Breaking the Wall

April 20, 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
Fri, Jul 10, 2015
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
11.340.001.000.0012.34

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2015-07-10 07:25:07
Workout Totals: Distance12.340Time1:37:36.80Pace7:54.62
Retried the mile time trial with the kids at Orem High. Well, it was mostly for Jacob. I wanted him to go into Draper Days with the confidence that he can ran a good mile. We also have a tradition to do a mile time trial a few days before the birthday - Jacob is turning 9 in 12 days.

He ran a PR of 5:56.4 (improving by 0.9 seconds) with the splits of 85, 92, 91, and 86 with the balance going towards the 9.34 meter tax. Knowing that he tends to get overanxious when the pace is fast and he still has some distance to go I reminded him of a hymn we sing in church - Master, The Tempest is Raging, and the story from the Bible to go with it. I also told him about one time when a little boy had caused some trouble and when his mother was about to reprimand him said to her - Peace, be still!

I think this preparation helped. I could tell after the first lap that he was starting to struggle, however he was able to regroup in the second lap, his breathing started to sound better, so I knew he would have a kick. And he did. His last 200 was 42.

Joseph showed an unusual amount of patience. Jacob told us earlier he would like me to set the pace with Joseph running behind him or by his side. He did this for the whole three laps, then he just sensed I was too hesitant to kick at the right pace for Jacob, so he stepped forward and turned it on. This was just perfect because Jacob responded. Joseph ended up finishing in 5:54.8 with the last 400 in 84. I must note that he sacrificed a chance for a PR to help his brother - all he had to do was make a move with two laps to go instead of one. That same Joseph who a few months ago said he was not sure if he would rather finish second to Jacob in the Olympics, or be without a medal if he got to beat Jacob.

Jenny was struggling today and ran the 800 in 3:04. She ran the first lap with us, but then fell back. On the positive side of things for her, her AP scores came back - she got 5 in Psychology, and 3 in English.

Julia did OK. Her assignment was to run the first lap with us, and then her best pace to the mile. She was around 86-87 at the 400, rested a lap in 1:52, then ran around 1:40 per lap pace to the finish and got 6:51.4 for the mile.

Stephen did 1, and William did 2 with Benjamin as usual. Benjamin did his regular 10.
Leg 1:Distance1.100Time9:38.20Pace8:45.64
Warm-up to Orem High.
Leg 2:Distance1.000Time6:51.40Pace6:51.40
Time trial.
Split 1:Distance0.995Time5:54.80Pace5:56.58
Cumilative:Distance0.995Time5:54.80Pace5:56.58
Joseph's time.
Split 2:Distance0.005Time0:01.60Pace5:20.00
Cumilative:Distance1.000Time5:56.40Pace5:56.40
Jacob and I finished.
Split 3:Distance0.000Time0:55.00Pace0:00.00
Cumilative:Distance1.000Time6:51.40Pace6:51.40
Waiting for Julia.
 
Leg 3:Distance1.040Time9:28.80Pace9:06.92
Back the house with the gang.
Leg 4:Distance1.000Time8:27.50Pace8:27.50
With Joseph and Jacob.
Leg 5:Distance8.200Time1:03:10.90Pace7:42.30
With Benjamin.

White Crocs 2 Miles: 12.34
Night Sleep Time: 6.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 6.00
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