| 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 2 Miles: 119.50 | Brooks Glycerin 14 Miles: 27.00 | Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 69.00 | Saucony ISO Triumph 3 Miles: 33.00 | Brooks Cascadia 11 Miles: 17.50 |
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| | Radar Road Route; 8:38 pace.
Afternoon run again, but not as hot as yesterday ... 22C/72F. The extra challenge today was smoke from the forest fires near the French River, about 100 miles south of here. There was a heavy haze and a strong smell of smoke.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 12.50 |
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| | Radar Road Route; 8:44 pace.
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| Brooks Glycerin 14 Miles: 12.00 |
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| | Radar Road Route; 8:54 pace. Managed to finish early enough to beat the heat. Was sitting around 23C/73F in the morning during the run.
Race day is 6 weeks away. I was thinking, when I woke up groggy this morning after 6 1/2 hours of sleep, that on race day, there would be no sleep at all and I would still have a few hours of running to do from that point until 8am. I think that will be the significant challenge for me. The only real advise I've received is: make coffee your friend! :)
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 15.00 |
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| | Radar Road Route; 8:49 pace.
Just 21C/70F, but 97% humidity, so it was like running in a wet blanket.
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| Brooks Glycerin 14 Miles: 15.00 |
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| | Radar Road Route; 8:51 pace. I had a deep tissue massage this morning, so ran over the lunch hour. Achilles tendons on both legs are a little tight, so I'll monitor those. The right hamstring too - just enough to be noticeable. I'm at peak mileage these weeks, so I'm not too surprised.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 10.00 |
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| | Radar Road Route; 8:50 pace. Heavy fog. An easy running temp of 16C/61F, but 98% humidity, so I was soaked through by the end.
Heading to Toronto in a few minutes; taking my dad to a ballgame for his birthday.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 11.00 |
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| | Radar Road Route; 8:39 pace.
Tomorrow, I'm running the "Sudbury Camino". It's the second year for it - last year I didn't do it, because my training run was a lot longer than the distance they put together.
It's modelled on the Camino Trail in Europe. Participants will be able to park at Moonlight Beach - not far from here - and will be bused to a point about 17 miles out at Fielding Park. From there, we hike back to our cars at the Beach, collecting stamps at waypoints along the way in a passport book.
It's along the TransCanada Trail - Sudbury portion. A little more than 17 miles is this year's distance. So, I'm going to run it tomorrow to bring me up to about 70 miles on the week.
Just a fun way to get in a longer run.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 3 Miles: 17.00 |
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| | I finished the Sudbury "Camino" Hike (run) just as it began to rain hard. Just under 3 hours at a 9:52 pace. I had forgotten how much harder trail running can be, and especially when the trails are WAY up and WAY down steep rock. Ah well - a nice change for the final run of my long week.
I only got my passport stamped at the first way point, as the volunteers had not yet arrived at the others. So, I just took selfies to prove I was there and kept on going.
EDIT: I just drove down to the finish line (not too far from here) to show my passport and selfies. So, they gave me my medal: "Sudbury Camino. 28 K in One Day". A nice tumbler and a few other gifts as well. Not too often you get a medal for a simple training run. :)
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| Brooks Cascadia 11 Miles: 17.50 |
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| | Radar Road Route; 8:41 pace. Took a mile or two to shake out the heavy legs, but it got better as I went.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 10.00 |
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| | Goodwill Road Route; 8:53 pace.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Radar Road Route; 8:05 pace.
This was a weird run - I had a pep in my step like I've not had in a long while, for some reason.
I hit the 5 mile mark at a slighter faster than normal 8:34 pace, but was reining it in, as my legs wanted to go faster. Then my next 2 miles were just below 8:00 pace, the next 2 at just around 7:30 pace, and my last mile was 7:11. I don't know what got into me.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 10.00 |
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| | Radar Road Route; 8:18 pace.
Today I crossed paths with another runner for the first time on this route. I've never seen her before. She was running with the traffic, so we had to pass on the narrow shoulder. We did that at mile 4, and then I guess we both turned around after about another mile, as I passed her again at the same point going the other way.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 10.00 |
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| | Radar Road Route; 8:24 pace.
I'm 4 weeks out from my race. I think I'll aim for one more 70 mile week next week, and then begin my taper.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 16.00 |
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| | Radar Road Route; 8:30 pace. Feeling it at the end.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 16.00 |
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| | Radar Road Route; 8:49 pace.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 11.00 |
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| | Skead Road Route; 8:11 pace.
Actually, first half was 8:35, and the return half (wind aided) was 7:47.
Much cooler today than the summer has been. 12C/53F with a north wind and a bit of rain. Nice for running, actually. Hopefully, London will be close to that on race day.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Radar Road Route; 8:32 pace. I fell. Around mile 5.6. Not sure what happened; I think my right foot caught the edge of the pavement and I went down hard. I was surprised I had no road rash. The palms of my hands and my right elbow took the brunt of it. Bees in the hands for the next 3 miles, but no harm done.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 10.00 |
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| | Radar Road Route with Cote/Notre Dame extension; 9:08 pace.
This went much better than my 25 miler 3 months ago when I went out too fast. This time, I kept a slow and even pace, and was able to pick it up a bit at the end.
Nice running day: 17-20C/62-69F, with a light wind and even a misting of rain at mile 19.
My 24 hour Ultra is 3 weeks away. Time to start tapering.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 25.00 |
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| | Radar Road Route; 8:34 pace.
Rained hard for about 15 minutes, starting around mile 1. Ah well - we need the rain.
I met with my crew (a crew of 1) yesterday to discuss some strategies for the 24 race. My strategy for her - don't let me stop, no matter what! It's getting real now.
I'm on my way to Laurentian Lodge for our annual priest's retreat. Yes, the same place I vacationed with my family last month. It's the only venue in the area that can accommodate everyone. A bonus that it's so beautiful. I'm guessing the deer flies won't be an issue any more.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 12.00 |
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| | I was going to call this route the Little White River Route, but one stupid deer fly attacked me right at the end. So it remains the Deer Fly Route. 8:47 pace. First half in the dark. All the sounds of the wilderness get louder in the dark, it seems. |
| Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Deer Fly Route; 8:45 pace. Misty rain and a large swarm of deer flies trailed me once the sun came out. |
| Saucony ISO Triumph 3 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Final run on the Deer Fly Route, as I'm going home later today. Wings on my feet for this run; 8:11 pace. Cool. Almost needed gloves. |
| Saucony ISO Triumph 3 Miles: 8.00 |
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 119.50 | Brooks Glycerin 14 Miles: 27.00 | Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 69.00 | Saucony ISO Triumph 3 Miles: 33.00 | Brooks Cascadia 11 Miles: 17.50 |
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