Breaking the Wall

March 29, 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:

Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 133.01 Year: 776.88
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
18.160.500.000.5019.16

A.M. The Uneventful Half-Marathon with Ted in 1:31:55, 8x100 strides, picked it up on the last mile, ran it in 6:00. Felt strong.

P.M. 0.5 with Benjamin in 4:22, then 1.5 with Benjamin and Jenny - pushed Jacob in the single stroller for that part. Benjamin took off at the end, his 2 mile time was 18:07, Jenny ran her 1.5 in 14:05. Then 1.05 with Julia in 10:53, and 3 by myself, no stroller, in 20:59. Some interesting stomach issues. Burps, lots of gas, could not run longer than 1.5 without a serious bathroom break. However, all solid, and felt strong while running. Sarah and Jenny got some stomach issues as well.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
Comments
From adam on Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 19:05:15

Sasha,

You all still heading out at 6:30 tomorrow? I think I may have a mule to let out of the barn...

From ArmyRunner on Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 20:25:25

Adam we are actually meeting at 5:00am on Tuesday but you are welcome to let the mule out of the barn with us if you want. Wednesday 5:00am again and then Thursday 6:00am and Friday at 6:30am. At least that is our normal routine.

From adam on Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 21:03:58

I'm there. Sorry I ask about times too much. I have a hard time even keeping track of what day it is sometimes with how busy things get.

From Paul Petersen on Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 23:38:17

Sasha, your mileage is goofy today. Better check your half marathon distance.

From annie on Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 11:57:39

Thanks Sasha, I take an attaboy from you very seriously! Oh! I happened upon a "calculator" that I thought you'd like... and paul too probably. I'm not vouching for it's accuracy, I just thought you'd like it. That is if you haven't played with it already!

http://www.mcmillanrunning.com/rununiv/mcmillanrunningcalculator.htm

From Paul Petersen on Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 12:01:25

I've used it. It's a pretty good calculator. I like the Runworks.com one even better, because I can play with altitude, gradient, and heat.

From Sasha Pachev on Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 12:04:37

Annie - that is a very good calculator, very reliable. I use it sometimes.

From annie on Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 12:14:07

yes *double arm pump* I knew you'd like it. I don't have to worry about much other than heat because I live in a boring flat land.

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