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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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
19.000.000.000.0019.00

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2015-06-27 06:20:52
Workout Totals: Distance18.000Time2:12:03.50Pace7:20.19
19 total for the day. 1 more with Stephen in addition to what was recorded by the Fast Running Friend. Kids raced 1500 in the USATF Region Meet. It was hot again. The races started at 9, young kids first. At first it was somewhat manageable, then it got worse. Fortunately the distance was only 1500. Benjamin ran 4:22.09, 1st place
splits - 71.8, 68.9,70.8, and the kick in 50.4. He beat the 17-18 age group again. Unfortunately by the age of 15 USATF meets are starting to get very sparse - most kids race just in high school meets. Fortunately, there is still competition on the roads, the distance is not limited to 3200 and there is prize money which you can take if you do not care about high school or collegiate running.

Jenny ran 5:57.66, splits 1:30,1:32,1:40, and 1:15 for the last 300. The heat bothered her a lot, she could not think clearly. She made a good effort in the first 800, but then lost it.

Julia ran 6:19.66. Splits 1:37, 1:41, 1:45, and 1:16 for the last 300. She really did not have much juice today, but it was a little better than two weeks ago.

Joseph ran 5:26.25, 1st place. Splits were crazy - 78, 93,89, and 66 for the last 300. The race was full of drama. Preston Corbin started out very fast, and Joseph went with him. I told the kids earlier to not allow themselves to slow down when the kid in front slows down, and just do whatever it takes to pass so they do not have a road block. Joseph took was overzealous in following that advice. While headed for what ended up being a 78 second lap about 350 meters into the race he sensed the pace dropping and he started passing Corbin on the curve. Corbin would not let him, so they both accelerated to a full sprint. After about 50 meters Corbin ran out of steam and Joseph took the lead. With about 400 to go Corbin surged and tried to pass Joseph. Joseph accelerated. For a while they duked it out, then with about 300 to go Joseph opened a gap. McKay Wells in the mean time accelerated and caught up to Corbin with about 200 to go. Joseph seemed now to be running out of steam, but he held on on the final stretch. Corbin ended up second with 5:27.46, and McKay finished 3rd in the heat winning the 8 year old division in 5:27.63. I think this was a decent result for Joseph given the trip to Texas, the hot weather, and the erratic pacing.

Jacob struggled today. He ran 5:42.69, splits 86,92,93, and 71 for the last 300. He said he was feeling tired from the start. I think the trip took a lot out of him, and on top of that he was not responding well to the heat.

William ran 6:31.72, a new PR, worth 7:04 mile. 2nd place after McKay in the 8 and under division His opening lap was 1:39, I missed his other splits because I was watching Joseph and Jacob when he ran by. My ability to multitask during a race is very limited. I think William is ready to attack the 7:00 barrier in a time trial soon, and if he gets it, this will be quite remarkable for us. Jacob got it a month before his 7th birthday, but William still has over 3 months left before he turns 7. There is one record of Jacob that he is not going to get, though - breaking 7:00 before losing his first tooth.
Leg 1:Distance12.000Time1:23:56.50Pace6:59.71
Leg 2:Distance6.000Time48:07.00Pace8:01.17

White Crocs 2 Miles: 19.00
Night Sleep Time: 6.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 6.00
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