Going Long (again) in 2024

Week starting Jul 02, 2017

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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: 28.00 Month: 189.50 Year: 588.50
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: 358.50
Saucony Triumph 18 Lifetime Miles: 372.50
Ghost 13 Blue Sole Lifetime Miles: 363.00
Hoka Bondi Lifetime Miles: 386.00
Triumph 18 Treadmill Lifetime Miles: 120.50
Hoka Bondi 8 Treadmill Lifetime Miles: 102.50
Total Distance
47.00
Brooks Cascadia 11 Miles: 16.00Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 14.50Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 16.50
Weight: 161.00
Total Distance
16.00

Whole new trail system to discover.  Just a 9 mile drive to Moonlight Beach, and there begins access to a whole bunch of trails - hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, biking ... and running.

A little bit of everything on this one.  Crushed stone trail wide enough to drive on, grass, dirt and rocky terrain in other sections, and a couple miles of what can only be described as highly technical (for running) terrain.  The best the Canadian Shield can offer!

At mile 3.5, at the start of a really technical section, I actually met a runner going the other way.  He warned me to turn back - said the trail was almost impassable because of mud.  True enough, he was full of it (mud).  I almost did, but then thought "hey, I'm an ultra marathon trail running idiot".  Mud is NOT going to stop me.  So, I pressed on.  It really wasn't that bad.  No mud above the knees.

The ski trail sections were easier to run, but the hills were steep.  I was running mile splits anywhere between 8:41 and 12:41.

Average over the 16 miles was 9:57 for a total running time of 2:39:16.  Total elevation gain was 884 feet.

Lots of hikers out on this beautiful day.  It started at 17C/62F and finished at  20C/68F.  Saw a number of turtles in one of the ponds that I passed, and at one point, while I stopped to check my location on a trail map that was posted, a deer quietly walked by just 20 yards away.  Way cool.  Not sure it even knew I was there.

Anyway, as tough as this run felt, from this point on, 16 miles are my recovery Mondays every 3 weeks.  The other 2 Mondays get longer and longer.

 

Brooks Cascadia 11 Miles: 16.00
Weight: 160.00
Comments(2)
Total Distance
7.50

Tempo Run on Skead Road - hilly run.  Paced it at 7:40/mile.  And hey, I finally dropped below 160 pounds again!  Woo Hoo!

Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 7.50
Weight: 159.50
Comments(1)
Total Distance
6.50

Easy run; 8:41 pace.  I am living in a hotel suite for a month now, while my new place undergoes some repairs.  Not a great situation, but not much choice.

Anyway, I'm on a major intersection in Sudbury.  I ran up a busy street for almost 2 miles, turned right, and found myself running through a light industrial area, and then bush.  At that point, a coyote ambled across the road in front of me.  And me without my pepper spray!  Anyway, it didn't seem the least bit interested in me, and just casually walked off into the bush.

The road ended exactly 3.25 miles from my hotel, so I turned around and retraced my path 'home'.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 6.50
Weight: 169.00
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Total Distance
7.00

Program called for a 55 minute hilly run, so I explored a new neighbourhood in the Minnow Lake area of Sudbury this morning.  It sure had hills in spades!

Kept a pretty brisk pace of 8:01, despite all the ups and downs.

Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 7.00
Weight: 158.50
Add Comment
Total Distance
10.00

Was supposed to be an easy 10, but ended up more of a moderate 8:21 pace.  It just felt too good to go any slower.

From my hotel, down to Bancroft/Howey/Ramsey Lake to the Science Center and back.  Gorgous day at 19C/66F.  The only trip up was I should have brought water.  I thought I'd come across a fountain at the lake and I didn't.  So, was running on empty by the finish.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 10.00
Weight: 158.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
47.00
Brooks Cascadia 11 Miles: 16.00Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 14.50Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 16.50
Weight: 161.00
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