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
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
12.500.500.000.0013.00

Easy run with Eric and George in the morning. We did the Slate Canyon Loop in 14:41, a PR for George. He also hit a mile PR of 6:30. Not bad only 5 days after a marathon. The moral of the story - if you want to set a mile PR, run a marathon 5 days earlier.

Then I put on my ankle weights and ran another loop in them. Had to make a pitstop. Catching George and Eric uphill was ... an interesting experience. All of a sudden I realized I did not have my tempo pace gear. And I had to catch them again after taking the weights off. It was much easier this time.

The whole run was 10 miles. Another 3 of always on the run and running with the kids to make 13 total.

I am having an interesting experience. It seems like all paces start to feel more alike. I timed a mile in my always on the run. I start out at a 10:00 pace for the first 100 meters, and that feels just right. Then gradually speed up to 9:00, 8:00, 7:40, 7:20, 7:00, 6:40. It all feels almost the same other than the ground moving a bit faster, and the legs moving more. Then I realized I need to run sub-6:00 to break Benjamin's mile record (7:31), so I shifted gears and now am going 5:30. Feels almost the same. It seems like the slow pace is starting to feel harder, while the faster pace easier.

My explanation: the ease of a certain pace correlates with the levels of adrenaline. When the body is recovering, adrenaline is low. So starting out feels very hard. However, if there is a need, the adrenalene can be mobilized. However, let the sleeping dog lie. If your adrenalene is low, that is good. The body recovers better.

Therefore, it is not a good idea to push the pace in the recovery runs. Occasional surges to overcome the boredom, but otherwise jog and enjoy the conversation with a slower training partner.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
Comments
From joarj-trail runner on Fri, Apr 14, 2006 at 10:29:56

check out the garbage comment for prescribed drugs that i got dumped on my comments on march 16...my email showed 2 of the same message...

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