Breaking the Wall

Week starting Jun 01, 2025

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:

Ukraine Can Win With Crowdfunded Drones!

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Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	134.06	Year:	1409.57
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:						767.93

Totals

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
46.50	11.11	5.00	0.00	62.61

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

Mon, Jun 02, 2025

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
10.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	10.00

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2025-06-02 08:46:20
Workout Totals: Distance10.000Time1:19:55.20Pace7:59.52
10 total. Easy pace.
Leg 1: Distance3.000Time23:25.90Pace7:48.63ZoneEasy Miles
Alone.
Leg 2: Distance2.000Time17:54.50Pace8:57.25ZoneEasy Miles
With Mary, Bella, and Leigha.
Leg 3: Distance5.000Time38:34.80Pace7:42.96ZoneEasy Miles
Do not remememer if I ran this alone.

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

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Tue, Jun 03, 2025

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
10.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	10.00

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2025-06-03 09:59:39
Workout Totals: Distance10.000Time1:18:40.70Pace7:52.07
10 total. Leigha ran a 2 mile record in 16:50 on the little girl course.
Leg 1: Distance2.000Time16:50.90Pace8:25.45ZoneEasy Miles
With Mary, Bella, and Leigha.
Leg 2: Distance8.000Time1:01:49.80Pace7:43.73ZoneEasy Miles
Do not remember if I ran this with Benjamin or alone.

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

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Wed, Jun 04, 2025

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
8.00	0.00	3.00	0.00	11.00

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2025-06-04 09:19:59
Workout Totals: Distance11.000Time1:26:56.10Pace7:54.19
11 total. Did a 3 mile tempo run with Matthew down the canyon in 18:46. He was more consistent this time, we essentially ran an even pace.
Leg 1: Distance0.730Time5:53.00Pace8:03.56ZoneEasy Miles
Warm-up.
Leg 2: Distance3.000Time18:46.00Pace6:15.33ZoneThreshold Miles
Tempo run with Matthew.
Leg 3: Distance2.270Time22:25.50Pace9:52.73ZoneEasy Miles
To house with Matthew.
Leg 4: Distance5.000Time39:51.60Pace7:58.32ZoneEasy Miles
To the car.

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

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Thu, Jun 05, 2025

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
10.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	10.00

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2025-06-05 10:06:27
Workout Totals: Distance10.000Time1:18:48.40Pace7:52.84
10 total, easy pace. Leigha ran a mile PR on the litte girl course - 7:28. Do not remember her exact splits, but she was faster with every quarter. We were not planning on a mile PR, but at the start I saw that she was on pace for one and told her she could earn her rollerblades if she kept it. And she did.
Leg 1: Distance2.000Time16:27.10Pace8:13.55ZoneEasy Miles
With Mary, Bella, and Leigha.
Leg 2: Distance3.000Time22:57.70Pace7:39.23ZoneEasy Miles
With Matthew if I remember right.
Leg 3: Distance5.000Time39:23.60Pace7:52.72ZoneEasy Miles
Possibly this was with Benjamin.

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

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Fri, Jun 06, 2025

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
7.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	7.00

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2025-06-06 09:15:07
Workout Totals: Distance7.000Time56:33.50Pace8:04.79
7 total. Taper before the half.
Leg 1: Distance2.000Time17:15.50Pace8:37.75ZoneEasy Miles
With Mary, Bella, and Leigha.
Leg 2: Distance5.000Time39:18.00Pace7:51.60ZoneEasy Miles
Part with Matthew, part alone if I remember right.

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

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Sat, Jun 07, 2025

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
1.50	11.11	2.00	0.00	14.61

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2025-06-07 05:06:46
Workout Totals: Distance14.607Time1:41:36.30Pace6:57.35
Utah Valley Half Marathon, 1:27:35. A week ago I did something to my back while moving chairs. I did not think it was a big deal since I was able to run more or less normally with only minor pain. However, when we got to the start of the race, it got worse. I was not sure if I would be able to start. However, I did some stretching and massage, and loosened it up enough to get going. The pace had to be slower. I ran the first mile in 6:58, then was able to speed up a bit to as fast as 6:23, then slowed down to around 6:40 range and more or less stayed there. I did better than my worse fears. I am happy I was able to finish and even with some kind of a competitive time. When I finished I was able to walk to the car more or less normally, but once I got out it every step caused extreme pain as I was suspecting would happen. I have had this problem before, it just took more to make it happen when I was younger. It has gone away with some treatment after three weeks or so. Benjamin had his best half in a while. He still stumbled, but handled it better and was able to run 1:13:45. His last 2 miles were at 5:20 pace.
Leg 1: Distance1.500Time13:59.00Pace9:19.33ZoneEasy Miles
Leg 2: Distance13.107Time1:27:37.30Pace6:41.11
Split 1:Distance1.000Time6:58.40Pace6:58.40ZoneMarathon Pace Miles Cumilative:Distance1.000Time6:58.40Pace6:58.40
Split 2:Distance1.000Time6:38.80Pace6:38.80ZoneMarathon Pace Miles Cumilative:Distance2.000Time13:37.20Pace6:48.60
Split 3:Distance1.000Time6:40.60Pace6:40.60ZoneMarathon Pace Miles Cumilative:Distance3.000Time20:17.80Pace6:45.93
Split 4:Distance1.000Time6:26.00Pace6:26.00ZoneThreshold Miles Cumilative:Distance4.000Time26:43.80Pace6:40.95
Split 5:Distance1.000Time6:23.20Pace6:23.20ZoneThreshold Miles Cumilative:Distance5.000Time33:07.00Pace6:37.40
Split 6:Distance1.000Time6:32.10Pace6:32.10ZoneMarathon Pace Miles Cumilative:Distance6.000Time39:39.10Pace6:36.52
Split 7:Distance1.000Time6:41.90Pace6:41.90ZoneMarathon Pace Miles Cumilative:Distance7.000Time46:21.00Pace6:37.29
Split 8:Distance0.889Time6:06.10Pace6:51.81ZoneMarathon Pace Miles Cumilative:Distance7.889Time52:27.10Pace6:38.92
Split 9:Distance0.109Time0:41.10Pace6:17.06ZoneMarathon Pace Miles Cumilative:Distance7.998Time53:08.20Pace6:38.62
Split 10:Distance1.000Time6:34.20Pace6:34.20ZoneMarathon Pace Miles Cumilative:Distance8.998Time59:42.40Pace6:38.13
Split 11:Distance1.000Time6:45.30Pace6:45.30ZoneMarathon Pace Miles Cumilative:Distance9.998Time1:06:27.70Pace6:38.85
Split 12:Distance1.000Time6:55.60Pace6:55.60ZoneMarathon Pace Miles Cumilative:Distance10.998Time1:13:23.30Pace6:40.37
Split 13:Distance1.000Time6:42.20Pace6:42.20ZoneMarathon Pace Miles Cumilative:Distance11.998Time1:20:05.50Pace6:40.53
Split 14:Distance1.000Time6:48.10Pace6:48.10ZoneMarathon Pace Miles Cumilative:Distance12.998Time1:26:53.60Pace6:41.11
Split 15:Distance0.109Time0:43.70Pace6:40.92ZoneMarathon Pace Miles Cumilative:Distance13.107Time1:27:37.30Pace6:41.11

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

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Totals

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
46.50	11.11	5.00	0.00	62.61

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

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