| 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 ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 73.00 | Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 91.00 | Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 60.00 |
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| | Speedwork on Skead Road.
4 x 1200 with 400 recoveries.
First two intervals were 6:43 and 6:45. Then, I don't know what got into me. The next two were run at 6:30 and 6:20. Does Covid-19 boost your speed and energy? Maybe I got it! :)
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Radar Road; 8:48 pace. Just around the freezing mark, but glorious sunshine! Loved it.
Received notification on Wednesday that my 50 mile Sulphur Springs Ultra (May 23) has been postponed. No surprise there. No alternate date given, yet.
Aiming for a mega 24 mile run tomorrow.
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| Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 10.00 |
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| | So, yesterday I was ripping out huge pieces of 2 x 10 boards that were used for pouring the foundation of a house. I really did a number on my back. Excruciating pain last night. I slept okay, but I woke up not much better, so I wasn't sure how this run would go. So, instead of going out and back, I decided to do shorter segments, just in case. I didn't want to be 12 miles from home and unable to move.
However, once I started, I realized a bum back does not impact running. I struggled to put my shoes on, but didn't feel a thing while running. I ended up going out just over 6 miles before doubling back, and that only because I had no water with me.
I drank a bottle of gatoraid, filled a hand held with water, and headed out for the balance of the run.
So, Radar Road, Falconbridge (the town), and Goodwill Drive; pace was a fairly consistent 8:46.
Of note to myself: I ran 3 1/2 hours with only one bottle of gatoraid and a bit of water. And I had zero gastrointestinal issues.
SO nice to have the songbirds back!
Oh, and after running the first segment with temps around 4C/38F, I ditched the gloves and jacket and changed to a short sleeved shirt for the second half. Temps around 6C/43F. Cloudy, but no wind and I was plenty warm enough.
And sitting here typing this ... my back is still killing me!
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| Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 24.00 |
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| | Gorgeous morning! Radar Road; 8:39 pace.
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| Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 10.00 |
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| | Goodwill Drive; 8:07 pace.
Swept the Church parking lot for 3 hours yesterday in the afternoon sun, wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Loved it! Will finish that job today. Then we'll be back to more seasonal temperatures for the days leading up to Easter.
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| Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | 5 x 1200 repeats, with 400 recoveries.
Mile pace for splits were: 6:45 6:40 6:30 6:30 and 6:40
Cool out, with a light rain.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Radar Road; 8:42 pace. Cold and windy. -2C/29F with wind gusts of 30 mph. But it was mostly sunny.
So, yesterday I got the news: Sinster 7 is officially being postponed until the 4th weekend of August. That's 7 weeks after the original date. Immediately I cancelled my hotel and the priest replacing me in July, and I asked him if he was available to replace me in August. I just got his reply; he is.
So, I am leaning towards going in August. I'll think about it over Easter weekend. If I do, I'll go back 7 weeks in my training schedule and repeat that portion. I'm just glad I got the news before I had knocked off some really long runs.
So, this being a priest stuff these days is really weird. It's one thing to celebrate Mass every day alone, but quite another to be alone for Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter weekend. Strange times.
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| Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 14.00 |
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| | Radar Road; 10:06 pace. Just a leisurely pace on this gorgeous morning. Full sun. Right around the freezing mark. Little to no wind.
On the race 2020 front, the following news:
I'll run the Sinister 7 100 ultra on the new date (August 22-23). It's 7 weeks further on than the original date, so I've re-written my training schedule to repeat the last 7 weeks of training, beginning Monday. I've booked a hotel and a replacement priest for that weekend.
The new date for the Sulphur Springs 50 miler is only 5 weeks after Sinister 7; I'll be in no shape to run it then. So, I've accepted their option of moving my race to the 2021 version, which is May 29, 2021. That is just 5 1/2 weeks after the Boston Marathon, but I won't be as worn down after a marathon as after a 100 mile Ultra.
I'll run whatever other shorter events are available, as I'm able. But at this point, my primary focus will remain the S7 in August. It's highly unlikely I'll be able to run a fast Half this Fall to qualify for the New York 2021 event, so will likely push that plan back a year.
All of that is my plan as of today. Stay tuned for more laughter from God.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 12.00 |
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| | Skead Road; 8:43 pace. Misty rainy.
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| Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Goodwill Drive; a zippy 8:07 pace. Legs just wanted to go.
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| Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Speedwork on Skead Road. 5 x 800 with 800 recoveries.
Miles paces were: 6:40 6:44 6:35 6:32 and 6:33.
An inch of snow fell last night, so it was icy in places.
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| Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Radar Road; 8:46 pace. Sunny and cool. -5C/23F to start, and 2C/35F at the finish.
So, the 100 mile solo field for Sinister 7 is down from 250 runners to 175. That's 75 less options for Grizzly bears to choose from. Not good.
The other unfortunate part of the date change is light. In early July, there would have been 7 hours of darkness, with 4 hours of that total darkness. But there would have been a full moon, so lots of natural illumination.
Now, in late August, there will be 10 hours of darkness, with 8 hours of total darkness and only a 1/8 moon, which will set at 10:42pm.
Gotta say it: that all sucks!
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| Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 18.00 |
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| | Easy run on Radar Road. Beautiful sunshine, but still on the cold side at 1C/34F.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 12.00 |
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| | Radar Road; 8:39 pace.
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| Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 10.00 |
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| | Goodwill Drive; 8:17 pace. Snow. Cold. Windy.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Speedwork on Skead Road. 6 x 800 with 800 recoveries. Splits were between 3:10 and 3:20.
Hopefully, today is the last really cold day. Sunny, but just -8C/18 degrees with a strong North wind making it feel like 5 degrees.
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| Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Radar Road; averaged an 8:48 pace.
Started off at 1C/33 degrees. By the time I finished 3 hours later, it was 5C/41 degrees. Sunny the whole time and not much wind. At mile 7 I ditched my running jacket and gloves; first time running in short sleeves. Nice.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 20.00 |
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| | Radar Road; 10:02 pace.
Received notice yesterday that the Sinister 7 Ultra has been cancelled, since the government of Alberta has banned all large gatherings/events through the summer.
I am SO grateful that I ran the A1A in January. I never thought then that it would be my only race this year.
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| Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 10.00 |
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| | Skead Road; 8:56 pace.
Had lead in my legs for some reason. Was a real slog.
Not sure what I'll do re: training schedule. This week was a cut back week anyway, so I'll follow the plan for now. But I don't think I'll run those progressively longer back to backs going forward. Makes no sense to wear down my body if there is no Ultra on the horizon.
I will likely go into maintenance mode at around 40 miles/week until I get a clearer picture of how things might go in the Fall.
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| Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Goodwill Drive; 8:40 pace.
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| Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 5.00 |
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| | Skead Road; 8:15 pace. I think I'll start running on Thursdays, going to 6 days/week. I'll continue taking Sunday off.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 7.00 |
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| | Goodwill Drive; 8:15 pace. Steady rain. Cold. A hot shower never felt so good.
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| Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00 |
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 73.00 | Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 91.00 | Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 60.00 |
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