Going Long (again) in 2024

January 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  (26 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 (8 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

May 25, 2024  9:21:26

Limberlost 35 Mile Trail   July 6, 2024   8:12:57

Haliburton Forest 100 mile Trail   September 7-8, 2019  26:46:27

September 7-8, 2024 DNF after 65 miles/16 hours

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Pacing my sister in her 1st Half Marathon.

Short-Term Running Goals:

I really want to take on the Haliburton 100 again, after it kicked my butt in 2024, but I'm going to wait until 2026 to take it on again, when I'm 60 years old.

For 2025, I want to try running a Backyard Ultra, just to see how far I can run.

So, a couple of fun runs:  30K Around the Bay in March, and Pick Your Poison 50K in April, followed by Coach D's Backyard in May.  That one only runs for 24 hours, so I'm using it to see how I handle the format, in view of running my goal race for 2025:  The Bush Bitches Backyard, here in my hometown of Sudbury, in October.  Let the training begin!

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 31 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 14 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: 0.00 Month: 83.00 Year: 2207.30
Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 Lifetime Miles: 412.40
Brooks Cascadia 11 Lifetime Miles: 394.00
Salomon Speedcross 4 Lifetime Miles: 356.75
Brooks Launch 8 Lifetime Miles: 153.00
Asics Metaspeed Sky Lifetime Miles: 32.20
Triumph 18 Lifetime Miles: 279.00
Black Hoka Bondi Lifetime Miles: 218.00
Saucony Triumph 19 Treadmill Lifetime Miles: 12.00
Total Distance
218.00
Zoom Vomero 10 Miles: 43.00Saucony ISO Triumph Miles: 17.00Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 52.00Saucony Kinvara 6 Miles: 41.00Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 Miles: 19.00Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 36.00Skechers GoRun4 Miles: 10.00
Weight: 152.93
Total Distance
6.00

Easy run with strides at miles 3, 4 and 5.  Average pace was 8:45.

All the new snow was finally cleared over night, and with the temperature around -12C/10F, the surface is pretty solid for running on.  

15 weeks to Boston - and a Happy New Year to everyone!

 

Zoom Vomero 10 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 155.00
Comments(1)
Total Distance
10.00

My 1st 'long run' of this training cycle.  Just 10 miles, but the pace is a bit faster --- supposed to be 40 seconds slower than Marathon Pace, so around 8:25/mile.

I started off too fast, but was able to reset and at mile 6 was averaging 8:22/mile.

My program allows me to pick up the pace at the end to mimic running the last miles of the marathon on tired legs - so Marathon Pace or faster.  I ran miles 7, 8 and 9 at:

7:36  7:30  and 7:23.  So, average of 8:05 over the ten miles.

It felt easy, despite the challenging running surface.  It has warmed up to -5C/23F, making the shoulders mushy, but the tire ruts icy.  There were only a few sections where there was bare pavement.  But hey, if there is a freak snow storm in Boston in April, I'm good to go!

Saucony ISO Triumph Miles: 10.00
Weight: 155.50
Comments(1)
Total Distance
6.00

Easy recovery run in conditions similar to yesterday, except the snow sections are more like running through mashed potatoes today.  9:03 pace.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 155.50
Add Comment
Total Distance
8.00

Speedwork on the treadmill, which works out fine, since there is a ton of new snow outside this morning.

6 x 800m with 400m recoveries for 3 miles fast, and the rest either recovery, warm up or warm down.

I ran the fast sections at a pace of 6:39, or 200 seconds/segment.

The foam I put under the treadmill helped - it moved a lot less today.

Oh, this morning I also ordered my Boston Marthon jacket!  I didn't want to risk not getting my size at the Expo on Sunday afternoon.  I'm having it shipped to Sault Ste. Marie, MI, and a friend will pick it up for me (they don't ship to Canada).  I'll figure out later how to get it here from there --- it's 200 miles away.

Saucony Kinvara 6 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 156.00
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Total Distance
9.00

Tempo run on the treadmill.  Was planned anyway, but an extra bonus, given that it's -25C/-12F outside.

6 miles at 7:39 pace.  Tempo (race) Pace is more like 7:45, but the extra little speed compensates a bit for the treadmill efficiency.  I alternated running 2 minutes downslope, 1 minute level, 2 minutes upslope and kept cycling through that pattern.

Oh, and the foam I put under the treadmill worked!  No more sliding off the blocks.

Saucony Kinvara 6 Miles: 9.00
Weight: 154.50
Comments(1)
Total Distance
7.00

Easy run; 8:49 pace.

Nice to be outside, but COLD! -22C/-8F  With the windchill factor, it was -30C/-23F.  That makes it my second coldest run this season, the coldest being on December 15th.  

That's 4 weeks of training done; 14 to go!

Saucony ISO Triumph Miles: 7.00
Weight: 154.50
Comments(1)
Total Distance
7.00

7 easy miles with strides thrown in miles 3, 5 and 6.  Average pace of 9:02/mile.

Another icy one.  -21C/-6F ... with windchill  -33C/-27F.  The wind was steady from due North at 14mph, so the first mile into it was pretty miserable.  The rest were okay.  It's supposed to warm up a bit after today, so that should take some of the bite out of these runs.  The batteries in my headlamp froze, so no light after the first mile.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 7.00
Weight: 154.00
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Total Distance
8.00

Easy run; 9:00/mile pace.  A lot warmer today, at -12C/10F, but the snow was falling pretty steady, and so the ground was a bit challenging in places.  Some spots were hard packed, others icy, and others covered with several inches of soft snow.  Still, it wasn't too bad for running.  

