| 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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| Skechers GoRun4 Miles: 22.00 | Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 89.00 | Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 124.00 | Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 Miles: 15.00 | Saucony Kinvara 6 Miles: 11.00 |
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| | Hanson's Strength Workout today. 1.5 miles at 7:30 pace with 800 recoveries (x4). On the treadmill. Major snow storm blowing through ... schools are cancelled.
Felt strong and pain free throughout!
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| Skechers GoRun4 Miles: 11.00 |
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| | Nine miles at marathon (tempo) pace; 7:39. Same treadmill routine: 1 minute level, 2 minutes uphill, 1 minute level, 2 minutes downhill --- repeated 12 times. No problems - felt great.
AND, I did not get into the New York City Marathon through the lottery yesterday. Only 17% did, so the odds were not great, and I wasn't terribly disappointed. It falls only 4 weeks after my 1st Ultra, and so wasn't going to be more than a slow slog for me anyway.
So, other than Boston this Spring, I plan on only one other big race this year - The Run for the Toad Ultra at the end of September. Beyond that, probably just a few shorter events.
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| Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 12.00 |
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| | 10 recovery miles; 8:42 pace. Took it outside. Cold. -26C/-14F. With the windchill, it was -25F. Brrrrr.
12 weeks of training down - 6 weeks to go to Boston!
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 10.00 |
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| | Easy run; 8:39 pace with hill bursts/strides in miles 2, 3, 5 and 6.
Still really cold at -26C/-32F, but turning warmer (maybe rain) tomorrow.
My beard froze to my tube scarf that I had pulled up over my face. Ouch.
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| Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 7.00 |
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| | Easy run outside; 8:41 pace. Has warmed up to -4C/25F, so quite a change from the past few days.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 10.00 |
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| | 8 miles easy. Took it outside despite the freezing rain. My mistake. Glare ice. I kept going, hoping it would improve. It got worse. So, I finally turned around just shy of the 2 mile mark and finished the rest on my treadmill.
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| Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 4.00 | Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 Miles: 4.00 |
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| | Strength work on the treadmill. 3 x 2 mile intervals at 7:30 pace (15 minutes/interval) with 800 recoveries.
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| Skechers GoRun4 Miles: 11.00 |
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| | Tempo run on the treadmill; 8:39 pace. Same as last week: 1 minute level, 2 minutes uphill, 1 minute level, 2 minutes downhill - repeat 12x.
My hip was sore after Wednesday's run, but I think that goes back to Tuesday's run on the ice. After taking my regular day off yesterday, icing it all day, and even popping a couple of anti-inflamatories, it felt fine through today's run.
But the REAL news is, the Boston Marathon Corrals have been assigned! I'm #12927, wave 2, corral 5. NOW it seems real!
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| Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 12.00 |
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| | I took it outside today for my recovery run; 8:43 pace. Another cold one: -22C/-7F, with a windchill factor making it -29C/-20F. Right up there (down there?) with the coldest runs of the season. What doesn't kill you ...
So, 13 weeks of training done ... 5 weeks to go!
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Easy run; 8:34 pace, with strides/hill bursts thrown in at miles 2, 3, 5 and 6.
Another cold morning at -30C/-23F with the windchill factor. Incredible full moon though ... made the loss of one hour of sleep, because of the time change, worth it to run with that for company.
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| Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 7.00 |
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| | Long run - second last one. I took it outside, leaving right at 10:25, so I could mimic marathon day with my food and drink beforehand. Almost changed my mind and used the treadmill instead because it's still SO cold, but decided that, even bundled up, it was better to hit the road.
Average pace for the first 12 miles was 8:15. Then I kicked it up a notch for miles 13, 14 and 15 ... 7:22 7:19 and 7:01. Last mile was at 7:52, for an overall average pace of 8:03 and a run time of 2:08:44.
I felt strong throughout - even while running faster at the end. It was a bit complicated getting to my gels, chews and water bottles beneath my jacket while wearing heavy mitts, however, but I worked it out. I tried the Clif Gels for the 1st time, since that is what they give out on the Boston course. Man, are they thick! Like eating thick pudding.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 16.00 |
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| | Easy recovery run; 8:41 pace. Took it outside again. A little warmer at -21C/-5F. The trend is warming, and with the next 2 runs on the treadmill, today MAY have been the last really cold run. We'll see.
***RIP Ed Whitlock***
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| Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Strength work on the treadmill. That's 10 seconds/mile faster than MP.
3 miles @ 7:30 pace; one mile recovery; 3 more miles @ 7:30 pace.
Used a lot of uphills and some downhills. Felt strong throughout. Firing on all cylinders.
Right hip pain is still there. I know it's trochanteric bursitis, and that a cortisone shot will solve it quickly. However, my doctor is away all this week, and I'm successfully managing it with ice and ibuprofin. I don't actually feel it during any of my runs - just after they are done.
