| 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 Glycerin 13 Treadmill Miles: 162.00 | Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 45.00 | Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 Miles: 18.00 | Saucony ISO Triumph 3 Miles: 24.00 |
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| | 9 miles at Tempo Pace of 7:52 on the treadmill.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Treadmill Miles: 12.00 |
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| | It was supposed to storm all night - major snow accumulations - but I woke up early and there was none. So, I decided to run outside, since I'll be running long on the treadmill tomorrow.
By the time I had my coffee and checked e-mails and changed into my running gear, the heavens had opened up. I ran in major blizzard conditions. Total blindness. After 6 miles of that, I had enough. So I ran my final 2 miles on the treadmill. Pace overall of 8:50/mile.
I figured for sure the people in my mission up the road would call to cancel the Mass this morning. It's my first Sunday service, at 9am. But no call. I called my contact there, and no answer, so I figured it was on. Well, I got about half way there, barely, to the airport, and I turned around to come home. My little truck was not about to go any further on those roads. It is not nice driving.
So, I have a bonus hour this morning before my Mass at my home location. I'm guessing a lot of my people won't make it today. And I wouldn't blame them.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 6.00 | Brooks Glycerin 13 Treadmill Miles: 2.00 |
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| | Long run on the treadmill; 8:27 pace.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Treadmill Miles: 16.00 |
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| | Goodwill Route; 8:45 pace. Wow, was it cold! Just -17C/2F. Good thing there was very little wind.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 7.00 |
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| | Strength work on the treadmill this morning.
3 x 2 mile repeats @ 7:39 pace with 800 recoveries.
All systems are go!
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| Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 Miles: 11.00 |
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| | It was -30C/-22F with the windchill this morning; I decided to take my easy run to the treadmill.
Set it at 8:56 pace and stayed warm!
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Treadmill Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Tempo workout. 9 miles at 7:52 pace.
My right knee has been stiff lately and was feeling a bit wonky during the last half of the run. I'll have to keep my attention on it in case I need to adjust my training.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Treadmill Miles: 12.00 |
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| | Easy treadmill run; 9:50 pace. This was a 'show me' run.
I took off the previous 2 days (supposed to run 10 miles each day), because of my right knee. It was really stiff/sore after Saturday's run. And got worse on Sunday. Monday, no better. I think I pinpointed the problem, though, and can fix it.
One of my least favourite activities is foam rolling, and so I often skip it. Very often. Okay, I rarely do it. Well, at my age, and especially at peak mileage, I can't afford to skip it. I had noticed during my last few monthly massages that they were hurting more and more. I am REALLY tight and knotted. I think that all led to the knee issue. According to my therapist, the only leg part that is NOT terribly knotted are my shins. And they are still bad, she said.
I know I have moderate arthritis in both knees, as per my physician and x-rays. But I can and need to manage it with better stretching/foam rolling.
Anyway, after yesterday's torture session massage therapy, I committed myself to foam rolling at least once a day - preferably twice. And, after yesterday's massage/torture session, and 3 tortuous sessions of foam rolling, today's run was not too bad. Hopefully that theme continues. Not the torture part ... I'm hoping it hurts less and less the more I do it. We'll see.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Treadmill Miles: 6.00 |
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| | My right knee was not happy yesterday after my run. And it was still achy this morning. So, I figured I'd skip the faster work and go with just a slow treadmill run to see what happened.
After 3 slow miles, things seemed to loosen up, so I attempted my "strength" pace workout, which was 3 miles at 7:39 pace. That went okay, so I took a recovery mile and then another 3 miles at 7:39 pace. Didn't seem to be a big problem.
Afterwards, I foam rolled right away. OUCH! I am sore everywhere. It was torture. IT band, quads, hamstrings and calves. However, after that self-inflicted torture, the knee felt fine.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Treadmill Miles: 11.00 |
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| | Treadmill: 10 miles at Marathon pace; 7:52/mile.
Foam rolling: still not fun, but going at it 3x/day.
Knee: up and down. Achy at start of run; felt better as I went.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Treadmill Miles: 13.00 |
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| | Treadmill; slow, steady pace of 9:50/mile.
My knee really stiffens up overnight, but most of the pain/stiffness is gone by about mile 3.
The good news is, I only lost 15 miles of easy running this week.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Treadmill Miles: 10.00 |
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| | Treadmill; 8:86 pace.
Stunning hoar frost this morning. Best I've ever seen. My drive to the Skead Church was amazing.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Treadmill Miles: 7.00 |
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| | I decided to take it outside for today's long run; 8:30 pace on Radar Road.
It was a bit cool at -2C/28F with a stiff north wind, a touch icy, and a bit snowy. But it felt SO good to get off the treadmill.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 16.00 |
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| | Back outside. Frigid! Goodwill Road; 8:40 pace.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 3 Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Strength workout on the treadmill.
2 miles x 3 repeats with 800 recoveries.
First 2 miles at 7:30 pace (my pace when I was in my late 40's - just to see)
Final 4 miles at 7:39 pace (my pace when I'm acting my age).
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Treadmill Miles: 11.00 |
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| | Treadmill; 8:56 pace. Yucky outside.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Treadmill Miles: 8.00 |
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| | Treadmill Tempo Run; 10 miles at 7:52 pace. First time in 2 weeks I didn't wake up with a sore/stiff knee. Felt mostly fine during the run too.
Got my Dopey Bib Number: 20714. That puts me (I think) in Corral B, which should put most of the tourist runners behind me.
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| Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 Miles: 7.00 | Brooks Glycerin 13 Treadmill Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Goodwill Route; 8:43 pace.
I was glad to be outside, but SO COLD!!! -17C/2F.
On the plus side, the full moon going down in the West was just incredible. Wow.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 3 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | It was slippery, slushy, snowy, and just down right yucky. And that was just my driveway! It got worse from there.
Started on the Skead Road Route, heading toward the Radar Road Route, but cut it short because it just was not safe on the highway. Way more traffic than I anticipated for today, and just a slushy mess out there. So, I turned around and finished on Goodwill Road. Still not great, but at least no traffic flying by.
Oh, I resurrected my antique Garmin Forerunner 305! The new battery I ordered in November finally arrived, and I soldered it in. Works as good as new.
Yes, I'm too cheap to buy a new watch.
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| Saucony ISO Triumph 3 Miles: 10.00 |
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| | Goodwill Route; 8:41 pace. Frigid and clear, with the most amazing sunrise. Just -19C / -2F, but there was no wind and so didn't feel so bad.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 6.00 |
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| | Strength workout on the treadmill. 4 x 1.5 mile repeats at 8:39 pace with 800m recoveries.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Treadmill Miles: 11.00 |
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| | Treadmill; 8:56 pace.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Treadmill Miles: 10.00 |
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| | Treadmill Tempo Run. 10 miles at 7:52 pace. Last Tempo Run of the program, and it seems to have been the toughest one. Cumulative fatique, no doubt.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Treadmill Miles: 13.00 |
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| | Treadmill; 8:56 pace.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Treadmill Miles: 6.00 |
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| | A mild day - all the way up to -4C/25F, so I took it outside for the last run of the year. A bit messy in places, but not too bad.
Radar Road; 8:44 pace.
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 10.00 |
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| | Comments(2) |
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| Brooks Glycerin 13 Treadmill Miles: 162.00 | Brooks Glycerin 13 Miles: 45.00 | Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 Miles: 18.00 | Saucony ISO Triumph 3 Miles: 24.00 |
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