Total Distance
7.00

Speedwork at the track.

1000 x 5 with 400 recoveries.

Goal pace:  4:15 range.

Actual splits:  4:20  4:13  4:10  4:08  and  4:11

I'm happy with those.

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 7.00
Weight: 161.50
Comments(1)
Total Distance
9.00

Tempo Marathon Pace; averaged 7:50/mile, with only a few seconds variation either way.

I'm okay with this, even though my Marathon Goal (3:30 - which is 5 minutes under my BQ time) is 8:00/mile.  I'm close enough, given the normal fluctuations of a Marathon pace.

Big car accident, and I had to pick my way through the debris field just a half mile from home.

I heard the collision from my house.  I started my run and got there maybe 20 minutes later.  What a mess!  Not sure how they managed to twist themselves up that way, but amazingly, it doesn't look like anyone was hurt.  Not much left of the car, however.  And the pickup truck is quite likely a write off too.

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 9.00
Weight: 160.50
Add Comment
Total Distance
7.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:52 pace.  

The arthritis in my left foot was killing me yesterday.  Today,  not so bad.  Comes and goes, it seems.

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 7.00
Weight: 160.50
Add Comment
Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:49 pace.  Nice morning for running at -3C/27F and no wind.

Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 159.00
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Total Distance
12.00

Long run on Radar Road; 8:04 average pace.  Miles 10 & 11 I ran at Marathon Pace, and I closed with a 7:33 final mile.

Cool but gorgeous morning at -2C/29F, clear skies and no wind.

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 12.00
Weight: 161.50
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Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:58 pace.  

Yucky run.

Cold, steady rain with a driving wind.  My left foot is screaming in pain.  Back to full dose of Ibuprofin and Tylenol.

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 161.50
Add Comment
Total Distance
7.00

Speedwork at the track.

4 x 1200 repeats with 400 recoveries.  Was aiming for something in the 5:05 - 5:10 range.

Actual splits were 5:02  5:06  5:01  and  5:01.  So, I'm pretty happy with that.

The first two were blind splits, as it was too dark to see my watch and the back light doesn't work.  So, even just going on feel worked well.

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 7.00
Weight: 161.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
10.00

Tempo Run.  Goodwill Drive.  7 miles at an average pace of 7:47.  All seven splits were pretty close to that.

All in the dark.  -1C/30F with no wind.

Since I'm aiming for a 3:30 marathon, my Tempo Pace should be closer to 8:00, so I've not actually been pleased with these faster paces.  That is, until it hit me that I'm running in close to ideal conditions.  In Fort Lauderdale, it will be on the hot side, and my pace will be slower because of that.

So, training 10 seconds/mile faster might not be a bad idea, and my body seems inclined to run that speed anyway, so I think I'll make the adjustment now in anticipation of a slower pace on race day.

Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 10.00
Weight: 160.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
6.00

Goodwill Drive; 8:52 easy pace.

Snow.  Then sleet.  Nothing heavy enough to stay on the ground, but that may very well change tonight.

Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 160.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
197.18
Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 90.00Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 73.18Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 34.00
Weight: 160.54
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