Breaking the Wall

December 21, 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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to Ukraine's Armed Forces

Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	3010.45
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

Wed, Jan 18, 2012

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
9.75	0.00	4.25	0.00	14.00

A.M. Benjamin had a sore throat so I had him rest. Ran with Jeremy. I did a tempo run of 4 miles with the first 2 up the canyon, then turnaround and the same 2 miles back down. The wind was quite mild, and it showed in the splits:

87, 88, 86, 89 (5:50), 88, 92, 92, 90 (6:02, 11:52), 87, 84. 82. 83 (5:36, 17:28), 83, 83, 83, 79 (5:28, 22:56.5). Jeremy joined me for the last 600, but fell back with about 200 to go. But it was still very helpful to have him around for that quarter, helped me shift the gears.

I was happy with the way my muscles worked and the way the form felt, but was not happy with the cardiovascular performance. The heart was not quite giving what it should have, and the breathing felt labored after the first quarter. But the muscles and the form made up. Maybe it is time for some hawthorn berry tea, garlic, and cayenne pepper.

Then added 4 more with circular strides, ran into Sarah and ran with her for a little bit, and then 2 more with Julia. Jenny's calf was hurting, so she ran only 1.

P.M. 1 with Jacob, 1 with Joseph.

Green Crocs 2 Miles: 14.00

Night Sleep Time: 8.00	Nap Time: 0.00	Total Sleep Time: 8.00

Comments

From steve ash on Wed, Jan 18, 2012 at 13:48:54 from 24.10.169.210

Very solid workout Sasha. I miss that course and also the workout..

From Sasha Pachev on Wed, Jan 18, 2012 at 13:58:48 from 67.222.225.187

Steve - I will be doinig this again on Saturday with some variation - 6 miles instead of 4 starting with downhill 2, then up 2, then down 2 again, and the total mileage will be 20, but the fast part will be done in the early part. You are welcome to join me. We now live in Orem, 395 S Palisade Dr. I was planning on starting at 7:30 AM, but can move it in either direction some if that works better with your schedule.

From steve ash on Wed, Jan 18, 2012 at 14:08:00 from 24.10.169.210

Sasha, For sure but I need to check and see what my wife has planned or is working and get back with you.

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