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
Sat, Oct 11, 2014
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
16.190.002.000.0018.19

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2014-10-11 08:12:11
Workout Totals: Distance18.190Time2:18:12.40Pace7:35.88
 
Leg 1:Distance1.100Time9:20.40Pace8:29.45
Warm-up.
Leg 2:Distance0.498Time2:53.70Pace5:48.80
Benjamin and David paced Joseph, while I paced Jacob in the 800 time trial. Joseph's splits: 42, 43, 44, 42 - 2:51.2. He probably lost a second because his Croc fell off with 150 to go - he needs new Crocs. But he still got a PR - with the help of Jacob breathing down his neck and biting at his heels.

Jacob's splits: 42, 44, 45, 42. New PR by 3 seconds, and a new family record for the 8 and under age division.
Leg 3:Distance0.250Time2:24.30Pace9:37.20
A little jog.
Leg 4:Distance0.062Time0:18.30Pace4:55.16
Joseph was mad that he did not break 2:50, and wanted to release his anger in a 100 meter sprint.
Leg 5:Distance1.280Time10:59.20Pace8:35.00
Back to the house.
Leg 6:Distance6.000Time45:41.30Pace7:36.88
With Benjamin and David. At first Benjamin was worried about his foot and we were moving just barely sub-9:00, but then BYU Cross Country Women's team appeared behind us, and he did not want to get chicked, so he picked up the pace. He kept acting surprised that they were still following us, and I kept telling him that the slower ones of those girls could run 17 minute 5 K and 7:00 pace was quite comfortable for them. I also suggested that if he were a little older I would recommend a different pacing strategy - slow down, wait for them to catch up, then see if any of them were interested in going on a date. I like to tease him about that because he is 15.

But it was good for his foot confidence, I think - only yesterday he finally ran a mile under 8:00 for the first time since the foot accident.
Leg 7:Distance9.000Time1:06:35.20Pace7:23.91
Finished the rest of the run. Did a 2 mile tempo down the canyon.
Split 1:Distance4.700Time37:21.70Pace7:56.96
Cumilative:Distance4.700Time37:21.70Pace7:56.96
To the magic spot in the canyon.
Split 2:Distance2.000Time11:05.40Pace5:32.70
Cumilative:Distance6.700Time48:27.10Pace7:13.90
Felt out of energy at the start. Opened with 5:39, hoping to just keep it, but then found another gear and ran 5:26 for the last mile.
Split 3:Distance2.300Time18:08.10Pace7:53.09
Cumilative:Distance9.000Time1:06:35.20Pace7:23.91
To the house.
 

Black Crocs Miles: 18.19
Night Sleep Time: 7.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 7.00
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