Going Long (again) in 2024

Week starting Jul 20, 2014

Previous WeekRecent EntriesHomeJoin Fast Running Blog Community!PredictorHealthy RecipesMichael's RacesFind BlogsMileage BoardTop Ten Excuses for Missing a RunTop Ten Training MistakesDiscussion ForumRace Reports Send A Private MessageMonth ViewYear View
Graph View
Next Week
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

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

Click for Options

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.

Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
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
50.00
Brooks Glycerin Miles: 12.00Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 17.00Enigma Miles: 13.00Ghost 5 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 162.29
Total Distance
6.00

Ran this easy six miles at the slowest end of my easy pace range:  9:15/mile.  A beautiful morning for a run.

Brooks Glycerin Miles: 6.00
Weight: 161.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
8.00

Speedwork at the track today, with perfect conditions.  18C/64F with just a gentle breeze.  My program called for 6 repeats of 800m at a pace of 3:20/800m.

My laps were:  3:17  3:15  3:17  3:17  3:17  and 3:19.  So, I nailed it!  Very happy.  I had to push hard, but I did it!

Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 162.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
5.00

Ran these 5 miles at the slowest end of my easy range:  9:11/mile.

Yesterday had a massage.  I was tight on the right side, and so asked her to focus on that.  Boy, did she!  My hip flexor, IT insertion point, and glutes were all tight - my hip was off quite a bit.  After an hour, I was balanced again.  Will have to focus a lot more on my stretching every day.  I get lazy there sometimes.

Enigma Miles: 5.00
Weight: 162.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
9.00

A cold front moved in last night, so it was a nice, cool 12C/54F for running my tempo pace this morning.  Goal pace is 7:38, and I really need to work on my control to maintain it, and I was happy with the results today.

My splits were:  7:38  7:36  7:36  7:36  7:41  and  7:29.  So, other than running 9 seconds faster on my final split, I nailed it and I'm happy with that.

I felt strong throughout - I could have continued running.  My only concern was a slight twinge in my right Achilles Tendon.  I think it may be related to my exercises last night.  Ever since my Tendenosis from Detroit, I've been doing 180 heal drops every night.  Once or twice a week, I do single leg heal raises off a step instead.  I did those last night, and I think it was too much before an SOS run.  Will save those for easy days from now on.

The rest of my runs for the week are all easy runs.

Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 9.00
Weight: 162.50
Add Comment
Total Distance
6.00

Brrr ... cold morning for July.  Almost could have worn gloves.  Just 8C/46F.  Ran in the middle range of my easy paces:  9:06.

Brooks Glycerin Miles: 6.00
Weight: 162.50
Comments(1)
Total Distance
8.00

Felt a lot warmer this morning than it did yesterday for the run - 12C/53F.  Perfect for running.  I ran at the faster end of my easy pace:  8:40.

Enigma Miles: 8.00
Weight: 162.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
8.00

Ran about middle pace in my easy range:  9:02.  Legs are a bit tired from yesterday's hike; I bushwacked my way to the top of a tall hill to explore an abandoned fire tower.  It was a tough walk of 2.5 hours return.  But then, that replaced my strength training for the day.

Ghost 5 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 164.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
50.00
Brooks Glycerin Miles: 12.00Mizuno Wave Elixir 8 Miles: 17.00Enigma Miles: 13.00Ghost 5 Miles: 8.00
Weight: 162.29
Debt Reduction Calculator
Featured Announcements
Lone Faithfuls
(need a comment):
Recent Comments: