Going Long (again) in 2024

Week starting Aug 13, 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
58.00
Saucony ISO Triumph Miles: 32.00Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 26.00
Weight: 157.90
Total Distance
24.00

LONG training run.  Averaged out at an 11:06 pace, for a total running time of 4:26:15.  Temperature started at 15C/59F and rose to 24C/76F with low humidity.  Total elevation gain of just under 1,000 feet.  I ran from my hotel, around Lake Ramsey and Lake Laurentian, using the trail system.

Ran the first 6 miles on mostly roads; entered the trail section for the last 2 miles.  Average pace of 9:20.

The next 6 miles were highly technical.  I mean, literally pulling myself up with the trees and scampering on all 4's over steep bedrock, complex roots, TONS of mud, etc.  I did one face plant in the mud which was not pretty, although I'm sure it looked funny.  I had to go another 2 miles to find some water to wash off everything - my water and gatoraide spigots were covered with mud.  Average overall pace had dropped to 11:48 at this point.

The next 6 miles were a combination of trails and roads.  Still pretty steep, and my legs were now like rubber.  Managed to bring my average pace down to 11:25.

The final 6 miles were all lake side boardwalk or roads.  Just focused on putting one foot in front of the other and finished.

Two weeks from today, I have my final LONG run ... 26 miles.  It's nuts, I think, to run a full marathon distance as a training run!

 

Saucony ISO Triumph Miles: 24.00
Weight: 158.00
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Total Distance
8.00

1 hour fast tempo run on the Train Route.  7:30/mile pace.  No train today.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 157.50
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Total Distance
7.00

Easy recovery run on the train route.  8:35 pace.  Freight train beat me today, so I had to wait about a half minute for it to go by.  On the way back though, I beat the passenger train by about 200 yards.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 7.00
Weight: 158.00
Comments(2)
Total Distance
8.00

Just shy of 70 minutes of hills ... ran 12 laps inside the Civic Cemetery.  Averaged 8:34/mile.  Not hot, at just 16C/61F, but that was also the dew point, so with 99% humidity and a dense fog, it made for one wet run.

My left hip (IT insertion point?) was feeling it after yesterday's run, and still pretty sore this morning, to the point where I considered taking an off day.  However, I didn't feel it at all during the run, and it doesn't seem too bad right now.  So, will just continue with stretching it and foam rolling.

It hit me though:  this is my second time this year hitting peak training mileage (Boston training being the first), and I really haven't had injuries that have sidelined me.  Hoping to keep that trend going.

Saucony ISO Triumph Miles: 8.00
Weight: 157.00
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Total Distance
11.00

Was supposed to be a 90 minute easy run (about 10 miles), but ended up being an 11 mile Tempo Run.  Just felt too good to go slower.  7:51 pace.

Rode my bike to Garson and ran back to my hotel, with an extension down the train route to make up for the extra 4 miles.  A freight train beat me by a good mile, and then another one passed behind me after about 15 minutes.

So, tomorrow I leave around Noon for Chicago.  About 12 - 13 hours of riding.  I'll sleep there a few hours and then see if I can make it to Bloomsdale, MO to see the eclipse on Monday.  Anywhere south of St. Louis would be good, but I'm guessing the interstates will be jammed and not moving too quickly.  I'll do my best to get to where I can see the full eclipse - that would be cool.

I'll have to rearrange my running plans - and won't be blogging until I get home on Friday.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 11.00
Weight: 159.00
Comments(1)
Total Distance
58.00
Saucony ISO Triumph Miles: 32.00Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 26.00
Weight: 157.90
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