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
Thu, Jun 20, 2019
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
10.310.000.002.0012.31

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2019-06-20 06:52:21
Workout Totals: Distance12.315Time1:30:49.50Pace7:22.51
Kids did reduced mileage tapering for the regionals. Benjamin paced me through 2 miles down the canyon. The target was 10:40, 5:20 pace, and with Benjamin's help I was able to do it. He wisely started a bit slower - evenly paced 5:22. I considered pulling alongside to urge a faster pace, but decided against it figuring perhaps Benjamin was sensing something. This was after all a safe bet - if all I had in me was 10:50, this would get me there, but if I really had 10:40, then I would be able to kick. It turned out to be the latter. We ran 81, 81, 80 for the next three quarters, at which I went from wanting to run faster to just hanging on and praying for adrenaline. In the last 0.25 my prayer for adrenaline was answered again and I found a 76 quarter closing the gap on the 5:20 guy and hitting the target time of 10:40. I was happy about being able to close with 5:18 for the last mile.

This is my fastest time on that course in almost 2 years, a PR for the year, PR for past 46, and PR as a father of 11. Maybe I should add PR as a father of a return missionary as well to keep myself motivated. Benjamin is also working on giving me a chance for decent grandfather PRs - he went on a date right after the run.

In the evening I had a very interesting run with Matthew. He started out complaining he was not feeling good, but still opened the mile with 2:00 quarter. Then in the second quarter a dog growled at him, and he ran 1:53. On the way back that same dog chased us, so the next quarter was 1:45. In the last quarter, he still had the adrenaline pumping from the dog chase, so he ran it in 1:41 with 7:18 for the mile. I wish USATF rules allowed specially trained chase dogs during the 8 and under division races :-)
Leg 1:Distance0.980Time7:45.30Pace7:54.80
With Benjamin.
Leg 2:Distance2.000Time10:40.70Pace5:20.35
2 miles down the canyon with Benjamin.
Leg 3:Distance5.210Time40:28.60Pace7:46.14
Part with Benjamin, part alone.
Leg 4:Distance1.000Time7:18.70Pace7:18.70
With Matthew, part with Benjamin.
Leg 5:Distance0.125Time1:12.30Pace9:38.40
With Bella.
Leg 6:Distance3.000Time23:23.90Pace7:47.97
With Benjamin.

Neon Crocs 2 Miles: 12.31
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
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