| 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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| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 66.00 | Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 50.00 | Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 23.00 | Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 34.00 |
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| | X-country ski 10k this afternoon. First time out since late January - it was just WAY too cold in February. It's starting to warm up a bit now.
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| | 5 easy treadmill miles; 8:33 pace. It's great to be back running, rather than being stuck on the spin bike.
The hamstring feels okay, but I'm paying close attention to it. I'm continuing to ice it, and stretch it out daily. Once I"m sure it's okay, I'll do some strength work on them.
Interestingly, it was the arthritis in my left hip that was the issue today. It really hurt while skiing yesterday - I guess that movement is worse for it. However, I've been running through that pain for a long time, and will take that over hamstring issues any day. At least I know I can run through arthritis pain.
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| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 5.00 |
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| | 5 treadmill miles at an 8:34 pace.
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| Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 5.00 |
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| | Tempo run. Was scheduled for 5 miles at a 7:14 pace. After 2 miles of holding that, I slowed down because I felt tightness (not pain) in that right hamstring and I didn't want to take a chance of hurting it again. So, I ran 2 miles at 8:30 and another one at 8:00. Decided to leave it at that for today. 7 miles total.
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| Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 7.00 |
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| | 5 treadmill miles at an 8:34 pace.
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| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 5.00 |
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| | 5 easy treadmill miles; 8:34 pace. Long run tomorrow - so far, so good with the hamstring.
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| Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 5.00 |
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| | 14 treadmill miles. Was supposed to run it in exactly 2 hours; I took 2:12:50.
Started off with the Hokas, and had right hamstring tightness - not quite pain - immediately. It started leaning towards pain by the end of mile 1, and I decided to test a theory and see if it was the shoes. So, I switched to my Glycerins. That didn't change much, and so I slowed down dramatically. I figured it would be better to get the time in on my feet at a slower pace than to not run at all.
Well, running at 10 minute/mile pace seemed to do it. The tightness slowly subsided, and I finished the 1st 9 miles in 90 minutes. So, going back to test my shoe theory, I switched back to the Hokas and picked up the pace, finishing at an 8 minute/mile for the last 2 miles. The pain was gone, and so was most of the tightness at the end.
So, I'm pretty sure it's not a shoe issue anyway. I'm glad I decided to run through it. I have a massage booked for Monday, and so will get her to work a lot on my hips/glutes/hammies.
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| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 8.00 | Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 6.00 |
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| | 15 km x-country ski today. It was just WAY too nice to not go. I took my time initially, but picked up the pace as I went. I had no real hip pain, and no issues with the hamstring. A beautiful, sunny day - gorgeous for skiing.
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| | 6 easy treadmill miles; running time of 51:50.
That right hamstring was tight - almost sore - throughout. I'll see what happens today with the massage, but I'm pretty sure my best move will be to give up the speedwork entirely in this training cycle - and the idea of a PR in the Traverse City Half. If I run everything easy, I'm hoping the hamstring strain will heal.
My big question is Chicago. Lottery entry opens up today. (edit: it opens tomorrow) I'm wondering, though, if I should even attempt to run a fall marathon, since my real focus is Boston in just over a year. I'm thinking now I may skip the fall marathon and make sure I'm completely healed in advance of next winter's training.
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| Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | 5 easy miles on the treadmill. Running time of 43:03.
Massage helped a lot yesterday. Hips were out, and the right hamstring was rock hard. She recommended an osteopath to me, to help align my hips. I'll think about that. For now, I'm going to eliminate speedwork until the issue is resolved.
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| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 5.00 |
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| | 7 treadmill miles. Was scheduled for speedwork, but didn't want to push it and risk hurting my hamstring more. So, decided to just pick up the pace a bit, and ran 2 of the miles at tempo pace. Running time of 55 minutes. Everything seemed to hold up okay.
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| Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 7.00 |
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| | 5 treadmill miles at an easy pace; 43 minutes running time.
No obvious lingering effects from yesterday's faster run in terms of the hamstring. It was a little tight to start, but felt better as I went.
Also decided last night to enter my name in the Chicago Marathon lottery. So, I'll see in 6 weeks if my name is drawn.
