Going Long (again) in 2024

Week starting May 08, 2016

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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
50.00
Zoom Vomero 10 Miles: 19.00Brooks Ghost 6 Gold Miles: 17.00Saucony ISO Triumph Miles: 14.00
Weight: 157.12
Total Distance
5.00

5 easy miles; 8:30 pace.  Snowed most of the way - guess we haven't quite gotten over winter yet.

Zoom Vomero 10 Miles: 5.00
Weight: 156.50
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Total Distance
10.00

Well, so much for my speed work.

Was scheduled to run 1.5 x 4 with 800 recoveries, at 10 seconds faster than race pace.  I don't know any more what my race pace is going to be, so I decided to just run relaxed and see what happened.

Well, I ran the 1st 1.5 mile at a 6:55 pace, and the second one at a 6:46 pace - so actually not that bad.  But then, nothing.  I think I felt the way The Flash did when Zoom stole his speed force.  Nada - Nothing - Zip.

It was a really odd feeling, because the 1st two splits were not a problem.  Same as last week though - I just could not go further.  So, I slowed right down and ran the final 4 miles at an 8:38 pace - and I felt like I was pushing to go even that speed.

So, presuming I'm correct in that I'm suffering from overtraining, I've decided to just eliminate all the speed work left before the race (just 3 more sessions) and run everything easy.  Maybe that will give me my legs back for the race - which is 3 weeks away.

Brooks Ghost 6 Gold Miles: 10.00
Weight: 156.00
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Total Distance
7.00

Opted for 7 easy miles today instead of Tempo work.  Pace of 8:46.  Trying to keep my heart rate around 130, which is what one site on recovering from overtraining recommends.  Seems that my normal easy pace pretty much puts me in that zone anyway.

I'm leaving today for Ottawa - going with 4 parishioners to the Annual March for Life, which is tomorrow.  Will do 2 runs of 7 miles in Ottawa; coming home Friday.

Brooks Ghost 6 Gold Miles: 7.00
Weight: 157.50
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Total Distance
7.00

7 easy miles along the Rideau Canal in Ottawa.  8:42 pace.

Zoom Vomero 10 Miles: 7.00
Weight: 0.00
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Total Distance
7.00

7 easy miles along the Rideau Canal in Ottawa; 8:45 pace.

Zoom Vomero 10 Miles: 7.00
Weight: 0.00
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Total Distance
14.00

14 easy miles on the Suez route.  8:46 pace.

It was great running in Ottawa the last 2 mornings.  The trail along the canal is gorgeous, with lots of other runners and nice scenery.  Hot though, in contrast to this morning when it's just 6C/42F.

Anyway, it's also good to be home.  Two weeks and I'll be back in Ottawa for the Half.

Saucony ISO Triumph Miles: 14.00
Weight: 158.50
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Total Distance
50.00
Zoom Vomero 10 Miles: 19.00Brooks Ghost 6 Gold Miles: 17.00Saucony ISO Triumph Miles: 14.00
Weight: 157.12
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