Breaking the Wall

April 18, 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: 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
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
20.070.000.000.0020.07

A.M. Ran alone. 15.07 in 1:52:20. This run took my Five Fingers over the 500 mile boundary. I think Steve Hooper will have to tell his sales rep that Five Fingers can go quite a bit over 500 miles.

Did some experiments trying different form alterations and observing their impact on HR at the same pace, or the pace at the same HR. Discovered one thing - we are took quick to conclude that changing the form has given us a performance boost. I would do something different, it would make me run faster, but HR would go up as well. So in other words, I wanted it to work bad enough that I subconsciously sped up and ignored the increased effort, which was easy to do when the pace is in the 7:00 - 7:30 range.

However, I did find something that appeared to be effective. No dramatic effect, but at least something. If I focused on a quick push and then a quick transition to relaxation as soon as the leg was off the ground, I was able to bring my HR down from 125 to 123 at the same pace (7:25 per mile). This was difficult to do properly, though. Not surprising, if it was easy I would have figured it out already. I kept doing one of the two - either relax too much and forget to power, in which case the HR stayed at 123 but the pace dropped to 7:35-7:40, or I would get excited, power hard, but then forget to relax. This would bring the pace up to under 7:10, but HR went up to 126-127.

P.M. 1 with Julia in 9:56, 1.5 with Benjamin and Jenny in 13:07, 0.5 with Benjamin in 3:56, and 2.5 alone in 14:58. Managed to fit the HRM on Benjamin. His HR was around 160 at 9:00 pace, around 174 at  8:00 pace, and after about 0.1 of sub-8:00 pace followed by 100 meters in 23 (6:08 pace) it got up to 186. First time I've been able to observe his HR at different speeds. 

Five Fingers - 505.49 miles.

Night Sleep Time: 8.00Nap Time: 1.00Total Sleep Time: 9.00
Comments
From wheakory on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 14:48:12

Nice work on the Five Fingers. I really need to get a pair to test them out and strengthen the muscles.

When are you going to finish your WBR race report?

From josse on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 14:56:02

What up with Jeff, is he gone?

From Sasha Pachev on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 15:11:27

Jeff is in Park City at the family reunion. Kory - WBR is still work in progress. I have updated it, but it is not done. I want to get all the details right to help us plan better next year. In my opinion, we were about 15-20 minutes slower than we could have been with ideal planning with the same pool of people. Still slower than BYU, but next year hopefully we will have stronger runners, so 15-20 minutes from stronger runners, 15-20 minutes from better planning, and we become competitive.

From josse on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 15:24:06

I think we should try to put together a 3rd team but have it mixed. Then we could have 3 teams in the top.

From Jon on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 15:34:45

Personally, I would avoid multiple teams. At least from what I saw, it was very difficult to organize and keep people happy. Or if you do multiple teams, keep them seperate (i.e. don't move people from one team to the other). But I think a coed team would be awesome, especially given how fast some of our women are.

From josse on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 15:39:05

I agree with the keeping them separate. We would need to appoint a team captian for each team and not mix and match. Put the teams together based on speed and leave it at that. An extra bonus for being on my team is massage at hand;)

From Jon on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 15:58:27

That's it, I'm joining your team, Josse. You sold me.

From Sasha Pachev on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 16:40:41

Happiness is subjective. If we want to beat BYU next year, people need to learn to be happy to run on whatever team, whichever van, and whichever legs they are assigned. And if their fitness changes right before the race, and the rules permit us to move them to another team, then they need to be ready to move, up or down without any grumbling. If everyone goes after his own happiness, we are 15-20 minutes slower, and that could cost us the win. This year it would not have made a difference, but next year it likely will.

From Jon on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 17:08:18

I'm going for the happiness of unlimited free massages! Plus, happier runners run faster!

From Jon on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 17:12:20

Sasha, I think your assumption is what drives the result. For example, you are assuming everyone's goal is the beat BYU. Some people may prefer to be on a certain team (or be on a team with their friends, or run a certain leg, etc), even if it means not beating BYU. I'm all for beating BYU, but you have to make sure everyone is working under the same assumptions as you are for the results to work. I'm not saying I'm not in your boat, but you may need to remember that some people have different goals.

