| 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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| Brooks Ghost 6 Green Miles: 68.00 | Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 90.00 | Brooks Glycerin 12 Miles: 78.00 | Mizuno Wave Sayonara Miles: 13.00 |
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| | Tempo (race pace) run this morning. Finished with an average pace of 7:40/mile; a bit faster than I wanted, but I'll take it.
Incredibly humid. 99% with a heavy fog. Just 19C/65F, but that humidity made this cold weather runner have to push it a bit. I was drenched by the end.
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| Brooks Ghost 6 Green Miles: 12.00 |
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| | 7 easy miles; 8:52/mile pace.
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| Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 7.00 |
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| | 8 easy miles; 9:00/mile pace.
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| Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 8.00 |
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| | 16 mile long run today. Aimed for an average pace of 8:25/mile. Pretty much nailed it at 8:24/mile for the 1st 13 miles, then pushed it for the final three miles and ran those at:
7:09 6:55 and 6:50.
Went with just water, GU and chews today, to imitate what I plan on doing during the Chicago Marathon. All systems seem to be a go. I've never gone this deep into a training program without any injuries or aches and pains that required ibuprofin.
13 weeks down; five to go.
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| Brooks Glycerin 12 Miles: 16.00 |
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| | 6 easy recovery miles; 9:10/mile pace. Legs a bit heavy today after yesterday's long run, but no aches or pains.
It's 19C/67F with 97% humidity, and I felt it. Sure hope it's a cool race day in Chicago!
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| Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 6.00 |
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| | 'Strength' workout this morning - 2 x 3 miles with a 1 mile recovery between.
A bit faster than I was supposed to go. Splits were 7:29 7:23 and 7:28 for the 1st set, and for the second set were 7:31 7:23 and 7:19.
Had a black bear cross the road in front of me at the half mile mark.
And it was HOT (for me, at least). Probably the hottest run I've had all year. It was 22C/71F with 95% humidity, making it feel like 29C/85F.
It started to rain pretty hard during my 1st set, let up a bit during my recovery run, and then opened up again for my second set. So, I was drenched when I got home. Had to dodge big puddles along the way.
However, all that being said, I felt strong throughout and am happy with today's work out.
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| Brooks Glycerin 12 Miles: 11.00 |
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| | Tempo pace run today. Nine miles at 'race pace', plus warm up and cool down. Goal was an average 7:45/mile pace, and I nailed it. Very happy. Saw a skunk at mile 2 on the road in front of me - gave it a very wide berth!
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| Brooks Ghost 6 Green Miles: 12.00 |
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| | 6 easy miles at an average 8:55/mile pace. Starting to cool down now - just 13C/55F - but perfect for running. Gorgeous sunrise this morning.
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| Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 6.00 |
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| | 10 easy miles; 8:53/mile pace. No bears or skunks today, but I got chased by a dog. Had to use a rock to get rid of it. Starting to run with a light now, as it's quite dark out when I start off.
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| Brooks Ghost 6 Green Miles: 10.00 |
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| | 10 easy miles; 9:05 pace. First frost - was 4C/40F. Wore long sleeves and running pants for the 1st time this season, along with gloves. But it felt great running. End of week 14; 4 weeks to race day.
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| Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 10.00 |
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| | 8 easy miles to start what will be the longest week of my training cycle. 8:48/mile pace. Not quite a chilly as yesterday - 7C/45F with no wind - perfect for running.
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| Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Strength workout today: 3 x 2 miles at around 7:30/mile pace with 800 recovery.
Ran the mile splits at 7:28 7:27 7:25 7:24 7:27 7:24
It felt awesome - at no point did I feel like I had to push it. In fact, I kept having to slow myself down to keep on pace. Especially at the end of my second split, I felt really in the groove - like I was floating over the ground. A great workout.
Cool morning at 8C/46F, but no wind. And I started off a little later than usual, so the sun was just up and it was a bright, clear morning.
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| Brooks Ghost 6 Green Miles: 11.00 |
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| | 10 miles at Tempo Pace: 7:44/mile. All is good. Managed to keep the pace pretty even throughout the 10 miles.
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| Brooks Glycerin 12 Miles: 13.00 |
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| | 7 easy recover miles; 8:56/mile pace.
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| Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 7.00 |
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| | 8 easy miles; 8:51/mile pace.
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| Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 8.00 |
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| | A rain day, with some wind gusts to make it a bit more of a challenge. 15C/58F with 99% humidity and kind of yucky, but I haven't had many rain runs this year, and I didn't mind this one too much.
I kept an average pace of 8:23 over the 1st 13 miles, and then picked it up for the final three and ran those at 7:25 7:14 and 6:46. I was pretty much soaked through by the end, but happy - everything seems to be clicking just right.
This was my longest mileage week. 15 weeks of training down, with 3 to go until Chicago.
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| Brooks Glycerin 12 Miles: 16.00 |
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| | 6 easy miles; 9:05/mile pace.
Passed a black bear again along that wooded stretch. It was 30 feet away in a creek with its head down - maybe drinking - and didn't notice me until I passed it. Ran the other way (both of us).
It was only 6C/42F, but no wind and 99% humidity with a misty fog, and so it didn't feel that cold.
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| Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Strength workout today; 4 x 1.5 mile splits. I ran each of those splits at an average 7:27/mile. I was actually pleased to hit them all bang on, even though I had to deliberately slow down at the end of my final split to hit it.
Heavy fog this morning. Since it's my day off, I waited until the sun came up before running in order to avoid running in the dark with crazy commuters. Note to self: the commuters in daylight are just as crazy!
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| Brooks Glycerin 12 Miles: 11.00 |
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| | Ten miles at Tempo Pace - 7:42/mile average. I was able to keep it there steady throughout. This was my second last "something of substance" run before Chicago. All systems are go! I'm feeling a bit of the cumulative fatigue, but nothing serious and no sign of injury.
On Monday, I submitted my registration for Boston and my qualifying time was verified. I learned later that day that registrations are up 15% this year - and that only 5,000 spots remained for those of us mere mortals who exceeded our qualifying time by 5 minutes or less. So, I'm on pins and needles for a week or so as I wait to see if beating my BQ time by 1:52 was enough to get me in.
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| Brooks Ghost 6 Green Miles: 13.00 |
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| | 6 easy miles at a 9:00/mile pace.
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| Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 6.00 |
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| | 10 easy miles at an average 8:53/mile pace.
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| Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 10.00 |
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| | 10 easy miles; 8:45/mile pace. This felt easy. No pains or aches of any sort. Nice. 16 weeks down ... 2 weeks to Chicago!
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| Brooks Ghost 6 Green Miles: 10.00 |
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| | 8 easy miles; 8:56/mile pace.
10C/50F with a bit of fog, but no wind. A gorgeous moon set around 5:30.
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| Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 8.00 |
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| | 6 x 1 mile with 400 recoveries. Ran all six 1 mile splits at 7:26. One more tempo run on Wednesday - everything else is easy.
Watched the gorgeous moon rise as I rode my bike back from my sisters camp last night - was riding due East, so had a perfect view the whole time. Too bad the clouds rolled in before the total eclipse - I got to see just a quarter bite taken out of the moon before then.
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| Brooks Glycerin 12 Miles: 11.00 |
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| | 10 miles at Tempo Pace: 7:41/mile. This was my last 'SOS' workout - taper begins now and runs will all be easy paced for the next 10 days. My best training cycle ever - no injuries of any sort. Bring on Chicago!
Unfortunately, received my rejection letter from Boston today - missed the cut off by 36 seconds. I sure didn't anticipate that a year ago, but I was ready for it the last 2 weeks when so many people applied for Boston. I know I ran a good race in Hamilton last Fall, and so have nothing to be ashamed of. And I plan on leaving no doubt in Chicago as to beating whatever cut off is set for 2017 in Boston.
The good news is: I don't have to change the name of my Blog for another year!
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| Mizuno Wave Sayonara Miles: 13.00 |
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| | Comments(1) |
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| Brooks Ghost 6 Green Miles: 68.00 | Hoka - Rapa Tarmac Miles: 90.00 | Brooks Glycerin 12 Miles: 78.00 | Mizuno Wave Sayonara Miles: 13.00 |
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