| 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 (25 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 (5 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
Haliburton Forest 100 mile Trail September 7-8, 2019 26:46:27
Pacing my sister in her 1st Half Marathon. Short-Term Running Goals: After a broken right foot in 2022 in the later stages of a marathon training cycle, then adjusting to a 1/2" heal lift in my right shoe to compensate for a leg length discrepancy, and then a left plank plate rupture in the late summer of 2023, I had to decide: go fast or go long. I opted for long, for this year at least.
May 2024: Sulphur Springs 50 Mile Trail (revisiting it after 5 years)
July 2024: Limberlost 54KM Trail
September 2024: Haliburton 100 Mile Trail (also revisiting it after 5 years).
Everything this year is really focussed on the Haliburton 100 as my key event. After that, and depending on how things go, I'll reevaluate. 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 30 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 13 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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Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 74.00 | Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 48.00 | Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 59.10 |
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| | Goodwill Drive; 7:43 pace. I don't know why my legs were so zippy this morning. I didn't intend to run that fast, but sometimes the body does what the body wants to do.
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Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Skead Road; Very relaxed 10:05 pace.
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Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Skead Road; 8:07 pace. Fierce North wind at 24mph and a chilly -4C/26F.
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Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Goodwill Drive; 8:19 pace. I had to go back to wearing gloves and a touque. Yes, it is that cold. -5C/24F with a North wind.
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Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Skead Road; 8:45 pace. A lot warmer today. 3C/37F.
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Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Goodwill Drive; 8:16 pace. Snow on the ground. Why is there snow on the ground in May???
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Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Goodwill Drive; 8:26 pace.
It snowed again last night. 10 cm (4 inches) worth. Cold North wind blowing, making it feel like -10C/14F. Then, at mile 4, the snow started falling again. Not a nice day.
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Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | The highway was still pretty messy with snow, so I ran Goodwill Drive instead; 10:00/mile pace.
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Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 10.00 |
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| | Skead Road; 8:04 pace.
First half into the wind: 8:25 pace.
Second half wind aided: 7:45 pace.
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Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Goodwill Drive; 8:36 pace.
My Ninja blender died while making my post-run smoothie. A chunky smoothie does not taste good for some reason.
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Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Skead Road; 8:23 pace. The weather is turning - no more freezing at night, and the days will be getting progressively warmer. Finally!
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Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Radar Road; 8:43 pace. Misty rain and warmish, at 7C/45F.
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Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 12.00 |
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| | Goodwill Drive; 9:48 pace.
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Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Goodwill Drive; 8:24 pace. A blazing 9C/48F morning ... back to shorts and short sleeves.
Yesterday, I changed my truck tires from winter to summer. Then I tilled my garden and planted the potatoes. Exact date I planted them last year, which is funny, because it was snowing last week. Once the weather turns, everything wants to grow all at once. Of course, that means my allergies are in overdrive. It also means the biting insects have appeared. I got bit by both a blackfly and a mosquito.
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Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Goodwill Drive; 8:07 pace. The deciduous trees are just starting to leaf out. Nice view.
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Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Goodwill Drive; 8:00 pace. Gorgeous morning. Allergies are in overdrive - teary eyed the whole run.
Got my carrots and beets planted yesterday. A bit sore today from all the bending over. Beans, squash, tomatoes and corn will wait a bit longer for the soil to warm up.
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Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Goodwill Drive; 8:34 pace. Another gorgeous day ahead.
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Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Skead Road on a stunningly beautiful morning; 9:46/mile.
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Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 13.10 |
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| | Goodwill Drive; 8:43 pace.
Temperature hit 29C/85F yesterday, and today will do the same. But the mornings are cooler and perfect for running.
Going to get my corn planted today.
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Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Goodwill Drive; 8:31 pace.
Saw my first black bear of the season this morning. When I opened up my blinds, there it was, crossing the Church parking lot.
Not hot, at just 16C/60F, but 100% humidity, combined with my allergies, made it difficult to breathe.
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Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Skead Road; 8:49 pace.
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Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Goodwill Drive; 8:23 pace.
Even in the early morning, it was 26C/78F. Going to be another scorcher today.
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Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Goodwill Drive; 8:43 pace.
Record heat yesterday at 32C/89F. Today a storm is brewing and things have cooled down a bit.
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Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Goodwill Drive; 8:41 pace. Light rain and high (100%) humidity
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Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Skead Road; 8:38 pace.
Colder, and a light, misty rain, along with a stiff North wind. My hands were cold. And tipping the scales over 160 didn't help - I felt heavy. Gotta get back below 160.
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Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 8.00 |
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Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 74.00 | Brooks Ghost 11 Miles: 48.00 | Saucony ISO Triumph 4 Miles: 59.10 |
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