Going Long (again) in 2024

Week starting Feb 26, 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: 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
62.00
Saucony Kinvara 6 Miles: 7.00Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 32.00Skechers GoRun4 Miles: 11.00Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 12.00
Weight: 151.08
Total Distance
7.00

7 easy treadmill miles (roads are still pretty yucky).  9:00/mile pace.

11 weeks of training down; 7 to go!

Saucony Kinvara 6 Miles: 7.00
Weight: 153.00
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Total Distance
16.00

16 mile long run - on the treadmill.  I drove my route last night to see what kind of shape it was in - not great.  And then it snowed a few more inches last night.  So, kept it inside today.  Besides, it allowed me to do some good hill work on the long run.

First 12 miles at 8:20 pace, followed by three at marathon pace of 7:40, and then one more at 8:20.  I mixed it up with hills - both up and down - throughout.  And the very good news is:  NO PAIN.  Anywhere.  I feel great.  Not even any tightness in the longus muscle any more.

Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 16.00
Weight: 153.00
Comments(1)
Total Distance
6.00

Recovery run; 8:50 pace.  Took it outside.  -12C/10F.

Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 151.00
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Total Distance
11.00

Hanson's Strength Workout today.  1.5 miles at 7:30 pace with 800 recoveries (x4).  On the treadmill.  Major snow storm blowing through ... schools are cancelled.

Felt strong and pain free throughout!

Skechers GoRun4 Miles: 11.00
Weight: 150.50
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Total Distance
12.00

Nine miles at marathon (tempo) pace; 7:39.  Same treadmill routine:  1 minute level, 2 minutes uphill, 1 minute level, 2 minutes downhill --- repeated 12 times.  No problems - felt great.

AND, I did not get into the New York City Marathon through the lottery yesterday.   Only 17% did, so the odds were not great, and I wasn't terribly disappointed.  It falls only 4 weeks after my 1st Ultra, and so wasn't going to be more than a slow slog for me anyway.

So, other than Boston this Spring, I plan on only one other big race this year - The Run for the Toad Ultra at the end of September.  Beyond that, probably just a few shorter events.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 12.00
Weight: 150.00
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Total Distance
10.00

10 recovery miles; 8:42 pace.  Took it outside.  Cold.  -26C/-14F.  With the windchill, it was -25F.  Brrrrr.

12 weeks of training down - 6 weeks to go to Boston!

Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 10.00
Weight: 149.00
Comments(3)
Total Distance
62.00
Saucony Kinvara 6 Miles: 7.00Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 32.00Skechers GoRun4 Miles: 11.00Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 12.00
Weight: 151.08
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