Breaking the Wall

April 20, 2024

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Location:

Orem,UT,United States

Member Since:

Jan 27, 1986

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Olympic Trials Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

Best marathon: 2:23:57 (2007, St. George). Won the Top of Utah Marathon twice (2003,2004). Won the USATF LDR circuit in Utah in 2006.

Draper Days 5 K 15:37 (2004)

Did not know this until June 2012, but it turned out that I've been running with spina bifida occulta in L-4 vertebra my entire life, which explains the odd looking form, struggles with the top end speed, and the poor running economy (cannot break 16:00 in 5 K without pushing the VO2 max past 75).

Short-Term Running Goals:

Qualify for the US Olympic Trials. With the standard of 2:19 on courses with the elevation drop not exceeding 450 feet this is impossible unless I find an uncanny way to compensate for the L-4 defect with my muscles. But I believe in miracles.

Long-Term Running Goals:

2:08 in the marathon. Become a world-class marathoner. This is impossible unless I find a way to fill the hole in L-4 and make it act healthy either by growing the bone or by inserting something artificial that is as good as the bone without breaking anything important around it. Science does not know how to do that yet, so it will take a miracle. But I believe in miracles.

Personal:

I was born in 1973. Grew up in Moscow, Russia. Started running in 1984 and so far have never missed more than 3 consecutive days. Joined the LDS Church in 1992, and came to Provo, Utah in 1993 to attend BYU. Served an LDS mission from 1994-96 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Got married soon after I got back. My wife Sarah and I are parents of eleven children: Benjamin, Jenny, Julia, Joseph, Jacob, William, Stephen, Matthew, Mary, Bella. and Leigha. We home school our children.

I am a software engineer/computer programmer/hacker whatever you want to call it, and I am currently working for RedX. Aside from the Fast Running Blog, I have another project to create a device that is a good friend for a fast runner. I called it Fast Running Friend.

Favorite Quote:

...if we are to have faith like Enoch and Elijah we must believe what they believed, know what they knew, and live as they lived.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	870.94
Saucony Type A Lifetime Miles:						640.15
Bare Feet Lifetime Miles:						450.37
Nike Double Stroller Lifetime Miles:						124.59
Brown Crocs 4 Lifetime Miles:						1334.06
Amoji 1 Lifetime Miles:						732.60
Amoji 2 Lifetime Miles:						436.69
Amoji 3 Lifetime Miles:						380.67
Lopsie Sports Sandals Lifetime Miles:						818.02
Lopsie Sports Sandals 2 Lifetime Miles:						637.27
Iprome Garden Clogs Lifetime Miles:						346.18
Beslip Garden Clogs Lifetime Miles:						488.26
Joybees 1 Lifetime Miles:						1035.60
Madctoc Clogs Lifetime Miles:						698.29
Blue Crocs Lifetime Miles:						1164.32
Kimisant Black Clogs Lifetime Miles:						720.62
Black Crocs 2023 Lifetime Miles:						1312.70

Mon, Aug 03, 2009

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
13.30	0.50	0.50	0.30	14.60

A.M. 10.1 with Jeff in 1:17:39. Did a new version of explosions. Instead of going all out from the start for 40 meters or so, I did 100 with the last 40 or so all out, and the first part just a nice coast to find a good form before starting to sprint. I liked it better this way, the all out part felt like I was going faster. The first explosion was a regular one, and then I got the idea. I timed the 100s. They were 16.8, 17.2, and 17.5. Not very meaningful, because who knows how fast I was going at the coast speed and how long, but at least it tells me once I started sprinting I was significantly faster than 4:40 pace. But I was still wondering how fast I was really going in the explosion part. So I decided to run an all out 100 after the fat mile.

We ran the fat mile in 5:37. No tricycle guy to chase today, but Jeff must have been thinking about him because our last two quarters were 83 and 80. Out of fat range. But the first two were OK. That 80 second quarter felt like I could race a half at that pace if only the muscles and the neural drive cooperated. HR was 157. Then we ran my all out 100. I had never done it in Five Fingers before. So I set my Five Fingers PR of 15.4. I think I can go faster - just need to not be afraid that they are going to fall off. My normal PR is 13.9, but that was on the track and after a couple months of hill sprints and 800 meter specific workouts. My shod PR on the trail is around 14.6. But it was good to know that I could hit a decent (by my standards) sprint speed mid-run in Five Fingers.

2 more with Benjamin afterwards barefoot in 15:56. Had a little accident about a mile into it. Stubbed my big toe on asphalt. That actually does not hurt any more than having your finger pricked for a blood test, but it sure is messy. My right foot was covered in blood almost entirelly, and the left one was sprinkled. Made me think of animal sacrifice in ancient Israel. At first I was concerned, thought maybe I should cover it with a leaf to avoid blood loss, but then once we stopped and I got a good look, I figured it would be fine. So we ran back, Benjamin caught the 8:00 guy with the last mile in 7:31.

P.M. 0.5 with Joseph in 5:01. 2 with Jenny in 19:30. Julia ran the first 1.5 with us in 14:34.

Five Fingers 2 Miles: 10.10	Bare Feet Miles: 4.50

Night Sleep Time: 8.00	Nap Time: 0.00	Total Sleep Time: 8.00

Comments

From Brooke13 on Mon, Aug 03, 2009 at 22:28:30 from 71.174.55.16

Hi Sasha,

I have been building up my mileage like you advised. I would be interested in running a race in the next two weeks. I was thinking maybe a 5k or a 5 mile? Also, would it be possible for me to run a half marathon or marathon this October. Thanks! I also was wondering about your training partners? Are they neighbors/ family?

From Sasha Pachev on Tue, Aug 04, 2009 at 14:04:39 from 64.81.245.109

Brooke - 5 K or 5 miler would be good, whatever you can find in your area that pays the best after you subtract the cost of getting there for around 18:00 5 K or 29:30 5 miler. You could run a half fairly soon as well for the experience. I would recommend holding off on the marathon for about 8 months. You can always jog one, but it is better to do it when you are ready to race for at least the first 18 miles, and then if you have to jog it, you are able to do it at a respectable pace.

From Brooke13 on Tue, Aug 04, 2009 at 16:47:07 from 71.174.55.16

I did find a 5 miler or 2.5 mile next Saturday, August 15th. That was really the only race I could find that was semi close. I will let you know how I do. And I agree with you about waiting to run a marathon. I would only want to run in a race if I was prepared and ready to run hard. Jogging a marathon kind of defeats the purpose haha

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