| 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
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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Ghost 5 Miles: 11.00 | Enigma Miles: 6.00 | Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 23.00 | Brooks Glycerin Miles: 6.00 |
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| | 6 easy miles outside - 8:22/mile pace.
We had a melting day yesterday, so the streets are all clear again after Friday's snowstorm. The temperature was right at freezing, but there was no wind and I was actually a bit overdressed. I'm hopeful now, going forward, that I can do most of my runs outside.
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| | 6 easy road miles. Temperature right at the freezing mark, but no wind and I have the clothing issue figured out. So, a good run. Tempo run tomorrow.
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| | 6 mile tempo pace, plus warm up and cool down.
Ran an out and back. Clear morning, but cold. Minus 10 C or 14 F. Wasn't bad for running, actually, but my fingers went numb in the 1st mile and I had to curl them up into a fist inside my gloves until they thawed.
Splits were: 7:09 7:13 7:12 7:15 7:13 and 7:09.
This was my 1st tempo run outside; for sure different from the treadmill and indoor track. There are some short hills on this route, but nothing too serious.
Had to push myself at the halfway mark; hard to turn around and get back up to speed, when your brain is telling you to stop or slow down! But, I finished it strong and it felt like a very good run.
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Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | 6 easy miles on my usual outdoor route 'around the block'. Recovery run from yesterday.
Driving to Sault Ste. Marie today, and will do my run tomorrow in that wonderful city.
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Brooks Glycerin Miles: 6.00 |
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| | 5 mile easy run in Sault Ste. Marie. I used to live in this city, and knew about the "Hub Trail" which is a paved, multi-purpose path that runs through and around the city. It was only 1/2 mile from my hotel, so I ran there.
Unfortunately, I discovered they do not keep it free of snow in the winter. At mile 1.5, I came across a section that was very snow covered and pitted quite badly where kids had walked through it (there is a school near by). I decided to take a 'better' short cut over a drainage ditch. Unfortunately, the ice did not hold me and I ended up with 2 very wet feet. So, I ran the final 3.5 miles in cold, wet feet.
Other than that, a good run!
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| | 15 mile long run, and the end of a 46 mile week.
It was cloudy and cold - just around freezing - but fine for running. I did not feel great from the start - was almost winded from the get go for some reason. Partly because the 1st mile North was into the wind, I suppose.
Anyway, I was supposed to run an 8:30/mile pace, and ended up with a 8:24/mile pace, which is pretty close, and I'm happy about that. I went with gatoraide in my fuel belt, GU chomps, and one Hammer Gel - Espresso.
I don't like the GU chomps and don't think I'll race with them - too hard to chew and swallow. I prefer the Power Bar Gel Blast, but I want to try the Honey Stingers too. I ended up taking just one of the chomps.
My stomach was complaining almost from mile 3. At mile 7.5, I ate the Hammer Gel. I had to stop to do it. My stomach at that point was doing flips, and the Gel was way too stiff to easily take in. I also needed to get my breathing under control. So, I stopped and ate the Gel and took in 8 ounces of water.
Well, it landed like lead in my stomach and that feeling didn't go away for the rest of the run. I'll try a different flavor of the Hammer Gel on another day, just to see. So far, however, the GU is my first choice.
Mile 10 was into the wind again and I struggled. Ran it in 8:42, but it felt bad. Once I turned out of the wind, I stopped for a minute to stretch and get my heart rate down. After that, I ran the final 5 miles fast, around 8:15/mile for each of them. It was an odd feeling, because my legs did not have much life in them, and it seemed I was running a lot slower. I was actually surprised by my splits in those last 5 miles. But by stomach never recovered and I didn't take in any more Gatoraide until almost the end.
Now, my thoughts on why it felt the way it did: The 4 hour drive from the Sault yesterday meant a lot of sitting. I had a huge pancake feast at a maple syrup place on the way home. Not a problem in itself, but my blood sugar took off, and then crashed about 2 hours later. Driving was not easy feeling that way, and when I got home, I went right into work - and my supper that night suffered because of it - soup and bread. Yuck - for running anyway. I suspect I went into this run not properly nourished and tired from the trip and it suffered because of it.
Fortunately, I have 3 more 15 mile runs before my race, so I'll be able to prepare myself better for them, and I will!
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Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 15.00 |
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Ghost 5 Miles: 11.00 | Enigma Miles: 6.00 | Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 23.00 | Brooks Glycerin Miles: 6.00 |
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