Going Long (again) in 2024

March 19, 2024

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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: 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
8.00

The goal was 5 miles at Tempo Pace.  Managed only 3 miles at that pace:  6:55  6:55  and 7:01.  Too bad, as I started off feeling pretty good and the 1st two miles didn't feel too hard.

I'm guessing I should have gone easy today and done this run tomorrow to give me an extra day recovery after Monday's speedwork.  It was 18C/65F with 96% humidity and no wind.  It didn't feel too bad to start, but I noticed I was sweating quite a bit even after my 2 mile warm up.

Probably the bottle of wine last night to celebrate the Blue Jays extra innings win didn't help either!

Anyway, I noticed I was breathing harder than I should be at the end of the second mile.  By the end of the third mile, I was really laboring.  I maybe could have pushed a fourth, but decided that was a set up for an injury and for no good reason.  So, I laid off and ran my final miles easy.

A good decision, as I noticed my legs were quite rubbery, even running slow.  I think the combination of elements just hit me harder than I expected.  No harm done - I think laying off when I did was the right move.  Back to try it again next week.

Mizuno Wave Sayonara Miles: 8.00
Weight: 159.00
Comments
From Tom K on Fri, Jul 29, 2016 at 06:56:09 from 66.87.149.248

My Rays are only 18 games back, so your Jays better watch out! This is where we make our move!

Seriously, that 3 mile tempo looks pretty good. strong running, man.

From Theotokos (Michael Williams) on Fri, Jul 29, 2016 at 07:14:10 from 208.96.70.159

I'll be in Toronto to see your Rays take on my Jays a week from Monday. I'll think of you as I down a pint. Still think you're crazy giving up the Java, by the way, but that's coming some one seriously addicted dude. I don't know how I'd function without the coffee.

From Tom K on Fri, Jul 29, 2016 at 11:19:21 from 66.87.149.248

Yeah, I am back into the coffee. Tuesday and Wednesday were so disastrous to running, that I am postponing the quit again. I never drank coffee until my second son was born. Now I'm wondering if i can quit.

From Theotokos (Michael Williams) on Fri, Jul 29, 2016 at 14:32:20 from 208.96.70.159

Everything I've read about it says if you don't drink it, probably best to not start. But if you do drink it in moderation, it does have performance enhancing benefits for athletes.

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