Going Long (again) in 2024

January 2024

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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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to Ukraine's Armed Forces
Miles:This week: 22.00 Month: 145.00 Year: 1953.80
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
Brooks Ghost 13 Lifetime Miles: 474.50
Triumph 18 Treadmill/outside Lifetime Miles: 232.00
Black Hoka Bondi Lifetime Miles: 53.00
Total Distance
186.50
Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 20.00Hoka Bondi Miles: 84.00Triumph 18 Treadmill/outside Miles: 46.00Brooks Ghost 13 Miles: 6.00Hoka Bondi 8 Treadmill/outside Miles: 30.50
Weight: 168.22
Total Distance
4.00

Easy run at a 9:16 pace.  A very light dusting of snow on the ground.  Getting a bit colder though at -12C/11F.

Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 4.00
Weight: 169.00
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Total Distance
6.00

Easy run in a brisk wind. 9:26 pace

Hoka Bondi Miles: 6.00
Weight: 171.00
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Total Distance
5.00

Freezing rain this morning, and the roads were really slick, so I took to the treadmill instead.  Two days in a row with no pain or tightness in the knee.  Hurray!  9:31 pace.

Triumph 18 Treadmill/outside Miles: 5.00
Weight: 169.50
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Total Distance
6.00

My headlamp went out at mile 2 (forgot to charge it), and so the next 2 miles were run in the dark.  The last 2 were in twilight, so not too bad.  Not much traffic yet, with school still out, so I managed.  We had a few centimeters of snow the other day, and the traffic packing it made it pretty slippery, so I had to watch.  9:09 pace.

Brooks Ghost 13 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 158.50
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Total Distance
14.00

Cold morning with a stiff wind.  -10C/14F, but the windchill made it -18C/0F.  A stoat ran across the road just in front of me at around mile 4 on Goodwill Drive.  Hips really tightened up on the last mile.  I'm really looking forward to a hot shower!  9:25 pace.

Hoka Bondi Miles: 14.00
Weight: 158.50
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Total Distance
8.00

Snow covered roads. Packed in places, and loose in others. Big storm coming tomorrow, so we may finally get our heavy snow. Registration for the Haliburton 100 Trail Ultra opened yesterday. Yes. I am registered. So 50 miles in May and 100 miles in September. 9:10 pace today. I had a massage first thing, so a late morning run.

Hoka Bondi Miles: 8.00
Weight: 170.50
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Total Distance
7.00

Got it done before the coming storm hit. Stiff East wind. 9:22 pace.

Hoka Bondi Miles: 7.00
Weight: 169.00
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Total Distance
5.00

We got hit pretty hard with our first major snow storm of the season.  It started yesterday early afternoon and is still going.  So, hit the treadmill today.  9:31 pace.

Triumph 18 Treadmill/outside Miles: 5.00
Weight: 169.50
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Total Distance
16.00

I have a funeral Mass tomorrow, so decided to run my 16 miler today.  That, plus another big storm will hit us tonight, and I didn't want to run 16 miles on the treadmill if it was avoidable.  I was up early anyway, and so was out the door at 5:30 this morning.

Cold.  It was -18C/0F and it snowed lightly the whole time.  I was dressed for it, but was still chilled by the end after being out there for 2 1/2 hours.  Every facial hair was covered with thick frost when I was done; my eyes were blocked by little icicles hanging from my lashes.  

The road was well packed and traffic was relatively light; I managed a pretty decent 9:10 pace.  

Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 16.00
Weight: 159.50
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Total Distance
5.00

Big storm outside; I ran inside.  5 treadmill miles at 9:22 pace.  Left shin a bit sore today; will have to work that out.

Triumph 18 Treadmill/outside Miles: 5.00
Weight: 170.00
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Total Distance
7.00

Cold morning, but bright once the sun rose. 9:03 pace. Ski trails opened yesterday, so I bought my season pass and skied 5K. Will go for another 10K today.

Hoka Bondi Miles: 7.00
Weight: 170.00
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Total Distance
7.00

Cold,and a touch windy early this morning. 9:19 pace. Skied 5K later in the morning.

Hoka Bondi Miles: 7.00
Weight: 170.00
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Total Distance
5.00

Going to be doing speedwork on the treadmill on Wednesdays from now on.  Today was 4 x 800 repeats @ 7:03 pace with 400 recoveries.

The good news is, no pain.  Shin cleared up, as did the knee, and no further hamstring issues.  The only lingering 'thing' is the numbness under my toes from the plank plate rupture, but my doctor told me that is just nerve damage.  I can live with that, if need be.

Triumph 18 Treadmill/outside Miles: 5.00
Weight: 170.00
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Total Distance
18.00

Long run on the treadmill early this morning.  9:31 pace throughout.  

At mile 12, a couple toes on my left foot were screaming at me.  Too much pressure, I think, from the orthotics.  So, I switched to the Hokas and didn't bother with the orthotics.  Instant relief.  

Triumph 18 Treadmill/outside Miles: 12.00Hoka Bondi 8 Treadmill/outside Miles: 6.00
Weight: 170.00
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Total Distance
6.50

Back to the treadmill; 9:31 pace.  It's warming up a bit next week, so am hoping to take it back outside.

Hoka Bondi 8 Treadmill/outside Miles: 6.50
Weight: 169.00
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Total Distance
10.00

Warmed up a bit, so took it outside. Roads in decent shape, with a bit of slushy snow in places. 9:06 pace for a 91 minute run.

Hoka Bondi Miles: 10.00
Weight: 172.00
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Total Distance
6.00

Easy 9:52 pace today. Stiff North wind.

Hoka Bondi Miles: 6.00
Weight: 171.00
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Total Distance
8.00

Speedwork on the treadmill.

5 x 800 repeats @ 7:03 pace with 400 recoveries.

Triumph 18 Treadmill/outside Miles: 8.00
Weight: 170.50
Add Comment
Total Distance
18.00

Back to the treadmill for this long run.  Even 9:31 pace.  Nothing hurting, so things look hopeful in that regard.  I think running 3 hours on the treadmill is good training for the mind more than anything.  You really have to push through that urge to stop.

Hoka Bondi 8 Treadmill/outside Miles: 18.00
Weight: 169.50
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Total Distance
6.00

Relaxed run at 9:30 pace. Warm weather means closed ski trails, but also bare roads. Just below the freezing mark this morning with no wind.

Hoka Bondi Miles: 6.00
Weight: 159.00
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Total Distance
8.00

Mileage cut back week. Hovering just below freezing and no wind.

9:07 pace.

Hoka Bondi Miles: 8.00
Weight: 170.50
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Total Distance
5.00

Easy run on a slush covered road. 9:05 pace.

Hoka Bondi Miles: 5.00
Weight: 171.00
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Total Distance
6.00

Speedwork Wednesdays on the treadmill.  2 miles Tempo pace 7:35.

Triumph 18 Treadmill/outside Miles: 6.00
Weight: 171.50
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Total Distance
186.50
Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 20.00Hoka Bondi Miles: 84.00Triumph 18 Treadmill/outside Miles: 46.00Brooks Ghost 13 Miles: 6.00Hoka Bondi 8 Treadmill/outside Miles: 30.50
Weight: 168.22
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