| 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
|
|
| |
| Ghost 5 Miles: 11.00 | Enigma Miles: 6.00 | Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 23.00 | Brooks Glycerin Miles: 6.00 |
| |
|
| | 6 easy miles outside - 8:22/mile pace.
We had a melting day yesterday, so the streets are all clear again after Friday's snowstorm. The temperature was right at freezing, but there was no wind and I was actually a bit overdressed. I'm hopeful now, going forward, that I can do most of my runs outside.
| |
| |
| | Comments(1) |
| | 6 easy road miles. Temperature right at the freezing mark, but no wind and I have the clothing issue figured out. So, a good run. Tempo run tomorrow.
| |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | 6 mile tempo pace, plus warm up and cool down.
Ran an out and back. Clear morning, but cold. Minus 10 C or 14 F. Wasn't bad for running, actually, but my fingers went numb in the 1st mile and I had to curl them up into a fist inside my gloves until they thawed.
Splits were: 7:09 7:13 7:12 7:15 7:13 and 7:09.
This was my 1st tempo run outside; for sure different from the treadmill and indoor track. There are some short hills on this route, but nothing too serious.
Had to push myself at the halfway mark; hard to turn around and get back up to speed, when your brain is telling you to stop or slow down! But, I finished it strong and it felt like a very good run.
|
| Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 8.00 |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | 6 easy miles on my usual outdoor route 'around the block'. Recovery run from yesterday.
Driving to Sault Ste. Marie today, and will do my run tomorrow in that wonderful city.
|
| Brooks Glycerin Miles: 6.00 |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | 5 mile easy run in Sault Ste. Marie. I used to live in this city, and knew about the "Hub Trail" which is a paved, multi-purpose path that runs through and around the city. It was only 1/2 mile from my hotel, so I ran there.
Unfortunately, I discovered they do not keep it free of snow in the winter. At mile 1.5, I came across a section that was very snow covered and pitted quite badly where kids had walked through it (there is a school near by). I decided to take a 'better' short cut over a drainage ditch. Unfortunately, the ice did not hold me and I ended up with 2 very wet feet. So, I ran the final 3.5 miles in cold, wet feet.
Other than that, a good run!
| |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| | 15 mile long run, and the end of a 46 mile week.
It was cloudy and cold - just around freezing - but fine for running. I did not feel great from the start - was almost winded from the get go for some reason. Partly because the 1st mile North was into the wind, I suppose.
Anyway, I was supposed to run an 8:30/mile pace, and ended up with a 8:24/mile pace, which is pretty close, and I'm happy about that. I went with gatoraide in my fuel belt, GU chomps, and one Hammer Gel - Espresso.
I don't like the GU chomps and don't think I'll race with them - too hard to chew and swallow. I prefer the Power Bar Gel Blast, but I want to try the Honey Stingers too. I ended up taking just one of the chomps.
My stomach was complaining almost from mile 3. At mile 7.5, I ate the Hammer Gel. I had to stop to do it. My stomach at that point was doing flips, and the Gel was way too stiff to easily take in. I also needed to get my breathing under control. So, I stopped and ate the Gel and took in 8 ounces of water.
Well, it landed like lead in my stomach and that feeling didn't go away for the rest of the run. I'll try a different flavor of the Hammer Gel on another day, just to see. So far, however, the GU is my first choice.
Mile 10 was into the wind again and I struggled. Ran it in 8:42, but it felt bad. Once I turned out of the wind, I stopped for a minute to stretch and get my heart rate down. After that, I ran the final 5 miles fast, around 8:15/mile for each of them. It was an odd feeling, because my legs did not have much life in them, and it seemed I was running a lot slower. I was actually surprised by my splits in those last 5 miles. But by stomach never recovered and I didn't take in any more Gatoraide until almost the end.
Now, my thoughts on why it felt the way it did: The 4 hour drive from the Sault yesterday meant a lot of sitting. I had a huge pancake feast at a maple syrup place on the way home. Not a problem in itself, but my blood sugar took off, and then crashed about 2 hours later. Driving was not easy feeling that way, and when I got home, I went right into work - and my supper that night suffered because of it - soup and bread. Yuck - for running anyway. I suspect I went into this run not properly nourished and tired from the trip and it suffered because of it.
Fortunately, I have 3 more 15 mile runs before my race, so I'll be able to prepare myself better for them, and I will!
|
| Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 15.00 |
| |
| | Add Comment |
| |
| Ghost 5 Miles: 11.00 | Enigma Miles: 6.00 | Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 23.00 | Brooks Glycerin Miles: 6.00 |
| |
|
|
|
| Debt Reduction Calculator |
|
New Kids on the Blog
(need a welcome):
Lone Faithfuls
(need a comment):
|