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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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, Sep 30, 2011

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
12.70	0.00	0.00	1.30	14.00

A.M. Total of 12. Did Sarah's 2 mile tempo run with her. She ran it in 15:49, which shows she is in PR shape. Her PRs came in 2002-2003 when we had first 2 and then only 3 children. Now after 7 she is back in the PR shape. She is also able to fit into her wedding dress at the age of almost 36 after being married for almost 15 years and all the children in between.The recipe of her success is simple - run 6 days a week and eat healthy. No excuses, no exceptions. No fancy training programs, no fancy diets, no special equipment, and no certified personal trainers. Just focus on the essence of things and get it done.

Ran 2 with Benjamin, Jenny and Julia - Benjamin had a sore throat. 0.5 with Joseph and Jacob. The rest alone. Did a pickup for 2100 meters in 6:58.8 - 5:19 pace.

P.M. Added another 2 miles.

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 Sat, Oct 01, 2011 at 13:15:11 from 24.10.169.210

Yup. It's not rocket science for sure. I think thats great that Sarah was able to do accomplish that:) Congrats to her!

From allie on Sat, Oct 01, 2011 at 18:51:18 from 24.10.191.18

i met sarah for the first time at the TOU awards ceremony this year and i thought she was the third place woman overall. i congratulated her on her race and then she introduced herself and i realized my mistake. i felt pretty silly, but after thinking about it i'd say it's not a bad thing to be mistaken for a top 3 finisher in a marathon after having seven children. :) she looked great, and it's nice to see she has been able to stay healthy and consistent through seven pregnancies. it's true that the recipe is very simple -- unfortunately this simplicity seems to make it very difficult to figure out.

From Jake K on Mon, Oct 03, 2011 at 16:26:51 from 155.100.226.53

That simple recipe for success would go a long, long way in our country if folks would forget about quick fix gimmicks and do exactly what Sarah did! Congrats to her... and I just also wanted to say that I think its great that your whole family values health and exercise. You guys set a good example.

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