Going Long (again) in 2024

Santa Shuffle 5 km Fun Run

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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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Miles:This week: 30.00 Month: 152.00 Year: 776.50
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: 362.50
Saucony Triumph 18 Lifetime Miles: 402.50
Ghost 13 Blue Sole Lifetime Miles: 371.00
Hoka Bondi Lifetime Miles: 485.00
Triumph 18 Treadmill Lifetime Miles: 130.50
Hoka Bondi 8 Treadmill Lifetime Miles: 140.50
Total Distance
80.00
Brooks Glycerin Miles: 9.00Enigma Miles: 6.00Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 28.00Ghost 5 Miles: 37.00
Weight: 162.58
Race: Santa Shuffle 5 km Fun Run (3 Miles) 00:22:34
Total Distance
3.00

This was also a spur of the moment race.  The Santa Shuffle is run throughout Canada (sponsored by the Running Room and Salvation Army).  I was in Toronto for a show on Friday night, and so could not run the one in Sudbury.  However, I was able to stop in Barrie on Saturday and run it there.

It was bitterly cold!  Worse than in Detroit, with a strong wind that cut right through everyone.  However, it was a lot of fun.  I dressed up in my Santa hat and socks and just ran an easy pace.  The course is non-certified, and there were no timing chips/matts.  It is just meant to be fun.  

My GPS timed splits were:  4:26   4:34   4:32   4:27   4:26  for a time of 22:34.

I also ran with my camera and so took video of the event.  It can be seen here:  https://vimeo.com/81363192

Now, as to running:

My left knee is completely healed (I think!).  After Detroit, I decided to cut way back on my running for the month of December to see if I could heal things up a bit better.  I'm keeping in shape by swimming or spinning 5x/week, and have been working on building my quad muscles on the weight machine 2 or 3x/week.  I'll not post those, as they are not running.

My real concern is, I've pretty much pinpointed the source of my groin pain.  I'm certain it is a Gilmour Strain.  Not good.  There are NO surgeons in Ontario who do that repair.  From what I understand, it will not heal on its own, and it will likely only get worse.

I always notice it after a run.  I fear that when I get my mileage back up, it may not let me proceed.  However, I'm going to try!  This injury is hard to pinpoint and it affects everyone differently.

Once in January/February, when I start getting my mileage back up, I'll see a physiotherapist about it to see if he can help.  Meanwhile, I'll work on strength and stretching.  I'm too stubborn to let this injury end my running carreer, but I do know it could very well deep six my speed needed for Boston.  We'll see.

Brooks Glycerin Miles: 3.00
Weight: 0.00
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Total Distance
6.00

6 slow miles on the treadmill.  Running pace I'm determining by heartrate.

Enigma Miles: 6.00
Weight: 162.00
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Total Distance
9.00

On the treadmill at a slow pace, with two faster segments of 5 minutes each.

Possible good news:  saw my physiotherapist yesterday.  He doubts I have a Gilmore Strain.  Figures it is iliopsoas bursitis.  Not common, from what I can see.  Certainly nothing I've heard of any runner suffering from.  Figures.

The good news is, IF it is the bursa, then it is very treatable with physio. 

Of course, the other possible cause of my pain, he said, was osteoarthritis.  That wouldn't be good.

Anyway, ibuprofin and ice are the standard for me now, and that's precisely what I'm doing after today's long run.

Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 9.00
Weight: 162.00
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Total Distance
3.00

On the indoor track, followed by weights and then a 2000 meter swim.

Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 3.00
Weight: 163.00
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Total Distance
6.00

On the treadmill.

Ghost 5 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 162.00
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Total Distance
2.00

On the indoor track, followed by a 2 km swim.

Ghost 5 Miles: 2.00
Weight: 162.50
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Total Distance
5.00

Tempo Run - 3 miles.

Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 5.00
Weight: 164.00
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Total Distance
10.00

10 miles on the treadmill - 90 minutes.

Ghost 5 Miles: 10.00
Weight: 163.00
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Total Distance
5.00

5 miles on the indoor track, followed by weights and then a 2,000 meter swim.

Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 5.00
Weight: 162.00
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Total Distance
4.00

On the indoor track; also swam 2,000 meters.

Ghost 5 Miles: 4.00
Weight: 162.00
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Total Distance
6.00

6 miles on the indoor track.  Yesterday, x-country skied 6 miles, so a little sore from that (1st time out in about 10 years).

Brooks Glycerin Miles: 6.00
Weight: 163.00
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Total Distance
10.00

On the treadmill.

Ghost 5 Miles: 10.00
Weight: 162.00
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Total Distance
6.00

On the indoor track.  Don't know if it's the physio or not, but my Iliopsoas bursitis is virtually gone.  No pain - hurray!

Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 163.00
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Total Distance
5.00

5 miles on the indoor track.  Also swam 2,000 metres.

I also got my marathon training program for 2014 all set up.  Running the Hamilton Marathon on November 2nd - this is my Boston Qualifier.  I need a 3:30 time, but am aiming for 3:25 since I'm pretty sure I won't get in otherwise, based on this year's qualifiers.

I'm using the Hanson's Marathon Method for the 1st time.  18 week advanced program.  Begins the 1st week in July.

I'll use the time before then to establish a strong base, and am thinking of running one or two halfs - one just for fun in February, and the Cleveland Half in May at a faster pace.

 

Ghost 5 Miles: 5.00
Weight: 163.00
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Total Distance
80.00
Brooks Glycerin Miles: 9.00Enigma Miles: 6.00Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 28.00Ghost 5 Miles: 37.00
Weight: 162.58
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