Breaking the Wall

March 19, 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: 25.00 Year: 668.87
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
16.634.751.750.0023.13

A.M. 20.36 in 2:18:52. Did 4 x 1.5 in the middle. 8:37.8, 8:36.9, 8:30.2, 8:17.7. Felt good in the first 3, and decided to see what I had left in the last one. It started 16.5 miles into the run, so I was expecting fuel/nervous system fatigue at that point. Had a side ache, could not figure out if it was fuel related, then realized it was probably just some pressure on the diaphragm. The plan was to run 84 quarters in the first mile, then 80, and then maybe 78 if I could. I ended up with 84, 84, 83, 86, 80, and 80. That one in 86 was odd. The one in 83 felt good, so I thought the next one would be at least 84 with the same effort, but I guess I started going into the "zone" right around that point. I realized that and adjusted my effort to hit 80s. Was happy that I was still able to pull off two 80s after starting to go into the "zone".

With a quarter to go I wanted to measure my "zone depth" and picked up the pace. Was able to run 90 without too much effort, so I was happy about that.

Jenny ran 2.5 with Sarah.

P.M. 2 with Benjamin in 16:51. Jenny and Julia ran 1.5 with us in 13:06. Benjamin needs to learn more respect for his dad. He made me run an 88 quarter with a stroller at the end of a 23 mile day + Elder's Quorum move + two sessions of the Stake Conference + wearing street clothes + going off a 180 turn, which is a real speed killer if you are pushing a stroller. But I survived, caught up to him, and was ready to go faster after 200 meters. 0.5 with Joseph in 4;26. 0.25 with Jacob in 2:36.

Eva Clogs Army Miles: 23.13
Night Sleep Time: 8.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 8.00
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