Going Long (again) in 2024

Week starting Aug 26, 2018

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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
52.00
Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 30.00Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 6.00Saucony ISO Triumph 3 Miles: 16.00
Weight: 155.70
Total Distance
12.00

Radar Road Route; 8:34 pace.

Rained hard for about 15 minutes, starting around mile 1.  Ah well - we need the rain.

I met with my crew (a crew of 1) yesterday to discuss some strategies for the 24 race.  My strategy for her - don't let me stop, no matter what!  It's getting real now.

I'm on my way to Laurentian Lodge for our annual priest's retreat.  Yes, the same place I vacationed with my family last month.  It's the only venue in the area that can accommodate everyone.  A bonus that it's so beautiful.  I'm guessing the deer flies won't be an issue any more.

Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 12.00
Weight: 155.00
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Total Distance
6.00

I was going to call this route the Little White River Route, but one stupid deer fly attacked me right at the end. So it remains the Deer Fly Route.

8:47 pace. First half in the dark. All the sounds of the wilderness get louder in the dark, it seems.

Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 155.00
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Total Distance
8.00

Deer Fly Route; 8:45 pace. Misty rain and a large swarm of deer flies trailed me once the sun came out.

Saucony ISO Triumph 3 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 155.00
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Total Distance
8.00

Final run on the Deer Fly Route, as I'm going home later today. Wings on my feet for this run; 8:11 pace. Cool. Almost needed gloves.

Saucony ISO Triumph 3 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 156.00
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Total Distance
18.00

Radar Road Route, with a 4 mile detour into Falconbridge; 8:28 pace.

The sound of thunder in the distance began at mile 2.  The rain began at mile 7.  Since it was darker in the direction I was running, I decided to turn around and add the Falconbridge part to make up the distance.  It didn't help.

The rain ended at mile 11, but the wind was really kicking up.  The rain and lightening began again at mile 14.  At mile 15, the lightening was hitting uncomfortably close.  I was pretty soaked through when I finished.

Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 18.00
Weight: 157.50
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Total Distance
52.00
Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 30.00Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 6.00Saucony ISO Triumph 3 Miles: 16.00
Weight: 155.70
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