Today is my day off, so I waited until it was light outside.  A lot heavier traffic at that hour, I see.

Zoom Vomero 10 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 153.50
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Total Distance
6.00

Easy run; 8:58 pace.  There is heavy snow coming today, and I managed to get just ahead of it.  Overdressed a bit, so was pretty wet when I finished.  It's a balmy -6C/21F out there this morning.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 155.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
8.00

Hills today, on the treadmill.  1000 metres uphill x3 and downhill x2 with 400 recoveries.  Uphill pace of 7:15; downhill pace of 5:50.

Saucony Kinvara 6 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 153.50
Add Comment
Total Distance
9.00

Tempo run on the treadmill.  Same as last week - 6 miles at 7:39 pace.  2 minutes uphill, one minute level, 2 minutes downhill, repeat.

Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 Miles: 9.00
Weight: 153.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
8.00

Easy run; 8:50 pace.  Not the coldest day of the year, but at -20C/14F, it was chilly enough.  Lots of heavy ice on the roads, but it was okay if I stuck to the shoulders where the snow was packed hard.

5 weeks of training down - 13 to go!

Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 152.50
Add Comment
Total Distance
6.00

Easy run; average pace of 8:41.  Striders at miles 3, 4 and 5.  I slipped on the ice at the start of mile three.  Didn't go down hard, and only my pride was bruised.

Zoom Vomero 10 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 153.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
12.00

Long run; average pace of 8:11.  It has warmed up to -7C/19F, so decided to go with gloves instead of mitts (easier to access my hydration belt bottles).  That worked well enough, if I tucked my thumb into the palm of my hand.

 

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 12.00
Weight: 154.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
6.00

Easy recovery run; 8:54 pace.

Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 152.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
8.00

Speedwork on the treadmill.  4 x 1200 with 400 recoveries.  Speed pace of 6:39.

Saucony Kinvara 6 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 151.00
Comments(1)
Total Distance
10.00

Tempo run; 7 miles at 7:39 pace on the treadmill.  Same routine:  1 minute level, 2 minutes uphill, 1 minute level, 2 minutes downhill, repeat 9 times.

All systems are good.  One glitch - a really painful stitch on my right side forced me to stop twice to work it out.  Impossible to run through it.  I'm chalking it up to the sports drink I took before the run.  Too much, I think.

Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 Miles: 10.00
Weight: 151.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
10.00

Recovery run; 8:51 pace.  It's like Spring this week - temperatures hovering around 0C/31F.  So, lots of puddles and pretty messy.  Still - it was okay for running for the most part.

My Boston Marathon jacket arrived yesterday.  Looks good.  I decided to order it ahead of time, since I won't get to the expo until Sunday afternoon, and I didn't want to take a chance of them being out of my size.  I tried it on to make sure it fits.  Now it's packed away until I finish the race.

Six weeks of training down.  Twelve to go.

Zoom Vomero 10 Miles: 10.00
Weight: 150.50
Comments(1)
Total Distance
7.00

Easy run; 8:38 pace, with 4 hill bursts thrown in at miles 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Nice to have the sun rising earlier now.  It's actually light out when I finish my runs.  Still very mild out - quite a few puddles to dodge.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 7.00
Weight: 151.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
8.00

Easy run, dodging the puddles again.  8:49 pace.  Starting tomorrow, it will get colder.  This has been an unusually long mid-winter thaw.

Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 152.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
6.00

Easy run; 8:41 pace.

Zoom Vomero 10 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 152.50
Add Comment
Total Distance
8.00

Hill work on the treadmill.  1000 m uphill, 400 recover, 1000 m downhill, repeat (3 uphills and 2 downhills).  Uphill speed:  7:15.  Downhill speed:  5:50.  Legs are holding up okay.

Saucony Kinvara 6 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 152.00
Comments(2)
Total Distance
10.00

Tempo Run on the treadmill.  7 miles at race pace of 7:39.  Same as previous weeks:  one minute level, 2 minutes uphill, 1 minute level, 2 minutes downhill (x9), for 54 minutes at race pace.

Feeling good!

Skechers GoRun4 Miles: 10.00
Weight: 151.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
8.00

Easy run; 8:48 pace.  A steady snow fall throughout - with no wind, it was actually really nice to run through.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 151.50
Add Comment
Total Distance
7.00

Easy run with strides thown in on miles 3, 4, 5 and 6.  Average pace of 8:33.

Turning colder again ... down to -25C/-13F.  Back to extra layers.

AND, 7 weeks down ... 11 to go until Boston.

Zoom Vomero 10 Miles: 7.00
Weight: 151.50
Comments(1)
Total Distance
14.00

Long run; average pace of 8:05, but that was influenced by miles 11, 12 and 13 that I ran at 7:20.  Without those faster ones, I averaged 8:15/mile.

Cold morning.  Just -17C/2F.  I waited until 10:15 to start, to mimic the Boston starting time.  So, a little weird for me, but at least I didn't have to use my head lamp.

Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 14.00
Weight: 152.00
Comments(1)
Total Distance
6.00

Recovery run; 8:54 pace.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 151.50
Add Comment
Total Distance
218.00
Zoom Vomero 10 Miles: 43.00Saucony ISO Triumph Miles: 17.00Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 52.00Saucony Kinvara 6 Miles: 41.00Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 Miles: 19.00Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 36.00Skechers GoRun4 Miles: 10.00
Weight: 152.93
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