Breaking the Wall

December 30, 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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to Ukraine's Armed Forces

Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	72.31	Year:	3105.12
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

Mon, Mar 05, 2012

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
13.60	0.00	0.00	0.40	14.00

A.M. 7 with Benjamin and Jeremy, 2 with Jenny and Julia, 3 alone. Total of 12. Did a pickup for 600 in 1:55. Felt good. Today I decided to retire my old pair of Crocs which lasted 2220 miles and broke in a new one which is exactly the same type and even color as the old.

P.M. 2 total. 1 with Jacob, 1 with Joseph. Had the usual company.

Green Crocs 3 Miles: 14.00

Night Sleep Time: 7.50	Nap Time: 0.00	Total Sleep Time: 7.50

Comments

From Chad Robinson on Tue, Mar 06, 2012 at 16:28:21 from 50.73.39.89

I guess 2220 miles is a good cut off point for a pair of shoes (probably the best $15 you have ever spent).

From rAtTLeTrAp on Wed, Mar 14, 2012 at 19:34:27 from 24.18.125.122

Where do you get these crocs for $15? The ones I see around here are always around $30+. I'm considerng trying some mostly because of the cost/mileage, but they look so cheesy, like they would just fall apart. I'm not sure I'm looking at the same "crocs" everyone is talking about...

From Chad Robinson on Wed, Mar 14, 2012 at 21:49:13 from 75.162.226.110

Trap - I'm not certain where Sasha gets his but I spend the full $30 on mine. They are the same clunky looking clogs with the holes and heel strap. I got 1200 miles out of my first pair. You need to buy them snug but not too tight. You wil probably get blisters on your longest toes the first time around. They do stretch and become very comfortable.

From rAtTLeTrAp on Wed, Mar 14, 2012 at 21:54:03 from 24.18.125.122

That doesn't sound very pleasant. I can't remember the last time I got a blister wearing my asics. Maybe it's worth another $20 after all. I usually find 2150s or 2160s on sale for $50ish and get about 1000 miles out of 'em. I am really cheap and like the idea of getting 2000 miles out of a pair if $15 shoes, but not if they are gonna make me suffer :)

From Chad Robinson on Wed, Mar 14, 2012 at 21:59:23 from 75.162.226.110

Yeah, it is what it is. I do love how light they are and after the first week they are fantastic.

From Sasha Pachev on Thu, Mar 15, 2012 at 11:08:56 from 67.222.225.187

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014BYIM0

Size 10, chocolate $20.72. The prices are going up.

From rAtTLeTrAp on Thu, Mar 15, 2012 at 12:26:21 from 24.18.125.122

Thanks Sasha, I might try a pair if I can find them locally and try them on first. My wife says I can't race in them, I can only wear them on early morning runs when it's dark :)

I love the product features:

For light duty, general purpose applications Applicable for cleaning and finishing recessed areas of IDs; cleaning and polishing die, mold and tool; rust, paint, scale, slag and rubber/plastic flash removal Also used for Spot facing, deburring, weld, carbon and ID pipe cleaning Lightweight Circulation nubs stimulate blood flow Ventalation ports

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