| 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
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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| Saucony Triumph 19 Treadmill Miles: 138.00 | Black Hoka Bondi Miles: 45.00 | Triumph 18 Miles: 18.00 |
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| | An afternoon run, because my morning was full. On the treadmill. I just figured it would be easier to monitor my legs. Plus a good way to listen to blogcasts.
Set the speed at 10:00/mile. That right calf was fine until around mile 5 when I could feel it tightening. I stopped to stretch it every so often and it didn't seem to get worse.
My back is still tight/sore, but not nearly as bad as the last few days have been. I think it's going to be fine by the weekend (hopefully).
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| Saucony Triumph 19 Treadmill Miles: 9.00 |
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| | The cold is back after a week or so of mild weather. -15C/5F with a wind chill of -24C/-11F.
Took it easy, but the right calf still tightened up on me - quite suddenly at mile 2.45; I had to stop a few times to stretch it out, and then cut my run short. I don't think I'm going to be able to do my long run tomorrow. I really need to figure this out.
The good news is my back/sciatic. At about 85% health now. At least there is that.
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| Black Hoka Bondi Miles: 5.00 |
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| | Almost didn't run, as that right calf is still very tight. Decided to go one mile at a time on the treadmill, and ended up with 12. Still tight, but it never really got worse, so I kept on going, with short walking breaks to stretch it out.
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| Saucony Triumph 19 Treadmill Miles: 12.00 |
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| | Kept it slow and under control, and walked the hills. 9:42 pace. Then went for a massage. She really worked that right calf. It is very knotted, but let go as she worked on it. It's just throbbing now. Hopefully, this torture session helps. I had to clench my fists all the way through it.
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| Black Hoka Bondi Miles: 7.00 |
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| | 9:27 pace. Still that uncomfortable pressure in the right calf, but I managed to run non-stop. |
| Black Hoka Bondi Miles: 5.00 |
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| | Even 10:00/mile pace on the treadmill. Was able to run throughout; maybe the calf is better - it sure felt like it may be.
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| Saucony Triumph 19 Treadmill Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Steady 10:00/mile pace on the treadmill, increasing to 9:40 for the last 2 miles.
Low back pain is still there, but doesn't affect my running. The right calf is still tight, but I would say less so. I'm optimistically hopeful that it is on the verge of releasing for good. Still stretching and rolling it daily.
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| Saucony Triumph 19 Treadmill Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Steady 10:00/mile pace on the treadmill. Able to run non-stop with very little tightness remaining in my right calf. Lower back pain nearly gone as well - I'm able to sleep through the night again, finally.
I'm not exactly where I should be in terms of my training, having lost 4 weeks or so, but I'm okay with 40 miles this week and see that as a base for going forward.
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| Saucony Triumph 19 Treadmill Miles: 14.00 |
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| | A road run today in a steadily falling snow. Lots of accumulation on the roads, and not a plow in sight. Took to running in the tire ruts when possible, but even they were messy. A bit of tightness in that right calf, but definitely better every day I run. An even 10:00/mile pace. |
| Black Hoka Bondi Miles: 8.00 |
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| | A bit faster today, now that the roads are plowed. 9:27 pace. |
| Black Hoka Bondi Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Speedwork on the treadmill; first time doing speedwork in 6 weeks, as that's when the right calf problems began. Even today, it's tighter than it has been, which makes me think it's the speedwork that is triggering it.
4 x 800 @ 7:30 pace with 800 recoveries.
Out x-country skiing for the 8th time yesterday. I only got out 5 times last season due to the lack of snow, so it has been much better this year.
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| Saucony Triumph 19 Treadmill Miles: 8.00 |
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| | On the treadmill; 9:50 pace.
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| Saucony Triumph 19 Treadmill Miles: 7.00 |
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| | Long run on the treadmill; 10:00/mile pace. Right calf mostly felt decent enough.
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| Saucony Triumph 19 Treadmill Miles: 16.00 |
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| | Coldest day of the year, so far. Just -29C/-20F. I dressed for it, but there is only so much you can do at those temperatures. I was chilled to the bone at the finish. The good news is I had no calf pain at all. Hopefully, I've turned the page on that injury. |
| Black Hoka Bondi Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Even colder than yesterday. But I added a few layers and did okay. 9:18 pace.
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| Black Hoka Bondi Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Speedwork on the treadmill.
5 x 800 @ 7:19 pace with 800 recoveries.
First time: NO tightness at all in the right calf. Hurray!!!
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| Saucony Triumph 19 Treadmill Miles: 9.00 |
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| | Even 9:50 pace on the treadmill.
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| Saucony Triumph 19 Treadmill Miles: 9.00 |
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| | Decided to take it outside today. 3 laps of my 6 mile Goodwill Drive route. 9:22 pace.
It has warmed up a bit, but still on the cold side at -14C/7F. It was pretty windy though, so it felt colder than that.
It snowed steadily throughout, at times quite heavy.
Heavy legs at the end, but no pain.
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| | Pretty intense wind out there in advance of a storm heading this way, so stuck to the treadmill this morning; 9:40 pace.
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| Saucony Triumph 19 Treadmill Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Treadmill; 9:40 pace.
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| Saucony Triumph 19 Treadmill Miles: 5.00 |
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| | This is turning out to be a rather hectic week, and so I'm switching my runs around. Today, I combined speedwork with what was supposed to be Saturday's longish run.
So, 4 x 800s @ 7:30 pace with 800 recoveries.
It's a cutback week, so I only need 40 miles on the week. I should be able to manage the extra 13 miles, but might do them tomorrow and Friday and take Saturday/Sunday off. We'll see.
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| Saucony Triumph 19 Treadmill Miles: 14.00 |
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| | Treadmill; 9:40 pace.
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| Saucony Triumph 19 Treadmill Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Easy 10:00/mile pace on the treadmill.
Will take the next 2 days off before I hike my mileage next week.
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| Saucony Triumph 19 Treadmill Miles: 5.00 |
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| Saucony Triumph 19 Treadmill Miles: 138.00 | Black Hoka Bondi Miles: 45.00 | Triumph 18 Miles: 18.00 |
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