| 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 60'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 (10 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 (53 yrs) 10:37:27
Haliburton Forest 100 mile Trail September 7-8, 2019 26:46:27
Sulphur Springs 50 mile Trail May 25, 2024 (58 yrs) 9:21:26
Limberlost 35 Mile Trail July 6, 2024 (58 yrs) 8:12:57
Haliburton Forest 100 mile Trail September 7-8, 2024 DNF after 65 miles/16 hours
Pick Your Poison 50K Trail April 26, 2025 (59yrs) 6:29:53
Coach D's Backyard May 17-18. 2025 15 Laps - 100 km
Pacing my sister in her 1st Half Marathon. Short-Term Running Goals: Now that I'm 60, I'm going to run just for the fun of it this year. I have no races planned. I think I'm done with Ultras, but am open to running more Marathons at some point in the future. 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 32 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 15 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | On the treadmill; 9:50 pace.
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| Saucony Triumph 19 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 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 Miles: 9.00 |
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| | Even 9:50 pace on the treadmill.
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| Saucony Triumph 19 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 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Treadmill; 9:40 pace.
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| Saucony Triumph 19 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 Miles: 14.00 |
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| | Treadmill; 9:40 pace.
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| Saucony Triumph 19 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 Miles: 5.00 |
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| Saucony Triumph 19 Miles: 138.00 | Black Hoka Bondi Miles: 45.00 | Triumph 18 Miles: 18.00 |
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