Going Long (again) in 2024

Week starting Nov 15, 2015

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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
43.00
Brooks Ghost 6 Green Miles: 13.00Brooks Glycerin 12 Miles: 24.00Brooks Ghost 6 Gold Miles: 6.00
Weight: 159.92
Total Distance
6.00

6 easy miles; 8:28 pace.  A bit warmer today at 1C/34F, and little wind.

I'm feeling okay, so will attempt some speedwork at the track tomorrow.

Brooks Ghost 6 Green Miles: 6.00
Weight: 161.00
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Total Distance
7.00

A little speedwork at the track today.  8 x 400 with 400 jogs.  Kept my 400 splits between 1:29 and 1:34.  Was pushing it a bit, but felt good overall.  Cold morning (1C/34F), but it felt fine once the sun came up.

Brooks Ghost 6 Green Miles: 7.00
Weight: 160.00
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Total Distance
7.00

7 easy miles; 8:28 pace.  A bit warmer today at 6C/42F, and the rain held off until I finished the run.

My new strobe headlamp paid for itself in spades today, as 2 different cars came speeding out of sidestreets with no intention of stopping at the stop sign until they saw my light and screeched to a halt.

Brooks Glycerin 12 Miles: 7.00
Weight: 160.00
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Total Distance
6.00

6 easy miles; 8:39 pace.  Actually warmed up a fair bit - was almost too warm for the long sleeves, and I was able to ditch the gloves at 10C/50F.  A strong wind, however -35kph/22mph -slowed me down the middle 2 miles.

Brooks Glycerin 12 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 158.50
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Total Distance
6.00

52 minutes for 6 easy miles on the treadmill.  I was all set to run outside, but changed my mind when I saw how heavy the snow was falling, and with a pretty fierce wind blowing.  Better to run indoors today.

Brooks Ghost 6 Gold Miles: 6.00
Weight: 160.50
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Total Distance
11.00

11 miles long, at a 7:57 pace.  Colder than I expected - I should have worn mitts instead of gloves.  And  my sports drink turned to slush about a third of the way in.  It was minus 5C/23F with a touch of wind.

Anyway, a big snow storm is heading this way later today, and I was glad to get this run in before it hit.  I much prefer the roads over the treadmill.

Brooks Glycerin 12 Miles: 11.00
Weight: 159.50
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Total Distance
43.00
Brooks Ghost 6 Green Miles: 13.00Brooks Glycerin 12 Miles: 24.00Brooks Ghost 6 Gold Miles: 6.00
Weight: 159.92
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