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:

Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
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
11.950.750.000.2512.95

A.M. Sick stomach. But I was still able to run. Ran with Sarah for about 0.6, then alone the rest of the way. Did a quarter pickup in 78. Muscles felt good, breathing felt good, the stomach did not like it. At the turnaround I felt like I did not want to run anymore, but I was 5 miles away from the house. I noticed that in spite of the stomach I still could run sub-7:00 pace comfortably. So I did. One mile at a time. With each mile my spirits were lifted because I was one mile closer to home and would have to walk one less mile if the stomach really went south. With 0.75 left I realized that if I ran a quick pace I would break 1:14, and also that if the stomach did not get any worse in over 4 miles since the turnaround it would not be likely for it to get worse before I got home. And I wanted to get home quickly. So I picked up the pace and ran 4:31 for the last 0.75 (6:01 pace). Total time for 10.2 was 1:13:41.

P.M. 2 with Benjamin and Jared in 17:21. Julia ran 1.5 with us in 13:26. Jenny ran 2.5 with Sarah in the morning. 0.5 with Joseph and Jordan in 4:52. 0.25 with Jacob in 2:58.

Water Clogs Miles: 2.75Airwalk Clogs Miles: 10.20
Night Sleep Time: 8.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 8.00
Comments
From Kory on Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 14:12:43 from 134.50.89.55

I'm glad you made it home. Those types of runs will give you great strength to know you can make it in tough situation in a race or training.

Nice work Sasha. What's your plan for next year marathon's?

From Sasha Pachev on Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 16:45:41 from 192.168.1.1

Kory:

Utah Valley, DesNews (if Utah Valley goes well), TOU if the other two go well. If TOU goes really well, St. Jude or Rocket City.

From Kory on Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 17:02:11 from 134.50.89.33

I was considering the Utah Valley Marathon. Didn't you mention there were changes to be made in the course? Not going through tunnels or sharp turns on the Provo trail? I did a 2:40 last year so if it's different I might consider doing it.

DesNews also might be a good change to do. I haven't done it in two years. This is if I can get myself to want to commit to hard training again this year. Life running marathon's for me isn't as exciting as it used to be.

From Sasha Pachev on Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 17:13:33 from 192.168.1.1

Kory - the course does not go through tunnels any more. It starts a few miles further back and is a straight shot to the mall on the highway.

From Paul on Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 17:26:17 from 76.27.122.123

How does the UV Half course compare to the TOU Half course?

From Sasha Pachev on Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 17:56:10 from 192.168.1.1

Paul - my very rough guess is 30 seconds slower.

From Kory on Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 17:59:53 from 134.50.89.33

What would you estimate the time comparison for the Utah Valley marathon with this years changes. (faster/slower)

From Sasha Pachev on Thu, Dec 24, 2009 at 15:05:55 from 192.168.1.1

Kory - probably a minute or two faster this year compared to last year.

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