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

Wed, Jun 27, 2007

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
14.90	0.60	0.00	0.00	15.50

Had a good morning run alone at 5:00 AM. Had a rough time getting started as usual, but after two miles was going around 7:10 pace with a natural effort. Got to the turnaround (5.02) in 37:32. On the way back gradually eased into a steady 6:50 pace. HR was good - stayed around 126 at 6:50 during the later part of the run. Felt a rush of energy with 0.6 to go, shifted gears, went 5:40 pace to the end. Got 1:10:59 for 10.04. The legs felt responsive. Unlike last week, there were no low fuel signals.

I am testing the theory that what I call neural fatigue (the state of not being able to go faster than about marathon race pace even for a mile) can be cured by maintaining normal blood sugar level throughout the day. So I've been taking Powerade and/or honey every time I felt like my brain stopped working during the day. So far I've seen good signs on easy runs and the mind has been more alert. However, the true test will come tomorrow - I'll try the same 5 mile tempo and see how responsive the legs will be over the distance.

Dropped VanGoGo off at the body shop and ran 1.5 miles home in 95 degree heat, but felt OK. Ran with the kids in the evening and added some more.

On another subject - I am looking for a PT or chiropractor that would meet the following requirements:

Has practice in the Utah County
Has his head straight on his shoulders
Individual approach - will not rush you through his standard routine
Can think out of the box
Likes challenges
Familiar with sports medicine and running in particular
Does not think that if nothing hurts and there are no injuries the work is done.
Does not easily give up - will not be satisfied until success is reached

Any recommendations?

Night Sleep Time: 0.00	Nap Time: 0.00	Total Sleep Time: 0.00

Comments

From bc on Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 00:30:59

Sasha, I'm not sure if he is still practicing publicly, but a few years ago I was recommended to a guy in UT county and he was worth the drive. I think as I was being treated by him he took a job at BYU as a PT for the Dance department. He was very good and worth the drive. He was very busy as most Bishops are a good guy to talk to. He has worked with a lot of runners. Henley was a regular. Anyway I think his name was Ron Nuttal, not sure of the spelling but see if you can find him I think it would be worth the research. Let me know what you find. He did adjustments also but was a lot of massage and movement type work.

From wheakory on Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 00:51:42

Sasha, in your runs you seem to do a mini tempo in every run. If I'm wrong please correct me. Have you see a lot of benefits come out of this? Because I've noticed in my runs even recovery runs I always end up running a faster pace, and I believe it's helpsx me. I know that every run we do shouldn't be at the same intensity, but is a little intensity in each run good?

From Randy on Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 01:25:46

Sasha, The guy I use to go to is Steve Zike. He is in SLC, like 500 E 300 S, or something, but worth the drive.

http://ziketherapy.com/

From James on Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 13:19:10

Sasha,

I used to go to Dr. Ken Hansen in Orem, I thought that he was very good. He is on 800 South just west across State Street from Runners Corner.

From Sasha Pachev on Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 20:59:25

Everybody thanks for the suggestions. Here is the challenge I am working with. Most sports doctors work in the paradigm of curing or preventing an injury. What I discovered is that the moment I tell them I never get injured, and that my legs are never sore, they are rather puzzled and do not know what to do. What is your problem? Your marathon PR is 2:24 and not 2:10? I cannot even break 3:00! That is not a problem, you just need to learn to be happy where you are, that's all.

I need to find somebody who is good for more than working with injuries. This is a very unusual problem. Not in the sense that people do not have it, but in the sense they would not think of treating it, so there is not a lot data on how to do it.It requires a lot of research, fresh thinking, creativity, and commitment to success. I need somebody who will jump at the chance to make a 2:24 marathoner into a 2:10 marathoner, a runner who is trying to qualify for the Trials into a runner who makes the team, I need somebody who understands enough of the significance of that and will have his eyes open to the opportunity enough to give it 100%.

Kory - the reason I like tempo pickups in the middle of easy runs is that it helps me keep them easy - the competitive drive goes into the pickup instead of the whole run.

From Randy on Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 22:23:13

Sasha, I still say that Steve Zike is the guy to go to. I have been to many massage therapists and Steve is by far the best. This guy knows neuro-muscular therapy. He is a serious back-country snow boarder and use to be a competitive cyclist (at some level). I was never injured while I was working with him and always felt my times improve. I think he would be excited at the prospect of working to help you toward 2:10!

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