Breaking the Wall

April 19, 2024

15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

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:	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

Sat, Jul 05, 2014

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
16.25	0.00	0.00	0.00	16.25

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2014-07-05 08:30:14
Workout Totals: Distance16.250Time2:12:00.50Pace8:07.42
The day started with an unpleasant discovery. Somebody, very likely an individual without much purpose in life from the younger generation, decided to celebrate the America's Independence Day by stealing a running stroller from the family of a Russian immigrant who has 8 children and a pregnant wife. I find it more than just a coincidence, but rather a symbolic event that stands as a reminder than America is forgetting what it means to be free and is headed in the very direction that made Russia a place that those who strive to achieve something in life would want to escape. Except if America goes down they have nowhere to run.
Leg 1:Distance3.000Time26:41.40Pace8:53.80
With Joseph and Jacob.
Leg 2:Distance1.050Time8:14.50Pace7:50.95
Ran around to see if maybe the loser that stole the stroller dumped it somewhere after he got bored - no luck.
Leg 3:Distance0.500Time5:14.00Pace10:28.00
With Stephen and Benjamin.
Leg 4:Distance1.000Time9:35.70Pace9:35.70
With William and Benjamin.
Leg 5:Distance10.700Time1:22:14.90Pace7:41.21
With Benjamin. It was hot by now and we had quite a death march.

Black Crocs Miles: 16.25

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

Comments

From steve ash on Mon, Jul 07, 2014 at 12:43:28 from 174.52.33.62

Sorry to hear that Sasha. It was probably like you said, a juvenile prank or something.. Try and remember though that most people here are not like so and that freedom, goodness and charity, still reign in the United States. As a nation combined we still give more in humaninatarian aid and personal charity than any other nation on earth.

The American dream is still very much alive and most are still striving for it. I remind myself that every time I'm feeling discouraged or set back.

From steve ash on Mon, Jul 07, 2014 at 12:50:12 from 174.52.33.62

Sorry I had to edit so much, my writing skills need some work:)

From MarkP on Wed, Jul 09, 2014 at 19:45:00 from 67.159.191.98

That stinks--Some people are just losers.

From steve ash on Mon, Jul 14, 2014 at 12:46:25 from 174.52.33.62

In reference to what you said about America having nowhere to run if they go down... This speech proves your point in some aspects. Go to my post today and view the speech from the link.

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