From josse on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 17:23:37

I think most in general are ok with what Sasha is saying. Of coarse my goal is not to beat BYU and I know I would not be put on that team. My goal is to beat the other coed teams. But I am also in for a good time and to be with friends.

So you put together an "A" team with the fastest of the fast that all want to compete to win. Then the "B" team of the rejects oh I mean the next fastest that can place in the top 3 and a "C" team which stand for coed and want to be a competative coed team. I do agree you have to make the judgement right before based on recent preformaces and how that person is running. So to avoid hard feelings just don't put the teams together until right before. But Jon you are welcome to run on my team, I just don't know if Sasha will let you;)

From wheakory on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 17:44:07

I didn't notice that there was a lot of grumbling and complaining about legs. I know our team didn't complain about what legs they were assigned. The blue team gave what they had in the relay and really didn't need to be serious doing that. Jon's right about, "happier runners run faster".

What I think he means for part of this is you can have fun in a relay and still run your best and don't have to be so serious. If you get a leg that you didn't really want your still going to run good. Sometimes being so technical can cause problems or added pressure.

From josse on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 17:51:56

"Sometimes being so technical can cause problems or added pressure." I completly agree, I have to enjoy what I am doing other wise I wouldn't do it. BTW-I enjoy pain and running fast, but I run the best when I am having fun and there is not alot of pressure. And I don't want someone who is having an off day to feel bad for not running their best.

From Jon on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 18:43:59

Hey, Josse said I was on the reject team! I'm not sure if that is better or worse than my first year, when my team was named "Team Misfits" cause we were the team no one wanted.

Only one problem, Josse- you have to assign runners to WBR teams about 2 months before the race. Lots of things can happen (and happened this year) in those 2 months- injuries, drop outs, changes in fitness, etc. Plus, when you have 10 runners who are essentially the same speed, who do you choose?

Kory- ask Cody, James, Paul, and Sasha about how much work went into getting the teams together. There was a ton of time spent that you guys (thankfully) were not aware of.

From josse on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 18:52:16

No Jon you are just the next fastest. I would think you would be able to move things around (of cousre I don't now the rules) they have to understand people get injured and stuff happens. Right?

From Jon on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 18:54:22

"Then the "B" team of the rejects oh I mean the next fastest that can place in the top 3"

See, the rejects! Cool! I was on the reject team!

From josse on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 19:57:57

Question-I noticed that the WBR is already registering for next year. I now you got comps for the two teams, do you think we can get one for the coed team or should I pay the registration?

From Sasha Pachev on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:20:41

Jon:

If you are on the racing team and you are get a comp into any race that is provided by the blog, the assumption is you are there to race, which is defined as doing everything within your ability to run the fastest possible time.

Josse:

We are not 100% decided at this point, but I would not pay that entry fee in a hurry. If we end up not putting together a mixed team, there will be plenty of teams anxious to gobble you up in the last two weeks prior to the race.

From josse on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 20:54:28

Ya I don't want to fork out the 1000 buck for the entery fee!

From Jon on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 21:18:53

Sasha- I realize that if you are on the team and get a comp from the blog, then you should do your best to help the team. That is a given.

From MichelleL on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 21:21:38

I have no intention of being gobbled.

From Steve on Thu, Jun 26, 2008 at 11:10:35

THere are too many turkeys around here.

From Paul Petersen on Thu, Jun 26, 2008 at 11:26:00

Josse - Yeah, you can always jump on a team a couple weeks before the event. Some of them are desperate enough to pay your way at that point too!

From josse on Thu, Jun 26, 2008 at 12:13:46

I don't just want to be on any team I would like to put a competitive FRB coed team together. Besides that is the only way Michelle will do it.

From josse on Thu, Jun 26, 2008 at 12:19:53

Goble, goble I like turkies....you are probably taking about me:)

From Steve on Thu, Jun 26, 2008 at 12:25:15

I'm up for a coed team. My wife would run on the coed team as well.

Of course, I don't want to do all the leg work in setting it up. I don't envy the people who do that.

I like turkeys, especially on Turkey Day!

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