Going Long (again) in 2024

Friendly Massey Marathon

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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

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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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to Ukraine's Armed Forces
Miles:This week: 28.00 Month: 189.50 Year: 588.50
Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 Lifetime Miles: 412.40
Brooks Cascadia 11 Lifetime Miles: 302.00
Salomon Speedcross 4 Lifetime Miles: 160.25
Brooks Launch 8 Lifetime Miles: 153.00
Asics Metaspeed Sky Lifetime Miles: 32.20
Brooks Ghost 13 Lifetime Miles: 358.50
Saucony Triumph 18 Lifetime Miles: 372.50
Ghost 13 Blue Sole Lifetime Miles: 363.00
Hoka Bondi Lifetime Miles: 386.00
Triumph 18 Treadmill Lifetime Miles: 120.50
Hoka Bondi 8 Treadmill Lifetime Miles: 102.50
Race: Friendly Massey Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:56:25, Place overall: 19, Place in age division: 4
Total Distance
26.32

It's like I've come full circle.  This was the first Marathon I ever ran.  In fact, it's the first race I ever ran at any distance - exactly 21 years ago in 1998.  Four years ago, this was the race where I paced my sister on her first Half.  Today, it was the first Marathon for a friend - Curtis Arcand.  I had to run about this distance today anyway as part of my training, and his goal was to beat 4 hours in the Marathon - basically my training pace - so the stars lined up for this one.

I ran it in 1998 in 4:00:30.  I was incredibly inexperienced, trained very poorly, and ended up with a terrible case of runner's trots that swore me off running ever again.  Today felt a lot better.

The temperatures were identical to those 21 years ago:  15C/60F at the 6am start, and 21C/70F at the finish.  Clear and sunny the whole way, with a gentle breeze and tolerable humidity.

There's not much to report.  Curtis ran a good race.  We averaged a pace of 8:59/mile to give him a finish time 3 1/2 minutes under 4 hours.  It's a fairly flat course - total elevation gain was just 890 feet.  It's a double loop course, and we ran the second half about 30 seconds faster than the first half.  Pretty even splits.  He felt strong right up to about mile 22, but toughed out the rough ones at the end and only faded slightly in mile 26.  He did great.  Actually won his age division.

My results, on the other hand, inexplicably show a DNF on the timing website.  This is the second race in a row where this has happened.  The Ultra I could understand - all the equipment was caked in mud.  But today?  The only thing I can think of is I thought I heard a "beep" when I passed by the finishing mat on my second loop.  I mean, I was on the official course, but maybe it picked me up.  I e-mailed them to complain.  I know it's not important, but it's still a matter of pride that I have not DNF'd in a race - yet.

 

Nike Zoom Vomero 13 Miles: 26.32
Weight: 160.50
Comments
From Nora Jo on Sun, Jul 21, 2019 at 15:17:28 from 73.102.192.105

That is so bizarre that the DNF status has happened to you twice in a row. A marathon is a lot of work to not get your participation recorded and recognized.

Nice job pacing your friend! I need a pacer like you!

From Tom K on Mon, Jul 22, 2019 at 08:43:56 from 47.206.60.114

Man that stinks about the DNF! You're like a DNF magnet. Ooh, Or maybe something in your metabolism emits a force field that throws off the timing mats, rendering them USELESS! "The Anti-matter!" "The Busted Bib." Did I just come up with the worst Avenger \ X-men Character ever? I think I did.

Now that we're past your super powers, That is some great pacing work! I know you really enjoy the pacing, and helping others achieve their goals. Great Job!

From Michael on Mon, Jul 22, 2019 at 12:53:22 from 24.235.56.63

Thanks Nora Jo and Tom. It was fun to help someone reach their goal. And they fixed my official results, so all is good.

I'd love to pace you some day Nora Jo. Don't rule it out! :)

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