Breaking the Wall

March 29, 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:

Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 133.01 Year: 776.88
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
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
13.500.001.000.0014.50

A.M.  Jeff had early work, and I felt like I needed some rest. Plus we picked up my mother at the airport late last night. So I slept in and then went for a run. The plan was 2x2 miles in 11:00 each. During the warm-up I ran into Josh Peavler who just finished running for Timpview High and we ran together until it was time for me to start the workout. I ran the first 1000 with the splits of 81, 82, and 42, and could tell something was not right. I was choking in mucus again. I had not been seeing very much of it at slower speeds, but at 5:30 the congestion was a problem. The pace did not feel like it should either, so there was something going on. HR got up to 159 by 0.5, that is about 5 beats too high as well. Did not feel motivated to run faster or in control of the pace, even though the pace should have been very manageable. Decided to scrap the workout and just jog. Ran most of the rest of the run with Josh - total of 10 miles.

Then added 2 more with Benjamin with a fast 500 in the middle. He did it pretty much exactly according to plan - 20 - 21 - 19 - 20 - 20 - total of 1:40, 5:20 pace average. Then we also did a small pickup at the end of the run. Total time was 15:27 with the last mile in 7:05, which included the recovery from the 500 pickup. I think he is ready for a sub-6:00 mile attempt.

Incidentally, what gave me the push to join a running team in 1984 in Moscow was winning a school 500 meter race in 1:45 at the age of 11.5. Now Benjamin has that time beat by 5 seconds being a year younger.

P.M. 2 with Jenny in 17:59. Julia ran the first 1.5 with us in 13:58. 0.5 with Joseph in 5:43. Pushed William in the stroller for the Jenny/Julia run. Jenny gave me a surprise in the last quarter - 1:43. She dropped me during a 180 turn and picked up the pace. With combination of the stroller, running barefoot on asphalt, dodging a couple of cars, and a fairly quick pace it took me a good 0.1 to catch her.

Five Fingers 2 Miles: 12.00Bare Feet Miles: 2.50
Night Sleep Time: 8.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 8.00
Comments
From Kory on Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 18:44:04 from 134.50.89.55

Sasha, it amazes me how you can remember numbers of your times and pace every day including the past.

Good luck at TOU this year. I won't be there. In fact after the the Pocatello Marathon I'm cutting my running way back. I need to get some priorities straight, and work is becoming so much more of a conflict.

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