Breaking the Wall

December 21, 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: 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
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
12.701.500.400.2014.80

A.M. Ran 10.1 with Jeff in around 1:16:45 or so if I remember right. Did explosions. We were supposed to do a fat mile. But right before it we were talking about the track races in Europe, Bekele, and how he can run 63 second laps back to back in a 10 K. So both of us were a bit too excited for the fat mile, and only the first half of it has a semblance of fat. The quarters were 87, 84, 82, and 77 for the total time of 5:30. Seeing we've blown the fat aspect already Jeff decided to sprint the last 100 to catch the 5:30 guy, and I joined him. So we ended up with the last 100 in 17. But I have to say that 82 quarter felt very good. I was focusing on engaging the right glut and it seemed to help.

The we took Benjamin for his Regionals DNS redemption one mile time trial on the Provo River Trail.  He did well. I guess the right pace would be 6:08, or 23 per 1/16, and it ended up being a good guess. He ran 6:07.7 - a new PR by 7 seconds. Splits: 91, 92, 94, 90. His last 1/16 was 21 seconds. He is on the verge of breaking 6:00. I told Benjamin he reached a significant point in his improvement because he is now fast enough for me to count his mile time trial as marathon pace. One day we will be laughing about him counting my mile time trial as his marathon pace, I hope, and not because I get slower. I can just see that day - Dad, good job, give me five, come on, you can do it, get right there and slap my hand...

I do not get too excited about success at 10 years of age, though, except with the perspective of progression. Now is the time to lay a solid foundation of health, work ethic, and mental toughness for success in adulthood.

P.M. Went to the Provo Canyon. 0.7 with Joseph, 0.5 of it in 5:49. 2 with Jenny and Julia in 19:14.

Five Fingers 2 Miles: 12.10
Night Sleep Time: 8.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 8.00
Comments
From LuzyLew on Mon, Jul 13, 2009 at 18:28:00 from 208.187.197.42

It's so true what you say about Benjamin. He's so talented, and learning to run does teach so many things about work ethic, mental toughness, endurance,succeeding, and finishing. I hope later in life he'll cherish these memories with his dad. It was hard for me to run with my Dad...but now, after he's died, running down all the same dirt roads we ran together while I was growing up, bring me some of my fondest memories of being together.

From Snoqualmie Ridge Runner on Tue, Jul 14, 2009 at 11:12:50 from 67.185.148.81

Wow! That kid is fast- Just don't do a Todd Marinovich on him - -

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