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| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 5.00 |
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| | Same as yesterday - 5 easy treadmill miles; running time of just under 43 minutes.
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| Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 5.00 |
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| | 14 treadmill miles for a running time of 1:57:18.
I ran a steady 8:34 for the first 10.5 miles, and then increased the speed every quarter mile to finish at a 7 minute mile pace. Although the hamstring was noticeable throughout most of the run, it was never too tight, was not painful, and did not get any worse as I ran. We'll see what it does over the course of the day - icing it right now.
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| Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 14.00 |
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| | Went skiing after Mass. Beautiful day! Was just above zero (low 30's F), and sunny. I skied in just a t-shirt. The only problem was the snow was like mashed potatoes, and so hard to slog through. Still, very enjoyable, and the first real sun on my skin since last October. Did the 10k trail.
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| | Seven miles - OUTSIDE! First time on the road since my marathon last November. What a great feeling!
I'm off this week, and so was able to start a bit later than usual - after the sun came up. I drove my route first to see what shape it was in, and figured it was doable. There was really only one MONSTER puddle (lake) to avoid, and I did manage to do that.
I was scheduled for 6 miles easy, but decided to lengthen all my runs a bit since I'll likely not be able to run on Friday (travelling). My easy run was supposed to be at an 8:33 pace, but I ended up running it at an average pace of 7:58. I really picked it up the last couple of miles, but I never felt like I was pushing it too hard, and my hamstring was not a significant issue (felt a little tight was all).
So, I'm quite happy with the way it all went. Temperature wise, it was nice - minus 1C or 31F with very little wind. Now, there is still uncertain weather ahead, and so I may still hit the treadmill some more, but at least I've begun the transition to the roads, which is great.
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| Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 7.00 |
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| | Back on the treadmill today; I'm travelling, and wanted to get an early start and didn't want to run in the dark during the heavy traffic period. Plus I wanted to see how everything was feeling after my run outside yesterday. Good news - no unusual soreness anywhere.
I'll be away for a few days, and will post my runs when I get home.
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| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 7.00 |
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| | 9 miles on the treadmill at the hotel in Toronto. After my warm up, I ran 4 x 1600 at speed. No issues at all with my hamstring, so I was on a high after that.
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| Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 9.00 |
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| | 7 miles outside in Grimsby. A little cold (just below freezing at -5 C or 23 F), but not too bad. I took it nice and easy after yesterday's speedwork. Tomorrow I'm on the road all day, so will take it off.
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| Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 7.00 |
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| | 14 miles on the treadmill; running time of 1:56:30. I picked up the pace for the last 3 miles. My right hamstring was a total non-issue. Funny though, my left hamstring is a little tight. Will do lots of foam rolling later; I have a funeral to conduct this morning.
It snowed a lot last night, and it's only 15F with a wind chill making it feel like -2F. That's why I ran the treadmill. Spring is here, but nobody bothered to tell mother nature it seems.
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| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 14.00 |
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| | 6 treadmill miles. Easy pace. WAY too cold out today for running outside. Running time of 50:47.
I was going to ski yesterday, only to find out that the trails are closed for the season. I guess that's a good sign.
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| Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | 6 easy miles on the treadmill; running time of 50:47.
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| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 6.00 |
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| | 6 easy treadmill miles. Same pace for all this week. Gave a blood donation yesterday, and it showed today ... higher pulse rate after the run and tired legs.
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| Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | 5 easy treadmill miles.
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| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 5.00 |
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| | Again, 5 easy treadmill miles. The great news is - no aches or pains anywhere. Hurray!
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| Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 5.00 |
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| | 6 easy treadmill miles; running time of 50:47. A good week overall, with no nagging aches or pains. Ready to ramp it up next week.
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| Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | 6 easy treadmill miles; 8:27 pace. Another major snowfall last night - no end in sight, it seems.
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| Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | 6 easy treadmill miles; 8:27 pace.
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| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 6.00 |
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| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 66.00 | Brooks Ghost 5 Miles: 50.00 | Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 23.00 | Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 34.00 |
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