Breaking the Wall

March 28, 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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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
12.088.000.000.0020.08

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2014-03-22 08:17:04
Workout Totals
Distance Time Pace
20.080 2:24:43.40 7:12.44
20 miles total. Benjamin did 12.35, Jenny 4, Julia 2, Joseph 4, Jacob 2, William 1. Benjamin and I did a 6 mile tempo run - details below. I finished the workout with another 2 mile tempo as well.
Leg 1
Distance Time Pace Comment
4 35:46.50. 8:56.62 With Joseph.
Split# Distance Time Pace Comment
1 4.000 35:46.50 8:56.62  
Leg 2
Distance Time Pace Comment
4.35 34:04.00. 7:49.89 With Benjamin from the press building to the magic spot on the old highway.
Split# Distance Time Pace Comment
1 4.350 34:04.00 7:49.89  
Leg 3
Distance Time Pace Comment
6 34:39.90. 5:46.65 Tempo run with Benjamin. He had a side ache issue again. This time it got pretty bad. We had to stop twice in the middle of the tempo to massage it and do some squats and sit-ups. It went away and became manageable after the treatment. On one hand it looks like some disturbance of the diaphragm. But on the other hand those pains have always correlated with being low on fuel. Except this time the pace was relatively slow. But we did have significant headwind. I have experienced side-aches in conjunction with the headwind before - most memorable case in the St. George Marathon 1998.
Split# Distance Time Pace Comment
1 6.000 34:39.90 5:46.65  
Leg 4
Distance Time Pace Comment
3.65 27:45.60. 7:36.33 From the house to the magic spot in the canyon. Felt low on fuel, was not sure if I'd be able to run 6:00 for the last 2 miles, but decided to move on faith - that is how you develop the marathon endurance.
Split# Distance Time Pace Comment
1 3.650 27:45.60 7:36.33  
Leg 5
Distance Time Pace Comment
2 11:44.90. 5:52.45 Faith-based tempo. One foot in front of the other. Somehow managed 5:52 pace.
Split# Distance Time Pace Comment
1 2.000 11:44.90 5:52.45  
Leg 6
Distance Time Pace Comment
0.08 0:42.50. 8:51.25 Cool-down of sorts to the car.
Split# Distance Time Pace Comment
1 0.080 0:42.50 8:51.25  

Green Crocs 7 Miles: 20.08
Night Sleep Time: 8.00Nap Time: 1.00Total Sleep Time: 9.00
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