Breaking the Wall

December 30, 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: 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
Wed, Oct 11, 2006
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
9.360.750.000.0010.11

Ran with the kids in the afternoon. Then ran with Ted in the evening from the Kiwani's park to the Provo River Trail, then on the trail towards the Utah Lake until we reached the 4 mile mark, and then back. Did some running while waiting for Ted - 0.4 miles. Including my warm-up, we hit 5 miles in 34:00. Then at 7 miles I saw that the 6:40 guy was only 32 seconds ahead and suggested we catch him. Ted was not super-excited about the idea - he had already 4 miles at sub 6:40 pace earlier in the morning, and he is still getting used to the mileage. But in any case, with 3 quarters in 1:30 (flat), 1:27 (slight down), and 1:28 we got him hitting 53:16 for 8 miles. A little bit more to the car - 8.36 miles in 55:27. Avg. HR 131, max 158 (when doing 1:28 quarter uphill, about 1% grade). HR overall was correct at all paces during the run.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
Comments
From RivertonPaul on Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 08:59:42

Sasha, thanks for your blog. I'm going to participate more so that I will be committded to better training and make the improvements I need. I'll try to drum up some additional activity for the blog as well.

From MikeBro on Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 16:58:12

Sasha--Yes, I am trying to get more consistent after a really bad summer. I suspect my lack of motivation is related to not running races. I used to say that racing motivated me to train; since I haven't raced since May, I'm guessing that's the root of my motivation troubles. I'm going to try to fix that, but 5K season is mostly over now.

Congrats on your marathon--I read your report but didn't comment until now. I wonder if a flat marathon would get you the OTQ, the shape you're in now. Good luck! --Mike

From Nick on Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 19:15:40

From Nick on Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 19:17:22

Hey Sasha,

How did you recover so fast? I have heard that it takes most people at least two weeks to fully recover, and you seemed to do it with lightening speed.

From Nick on Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 19:17:33

From Nick on Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 19:19:11

I dont know how, but i just submitted my comment four times

From Sasha Pachev on Sat, Oct 14, 2006 at 08:25:21

Mike - I have learned through experience that if a Utah boy that has trained for a downhill does not qualify in St. George, he will not qualify in a flat sea-level marathon especially if he just flies to the race a day or two before. A Chicago/London-like marathon is 2 minutes slower than St. George for a good downhill runner.

Nick - I attribute my quick recovery to a combination of consistent training and exceptionally (by American standards) healthy diet over the years. No alcohol ever, no coffee or caffeinated tea for the last 14 years, no soda pop, fast food, or unnatural sweets for the last 12 years, and no red meat or white flower for the last 3 years. Lots of fruits, vegetables, and grains. No breaks longer than 3 days in the entire 22 years of running, no breaks longer than 2 days in the last 18 years, and no breaks longer than 1 day in the last 9 years.

The fruit of the above was not only quick recoveries, but also very consistent performances in the marathon. Last time I was over 2:40 was DesNews 2002. I've run 22 marathons since then with the slowest being 2:39:12, going sub-2:30 6 times, and finishing between 2:30 and 2:35 8 times.

From Nick Miller on Sat, Oct 14, 2006 at 17:28:43

Man, it seems like you have this whole running thing figured out! I guess that's what it is all about, though. You need to find what works for you and stick to a regular training routine while living a healthy lifestyle.

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