Breaking the Wall

March 28, 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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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
13.120.006.250.0019.37

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2014-04-26 08:02:16
Workout Totals
Distance Time Pace
19.370 2:22:37.50 7:21.79
Total of 19.37. Ran with Chad and Benjamin. Benjamin did 13, Joseph and Jacob 2, William 1, Jenny 4, Julia 3. Benjamin, Chad, and I did a 6.25 mile tempo. The original plan was for Benjamin to go 5:30, for me to try to hang on, but due to the heavy rain and headwind we had to adjust the pace to whatever the conditions would let us. Details below.
Leg 1
Distance Time Pace Comment
3.3 26:38.10. 8:04.27 Warm-up. We drove to the Canyon Glen Park, and ran to Vivian Park from there.
Split# Distance Time Pace Comment
1 3.300 26:38.10 8:04.27  
Leg 2
Distance Time Pace Comment
6.25 36:06.90. 5:46.70 Benjamin and I opened with 5:46 but it felt at least as hard as 5:30 did on Thursday. Chad fell back after about half mile or so. Then Benjamin picked up to 5:32 pace. I lasted about half a mile, then dropped back. Over the next mile and a half Benjamin gapped me by about 20 seconds, then he slowed down some and I sped up some and we ran like that more or less to the finish. I had 23:08 at 4 miles, and 28:53 at 5. He had 22:41 and 28:30. Over the last 1.5 Benjamin really had to go to the bathroom, so he eased off to avoid the possible tragic outcome. This allowed me to close the gap some. He finished in 35:46 - 20 seconds ahead of me. Chad got 39:30.
Split# Distance Time Pace Comment
1 6.250 36:06.90 5:46.70  
Leg 3
Distance Time Pace Comment
0.08 0:41.00. 8:32.50 Recovery jog.
Split# Distance Time Pace Comment
1 0.080 0:41.00 8:32.50  
Leg 4
Distance Time Pace Comment
2.9 24:25.20. 8:25.24 Back to the house.
Split# Distance Time Pace Comment
1 2.900 24:25.20 8:25.24  
Leg 5
Distance Time Pace Comment
2.04 17:17.00. 8:28.33 With Joseph, Jacob, and Chad. Quote from Joseph for today: "If m*v^2 was not in half, I would have had broken ribs when I got hit by a car". This sounds particularly funny coming out of a 9-year-old kid.
Split# Distance Time Pace Comment
1 2.040 17:17.00 8:28.33  
Leg 6
Distance Time Pace Comment
4.8 37:29.30. 7:48.60 Back to the car with Chad.
Split# Distance Time Pace Comment
1 4.800 37:29.30 7:48.60  

Green Crocs 7 Miles: 19.37
Night Sleep Time: 8.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 8.00
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