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| Saucony Kinvara 6 Miles: 11.00 |
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| | I took this Tempo Run outside - first time. I had really wanted to run a Tempo outside, as it's hard to practice pace control on the treadmill. Today seemed a reasonable time to try - the roads have been clear for a few days, and it's not quite as fridgid as it has been.
Well, still colder than I anticipated. It was -10C/13F, but it felt colder than usual, since I dressed lighter than usual. That, plus my gatoraide froze solid! I had all of 2 gulps during my warm up miles, and that was all she wrote. Froze the tip of my nose too. Ah well.
Despite all that, I was very happy with the run; I did go a bit faster than Tempo pace. I averaged 7:33 over nine miles. Tempo pace is supposed to be more like 7:39, so a little too fast. I was close for the 1st 3 miles, but I was dropping down to the 7:30 zone in the last 6 miles. Sure felt strong though - a good confidence booster at this point in my training.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 12.00 |
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| | Easy recovery run; 8:40 pace. Still warming up ... a balmy -5C/23F today.
14 weeks of training down ... just 4 to go.
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| Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 10.00 |
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| | Threw in hill bursts/strides in miles 2, 3, 5 and 6. Average pace: 8:24. Fairly mild: -7C/19F. Going to be a nice day once the sun comes up.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 7.00 |
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| | Easy run; 8:42 pace. Almost took it to the treadmill, as there was about an inch of fresh (wet) snow on the ground. But then thought better of it, and took it outside. Turned out to be okay - not slippery at all. Temperatures right around the freezing mark, or just below.
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| Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 10.00 |
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| | Easy run; 8:32 pace. All of yesterday's snow melted, so the roads were bare once again.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Strength workout on the treadmill (it's -25C/-13F with the windchill, so opted to stay inside).
3 x 2 miles @ 7:30 pace with 800 recoveries. All is good. Well, I have a bit of a cold that started on Sunday, but it's not slowing me down.
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| Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 Miles: 11.00 |
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| | 10 mile tempo run; 8:39 pace. I took it to the treadmill, as it snowed a fair bit overnight, with some freezing rain thrown in, and I didn't want to risk an injury.
So, same routine: 1 minute level, 2 minutes uphill, 1 minute level, 2 minutes downhill --- repeated 13 times.
My cold is no worse - maybe a bit better. My Trochanteric Bursitis is also no worse - and also maybe a bit better. Icing it every day. Opted to not get the cortisone shot, as it's not affecting my running. Getting a massage this afternoon.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 13.00 |
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| | Easy recovery run; 8:49 pace. Legs felt a little dead today. There was enough bare pavement showing to run outside, but it was cold at -11C/12F and a stiff North wind blowing at 21mph.
Almost forgot! 15 weeks of training down ... just 3 to go!
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| Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Easy run with hill burst/strides in miles 2, 3, 5 and 6; 8:43 average pace.
Gorgeous red sky/sunrise to the East and, at the same time, a stunning full horizon to horizon rainbow to the West. Lasted exactly the five minutes it took me to walk home for my cool down after the run. Perfect timing.
Perfect also, as the predicted freezing rain started the second I got home. The roads will be pretty icy today, so I'm glad I got the run in beforehand.
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| Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 7.00 |
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| | Well, the freezing rain that started right at the end of yesterday's run continued for more than 24 hours. I drove part of my route this morning to take a look - no way was I going to attempt running it. Even walking is dangerous. So, to the treadmill. 2 hours and 12 minutes worth. Ah well.
I made the most of it ... wore what I plan on wearing in Boston in 3 weeks, and made it into a good hill workout.
I ran it at a pace of 8:16. First 4 miles I ran downhill (4 degree decline), then 4 miles level, followed by 4 miles of uphill repeats: 1000m at 4 degrees incline, 600m at level, repeated 4 times for the 4 Newton Hills. Then finished the last 4 miles level, picking up the speed to 7:30 for almost 2 miles at the end.
Everything seems to be on track. Bring on Boston!
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 16.00 |
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| | Easy recovery run; 8:50 pace. It has warmed up to 1C/34F, so I was able to take it outside today.
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| Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | My 1st time taking the Wednesday workout outside. Felt good to do that.
Ran 4 repeats of 1.5 miles at 7:25 pace with 800 recoveries. I was pleased at the consistency of pace I was able to run those repeats. All is good ... just 3 more 'something of substance' workouts left before race day.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 11.00 |
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| | 10 mile tempo run; 7:33 pace. A bit faster than I was aiming for (7:37), but close enough. First 4 miles were into a stiff wind (15mph), and I compensated by pushing a bit harder.
Still, a good run, and I'm glad to have been able to take it outside. Yesterday, they were calling for snow beginning last night. Didn't happen - actually just started falling at about mile 8, so the roads were clear and dry for running.
Just one more strength and one more tempo workout next week; all the rest of my runs are easy.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 13.00 |
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| Skechers GoRun4 Miles: 22.00 | Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 89.00 | Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 124.00 | Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 Miles: 15.00 | Saucony Kinvara 6 Miles: 11.00 |
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