Breaking the Wall

December 30, 2024

15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

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:	72.31	Year:	3105.12
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:						1743.12
White Slip Resistant Crocs Lifetime Miles:						759.93

Mon, Dec 17, 2007

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
17.50	3.00	0.00	0.00	20.50

A.M. 15.1 with Ted at 6:30 AM with minor events. The road had more dry patches, so we took advantage of them. Ted's shin was hurting, so we did not get as much tempo running in as the dry road would have permitted, but that was OK - Monday is not a tempo day anyway, plus I am happy to just build base for the next few weeks. Total time 1:41:46, 6:44.37 avg, last 13.1 in 1:26:03, 6:34.12 avg. Tempo running was done around 5:40-6:00 pace.

I posted my Digital X-Ray Image Dilemma on the forum. Any thoughts are appreciated.

P.M. 1.05 with Julia in 11:26, 1.5 with Jenny in 14:38, 2 with Benjamin in 15:47 ( he showed the 8:00 who's the boss with a 7:12 closing mile), then 0.7 by myself in 4:38. For our Family Home Evening activity we went around the neighborhood to pass around presents and to Christmas carol. When we were done, Benjamin and Julia wanted to run home, so we ran 0.15.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00	Nap Time: 0.00	Total Sleep Time: 0.00

Comments

From cgbooth23 on Tue, Dec 18, 2007 at 16:54:26

SAsha,

Hey I didn't get into the moab 1/2 and looking to get a spring time 1/2 in have you done the Red Rock Canyon Marathon and 1/2 Marathon? looks like a good one and it is March 1st!

From Sasha Pachev on Thu, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:52:53

I've never run that one. I did take a look at the website, though, and picked up a couple of clues. Does not look like a super-well organized race. It was canceled with no reason provided in 2005. The website does not even list a date for this year. The registration form link appears to be not functional.

You do have a half around that time of year that finishes in your home town, though - Striders. I would strongly recommend that one. I've run it. It is very well organized. The course is USATF certified, so you can be really sure you've run 13.11. You can run the Ogden Half as well, which starts in Eden. Again, very strong recommendation for that one.

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