Going Long (again) in 2024

Week starting Jul 09, 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  (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

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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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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 83.00 Year: 2207.30
Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 Lifetime Miles: 412.40
Brooks Cascadia 11 Lifetime Miles: 394.00
Salomon Speedcross 4 Lifetime Miles: 356.75
Brooks Launch 8 Lifetime Miles: 153.00
Asics Metaspeed Sky Lifetime Miles: 32.20
Triumph 18 Lifetime Miles: 279.00
Black Hoka Bondi Lifetime Miles: 218.00
Saucony Triumph 19 Treadmill Lifetime Miles: 12.00
Total Distance
50.00
Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 35.50Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 8.00Skechers GoRun4 Miles: 7.00
Weight: 158.20
Total Distance
18.00

Took it around Lake Ramsey, with a couple of extra miles tacked on in a few places to bring it to 18 miles.  Average pace of 9:27.  Elevation gain of 723 feet.  Running time of 2:50:08.  Clear and sunny with a light breeze.  Humidity just 71%, and temperature of 19C/67F.

I ran this route as a Half Marathon race by accident when I was a teenager.  A friend called me up to run the 10 km Terry Fox Run (for cancer research).  We did it as bandits (sorry).  Ended up at the starting line for the Half by mistake.  My friend dropped out after a couple of miles.  Thanks Peter.  I finished - half dead.  Zero training.  Near the end, a runner who was struggling as much as me asked how I was doing.  I told him I was dying.  He said he was too, but not to worry "it's all in your head", he said.

I have loved that line ever since, and thought of it often on today's run.

Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 18.00
Weight: 158.50
Comments(1)
Total Distance
8.00

Tempo pace:  7:38/mile average.  I had to go up to the Church to check on a few things anyway, so decided to run there.  It's a little under 6 miles, so I had to run past my place and then double back.  It's a fairly hilly run, so a good workout.

Decided to shower and eat there and then took my truck back to the hotel ... had been using my motorcycle the last couple of days.

And I'm taking the rest of today 'off' ... riding my bike to my brother's camp rental on Manitoulin Island and will spend the day there.

Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 157.00
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Total Distance
6.50

An easy run day - back to the Coyote route.  No critters out today, except for one nasty dog that I had to stare down, shout at, and wonder why I didn't bring my pepper spray.  Next time!

Averaged 8:44/mile.

Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 7.00
Weight: 158.50
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Total Distance
7.00

Funny kinda day.  On Fridays, I'm supposed to run 600 m hill repeats one week, and a "hilly run" the next, but I've been replacing the hill repeats with speedwork at the track.  Today I figured I'd do the hill repeats.  But where to find one that long?

So, I drove to my second Church in Skead, past the Sudbury airport.  The few times I've been there, I remember it having a lot of hills.  Well, I measured them with my truck, and none came to 600 m.  So, eventually I just parked near the Church and ran.  Turned out it was a classic "hilly run".  But I did attack the hills, and so kept a pretty good pace.

At mile 5, I actually found the perfect hill.  It's a bit more than 600 m - closer to a half mile long - and fairly steep.  So, for future workouts, I know where to go.

For today, I managed to run the 7 miles with an 8:00/mile pace.  And the second I finished the run, the heavens opened and it poured!

Skechers GoRun4 Miles: 7.00
Weight: 158.50
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Total Distance
10.50

Easy run; 8:21 pace.  

Same route as last Saturday, along Lake Ramsey, but this time I wore a hydration belt.  Good thing.  Warm morning at 22C/71F.

The Lake Ramsey boardwalk and beaches area was packed with people.  And their dogs.  Dragon Boat Festival this weekend, and the races are on.  So, weaving through them made for an interesting half mile or so.

Got a high five from another runner!  

Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 10.50
Weight: 158.50
Add Comment
Total Distance
50.00
Saucony ISO Triumph 2 Miles: 35.50Brooks Ghost 7 Miles: 8.00Skechers GoRun4 Miles: 7.00
Weight: 158.20
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