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

Fri, Mar 27, 2009

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
18.50	0.00	0.00	0.10	18.60

A.M. Ran with Jeff, Mary Ann, Matt, and Carolyn. Jeff slept in, so we met him near DI. Carolyn was going to drive back tomorrow so she wanted to do a long run. We warmed up 1.5 to DI at around 9:00 pace, then I wanted to see how Carolyn would handle 8:00 pace. After a mile in 7:57 she picked it up to around 7:40-7:45 range. She was breathing hard but was maintaining the pace. I figured 8 miles would be good, with a surprise to follow. So she finished 8 miles 1:02:13, average of 7:46.6. Then she jogged a mile in 9:12 and a little more at about 9:00 pace. As soon as the 8:00 girl caught us I told Carolyn to go after her and PR in the half. She ended up running 1:45:20 for the half, a 4 minute PR on a slower course beating her Moab time 6 days ago.

P.M. 2 with Benjamin in 15:36. 2 with Jenny in 18:00. Julia ran 1.5 with us in 13:42.

Brooks T4 Racing Flat Miles: 14.60

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

Comments

From jun on Fri, Mar 27, 2009 at 16:28:16 from 66.239.250.209

Sounds like you guys had an amazing morning. I'm so impressed with your ability to push and inspire Carolyn (or anyone for that matter) after only running with her a couple of times. You are a natural coach and motivator. Nice job today.

From Carolyn in Colorado on Fri, Mar 27, 2009 at 16:44:30 from 198.241.217.15

Thanks for your help, Sasha. I really enjoyed meeting you and your family. I'm not sure I "enjoyed" running with you, but it was really good for me. You have motivated me to work harder and set my sights higher.

From Camille on Fri, Mar 27, 2009 at 16:49:09 from 71.223.67.112

Wow! Way to go Carolyn! That's amazing!

From Jon on Fri, Mar 27, 2009 at 19:21:19 from 98.202.189.152

Did you guys decide if you are doing the 5k tomorrow, or a long run?

From Sasha Pachev on Fri, Mar 27, 2009 at 19:26:53 from 192.168.1.1

Jon:

We are not going to the 5 K. So if you come you will have company. 7:00 AM, 339 N 1120 W. We are planning a hard 20 miler in some form. I am thinking Jeff will do 5:40 pace for 17 then all out for the last 3 if he feels good, otherwise something milder. I will run with him until failure then the rest based on how I feel, probably finish 20 at 6:00-6:10 pace. We will be doing this on the 5 mile tempo course, so you can do repeats of your choice with us if you are not up to tempoing at 5:40.

From Jon on Sat, Mar 28, 2009 at 00:12:27 from 98.202.189.152

Supposing I didn't run the last 2 days due to sickness, there is no way I'm going to try a 20 mile tempo at that pace. Maybe I'll see you on the trail, though.

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