| 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. |
|
Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
|
|
| |
| Enigma Miles: 34.00 | Brooks Glycerin Miles: 31.00 | Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 13.00 | Ghost 5 Miles: 25.00 |
| |
|
| | Ran a bit faster 8:17 pace - not intentional; it just felt good. Last mile at an 8:00 pace.
| |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Ran a comfortable 8:17 pace.
|
| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 4.00 |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Ran an 8:33 pace. Tomorrow will drive to Collingwood for Saturday's 10 km run. My goal is to break 45 minutes.
| |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Race: |
Collingwood 10 km (6.214 Miles) 00:43:37, Place overall: 7, Place in age division: 1 | | Just got home (4 hour drive - so a little stiff). A GREAT run, and a PB. I was aiming to break 45 minutes, and so I did in spades. I'm ecstatic! It works out to a 7:02 minute/mile pace or a 4:22 minute/km pace - I've never run an event that fast. I'll have to wait for the official results, so my time may be off by a few seconds - I'm going by my GPS watch. Also, there was a man hot on my heals at the end, but I don't know where he started the race. I may have finished behind him when the final results are posted. No matter - I'm VERY happy with everything. Note: these results are now official.
It was about 15 Celcius, with a very slight drizzle and low humidity, and not much wind. The course was promoted as "flat", but it wasn't really. This is a small event, with about 300 runners between the two races. Very intimate, but well organized and the course was certified.
I knew I had to run a 4:30/km pace to break 45 minutes. My splits were:
4:17 4:29 4:40 4:40 4:19 4:33 4:16 4:05 4:12 and 4:02.
The first km revealed a pretty decent downhill for about half of it. Since it was an out and back course, I worried about how I would handle that hill at the end. The second km was flat and I ran it on pace. For sure I was pushing, as I could hear my breathing. Tried to focus on relaxing. Turning a corner onto another road revealed a pretty decent hill ahead, and it shows in my split. Up and over and down, and then right into another good climb - shows in my next split. I really do have to do more training on hills (not easy when you live in a valley). Then another turn onto another road which revealed a long slow climb to the half way turn around marker. At this point, I peeked behind and could see a lot of runners close on my tail. There were 6 runners in front of me, including 4 jack rabbits who took off like a shot at the start. Then one young woman and one man who I figured was about my age. (Note: turns out he is 10 years younger than me).
I must say, I was discouraged at this point, as I was breathing hard, was off pace, and was not even half way through. At the 4 km mark, I resigned to just doing my best and figured a PB was not in the works, as it seemed I was slowing down as I went, even though my effort seemed the same. The hills had sapped my energy for sure.
I was surprised, then, at my 5km split, since most of that part was a gradual uphill. And even though my next split was a bit slower, with only 4km to go, I knew I had a good shot at the PB. But I had to tackle those hills again. So, I dug deep and pushed, shortened my stride going up and letting myself go on the way down. For sure that worked for my 7km split, as it was my fastest at that point, and that gave me the confidence to push hard. I was watching my average pace, and figured even if I slowed down on the final 3km, I could make it to a PB. But I didn't slow!
I was passed by a youngster at the halfway mark, but then I passed the man my age (10 years younger) at the 8km mark. I ran those last 3 with everything I had, and managed a good push for the final 200 meters. I hadn't planned on that, but the man I passed was right on my heels (I could hear him breathing) and I used that little competition to push hard. Ended up he finished a few seconds behind me, but I haven't seen the official results yet. Note: actually tied him, officially.
So, I finished strong and I think I gave it all I had. I figure I can do better as my training continues, and now I have the confidence to train up to a half-marathon in the Spring. I had zero pain in my feet, and my groin was not an issue at all. I'm a little stiff in my hamstrings after that 4 hour drive, but a glass of wine to celebrate tonight, along with some more stretching, should take care of that.
|
| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 6.00 |
| |
| | Comments(2) |
| | Iron Strength Workout
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Ran an easy recovery run. No pain issues from Saturday's race. Massage later today!
| |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | My first time running in the Elixers. I like them. Very light. Ran an 8:30 pace.
|
| Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 6.00 |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Ran a 8:26 pace.
|
| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 6.00 |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Ran an 8:33 pace.
| |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Iron Strength Workout
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Ran an 8:30 pace.
| |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Iron Strength Workout
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Added the Ghost 5's to my training - I love them! Like running on pillows.
Ran at an 8:26 pace.
| |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Ran an 8:31 pace. Felt great!
|
| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 7.00 |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Ran an 8:38 pace. Felt great!
| |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Ran an 8:33 pace.
Going to be in North Bay for the next 7 days, and so will update all my runs done there when I get back.
|
| Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 7.00 |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Iron Strength Workout
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Ran 12 miles. This was in North Bay where I was on retreat. The left knee was sore at about the 6 mile mark, give or take, but never much of an issue. But boy, did it ever become an issue!
Very painful on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. I opted not to run, which sucked, as I had hoped to get up to 39 miles that week.
To make it worse, I didn't have my foam roller or any ibuprofin or ice. So I just rested.
I'm pretty sure it's runner's knee, which I've never had before. I had done the iron strength workout the night before (bare foot!), and then the 12 mile run just 10 hours later. I'm thinking that was the trigger.
Anyway, as of Wednesday, it's still tender. I'll wait until the pain has gone before I attempt running, as I've made the mistake enough times before of running through pain.
| |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Okay, I stretched and foam rolled my legs as much as I could bear, and then ran 2 miles on the treadmill. I would have run more, except I was still full from dinner - tough to run on a full stomach!
Anyway, the knee seems fine, but I'll see what it feels like in the morning and then, if okay, will stay on the treadmill for the rest of the week. Just as well, as we may get snow tonight.
| |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Okay, woke up with a stiff/sore left knee, so decided to wait until it has completely healed before I run again ... still hoping to run the 10 km Hamilton race in 10 days.
So, spent 51 minutes on the spin bike - the equivalent time to run 6 miles. Will continue to focus on strength and stretching of the legs.
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Decided to run 1 mile on the indoor track. Then did some leg work with weights, followed by 40 laps (2 km) in the pool.
The left knee is still not healed. However, I still plan on running that 10 km on Saturday; then I`ll decide where to go from there.
|
| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 1.00 |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Ran on the treadmill at a 10 minute/mile pace.
The left knee was quite painful for the first few minutes, and then the pain went away, although I could feel it throughout the workout.
Icing now; will see later today how it reacts to the run before I decide my next move.
|
| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 5.00 |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Okay, ran 2 miles on an indoor track, then leg curls and pushes, and then 1 mile swimming in the pool. Tonight, more strength work on my quads and lots of stretching.
|
| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 2.00 |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | Ran a 10 min/mile pace on the treadmill, with one tempo quarter mile at a 7:00 min/mile pace (just to see how it affected the knee).
The left knee was tight (not painful) throughout the run. I'll take tomorrow off and see how the 10 km race goes on Saturday.
| |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| |
| Enigma Miles: 34.00 | Brooks Glycerin Miles: 31.00 | Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 13.00 | Ghost 5 Miles: 25.00 |
| |
|
|
|
| Debt Reduction Calculator |
|
New Kids on the Blog
(need a welcome):
Lone Faithfuls
(need a comment):
|