Going Long (again) in 2024

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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: 13.00 Month: 50.00 Year: 2174.30
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: 190.00
Saucony Triumph 19 Treadmill Lifetime Miles: 7.00
Total Distance
11.00
Hoka Bondi Miles: 8.00Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 3.00
Weight: 167.75
Total Distance
2.00

I ran today!  Just two miles, and a very slow 11:05 pace, but I ran.  I think the hammie is completely healed.  For sure I was stiff, but that comes from a very long lay off from running.  The left foot is still not 100%, but I'm not sure it ever will be.  My podiatrist tells me that my bunion is going to keep on putting pressure on that plank plate.  He fit me for some orthotics; they should arrive in a few weeks.  He thinks they will help by distributing the weight to different parts of my foot.  My one glimmer of hope.

I biked three days last week just to keep things moving.  I plan on running short distances now, as much as possible, to get my running legs back up to snuff.  I still plan on running both a 50 mile (MAY) and 100 mile (SEPT) trail race next year.  So, training is supposed to start in mid December.  We'll see.

 

Hoka Bondi Miles: 2.00
Weight: 160.00
Comments(1)
Total Distance
2.00

Another easy run. So far, so good. 10:37 pace.

Hoka Bondi Miles: 2.00
Weight: 170.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
3.00

Upped it to 3 miles with a bit of a faster (9:14) pace.  Feeling pretty good.  A bit of a stiffness still in my right knee, and the pressure point under my left foot (plank plate) that I'm thinking may never really go away.  Right hamstring - healed!!!

Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 3.00
Weight: 170.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
4.00

I'm running in the afternoons these days.  Just seems to work better for now.  Plus I can see the potholes in the light.  Stepping in those is not good for the hamstrings!

Woke up yesterday with an incredibly sore back.  Not sure why.  Today it's not as bad, and it didn't seem to react to the run I just finished.  9:27 pace.  Icy roads and -5C/23F.

Hoka Bondi Miles: 4.00
Weight: 171.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
11.00
Hoka Bondi Miles: 8.00Saucony Triumph 18 Miles: 3.00
Weight: 167.75
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