| 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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Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 81.00 | Ghost 13 Blue Sole Miles: 7.50 | Brooks Ghost 13 Miles: 54.00 | Asics Metaspeed Sky Miles: 13.10 |
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| | Morning run in a heavy fog. 8:32 pace.
So, I signed up for 3 races. An out of town Half at the end of this month, a local trail Half end of October, and a local Santa Shuffle 5K in December.
I don't plan on training specifically for them, or running them hard. I just want to get back into it. They are all on a Saturday, which is rare for races around here. So, no need to book time off.
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Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Easy 6 miles @ 8:44 pace.
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Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Even 8:43 pace. Gonna be a hot couple of days. High humidity to boot. Going out in my kayak later today. |
Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 9.00 |
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| | 100 percent humidity and quickly getting hot. Even 8:50 pace. |
Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 7.50 |
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| | Heat wave is over. A more seasonal 10C/50F this morning, with a steady North wind. A steady 8:43 pace.
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Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 6.50 |
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| | Not sure what pace to run my Half at the end of the month. Was thinking of aiming for around 1:38, give or take. So, decided to run some race pace today, to see how it felt.
After a 2 mile warm up, I ran mile 3 @ 7:28. That felt too fast, so I ran 1 mile easy, and then mile 5 @ 7:38. That seems more doable. I ran another easy mile, and then the final 1.5 @ 7:50, which felt quite easy. Overall average was 8:09 pace. I'll try this again next week.
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Ghost 13 Blue Sole Miles: 7.50 |
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| | Even paced 8:34 run in the cool of the morning. Light fog.
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Brooks Ghost 13 Miles: 10.00 |
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| | Slow and easy, even 9:00/mile pace. |
Brooks Ghost 13 Miles: 7.50 |
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| | Easy run in a light rain. 8:53 pace. |
Brooks Ghost 13 Miles: 7.50 |
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| | Getting cooler in the mornings. Ran with gloves and long sleeved shirt today. Have been adding a few strides (one or two to start) in my runs. On the faster side today at 8:28 pace.
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Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 7.50 |
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| | Heavy fog this morning. I should have worn gloves; my hands are numb. Tempo run. 6 miles from 7:37 to 7:17 pace ... each mile faster than the one before. With the warm up and cool down miles factored in, I averaged a 7:34 pace.
My parent's 61st Anniversary today. Treating them to a lobster lunch.
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Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 7.50 |
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| | Started off looking like the fog was going to lift, but it just got heavier as I went. Kept an even 8:40 pace. Right knee a little tight at the end of the run; will have to monitor that.
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Brooks Ghost 13 Miles: 10.00 |
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| | Cut it short today, as my right knee is stiff, and I didn't want to damage it further. Even 8:54 pace. I may take a couple days off. We'll see. |
Brooks Ghost 13 Miles: 5.00 |
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| | So, because of my stiff knee on Monday, I decided to take 2 days off from running. It seems fine today, but I'll continue to monitor it. 8:41 pace.
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Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Keeping it easy; even 8:43 pace.
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Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Even paced easy run; 8:44/mile.
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Brooks Ghost 13 Miles: 9.00 |
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| | Even paced 8:48 run.
So, I'm leaning towards Ultras for next year. Spent some time on the weekend looking at possibilities. I think the 50 mile Sulphur Springs in May and the 100 mile Haliburton in September will be the big ones. Still debating, but for sure leaning that way.
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Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 10.00 |
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| | Easy run; 8:52 even pace.
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Brooks Ghost 13 Miles: 5.00 |
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| | Due to work issues, I had to run earlier than normal today, so it was very dark and I wore a headlamp. It was a bit foggy, so that just added another dimension to the run. The headlamp, of course, makes all the signs shine and reflective markers glow. What I didn't expect around mile 1 was three sets of eyes looking at me.
Actually, I didn't clue into the fact they were eyes for a second or two - I was wondering why there were reflective markers in that spot. As soon as my brain registered they were eyes, I also clued into the fact that 3 black bears (a momma and her 2 cubs) were right beside me on the road. It was too late to turn back, so I kept on going. They didn't follow. Mom's eyes looked angry. Maybe that was just me reading into it.
Anyway, 8:46 pace.
Oh, I booked off three weekends next year to run Ultras. And I registered for my first one: Sulphur Springs 50 mile Trail Race May 24th. I'm also going to run the Haliburton 100 Trail Race in September, and a 56km trail race in July. I've made my decision. Now to see if my body will hold up.
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Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | FIVE black bears today. Four cubs and a mother. Roughly the same spot as yesterday. The difference is I went a bit later, and so had light to see them clearly. I've never seen four cups with a mother before. They can't all be hers. I'm thinking she adopted two when the other mother was killed.
Just an easy shake out run; 9:12 pace. I'll be driving to Bracebridge this afternoon for the Muskoka Half Marathon tomorrow morning. About three hours from here. I'm thinking of going relatively easy on the run - maybe aim for something in the 1:40 range.
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Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 3.00 |
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| Race: |
Muskoka Marathon (13.1 Miles) 01:36:03, Place overall: 32, Place in age division: 6 | | Perfect day for running: 8C/47F, no wind, no clouds. This race just began in 2020 (Covid season!), and has grown every year. It begins and ends at Santa's Village in Bracebridge, Ontario. It follows the Muskoka River over a winding and hilly road, to a bridge which crosses the Muskoka River at about mile 3, and then follows the opposite shore of the river to the turnaround.
I really didn't know how fast to run this, so I just went out on feel, thinking I would come in below 1:40. I ran the first mile in 7:10, which I felt was too fast (it would have been), and so relaxed into a pace around 7:18, give or take.
There were two guys from a local running club I ended up following, as they were bang on that pace. They were very even. Up the hills, I fell back. Down the hills, I caught them again. I ended up passing them at around mile 10 - they came in a little less than a minute behind me.
I averaged a 7:18 split at the turnaround, and a 7:20 split for the second half, giving me an average pace of 7:19 - basically even. I never really struggled, but I did push the last few miles. Overall, I'm happy with the effort. My left foot has some issues that I will follow up with my foot doctor as soon as I can see him. My next race is a Half Marathon trail event here in Sudbury. Driving for 3 hours right after a Half sucks, but I had to get back in time for Mass at 4:30.
I was 32nd out of 527 runners; 26th male and 6th in my age division (50-59). I would have been 5th, but dude #5 sprinted past me right at the end. I could have gone faster, but I really wasn't feeling overly competitive today.
Some unique Muskoka Marathon touches: a can of beer from the local Muskoka brewery at sign in, and another one at the finish line. Same with custom made Muskoka socks - one pair at sign in, and another at the finish line, along with a finisher's t-shirt. And the medal is wood, carved in the shape of a Muskoka chair. All cool.
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Asics Metaspeed Sky Miles: 13.10 |
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Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 81.00 | Ghost 13 Blue Sole Miles: 7.50 | Brooks Ghost 13 Miles: 54.00 | Asics Metaspeed Sky Miles: 13.10 |
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