Breaking the Wall

Top of Utah Half Marathon

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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
Totals
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
48.580.5017.111.0067.19
Amoji 1 Miles: 67.19
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
Sun, Aug 22, 2021
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
0.000.000.000.000.00

Day of rest. Stake Conference.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
Add Comment
Mon, Aug 23, 2021
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
10.500.001.500.0012.00

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2021-08-23 08:34:22
Workout Totals: Distance12.000Time1:33:55.70Pace7:49.64
12 total. Usual distances for the kids. Did a pickup uphill for 0.5 in 3:16 with Joseph and Matthew (Stephen was not up to it), and 5:50 mile down the canyon with Jacob. Benjamin did 9+3 with an informal 3 minute pickup for roughly 1 K.
Leg 1:
Distance4.000Time30:56.40Pace7:44.10
With Joseph, Stephen, and Matthew.
Split 1:Distance3.500Time27:39.90Pace7:54.26ZoneEasy Miles
Cumilative:Distance3.500Time27:39.90Pace7:54.26
Split 2:Distance0.500Time3:16.50Pace6:33.00ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance4.000Time30:56.40Pace7:44.10
 
Leg 2:
Distance8.000Time1:02:59.30Pace7:52.41
With Jacob, part with William.
Split 1:Distance5.270Time43:14.10Pace8:12.24ZoneEasy Miles
Cumilative:Distance5.270Time43:14.10Pace8:12.24
Split 2:Distance1.000Time5:50.70Pace5:50.70ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance6.270Time49:04.80Pace7:49.67
Split 3:Distance1.730Time13:54.50Pace8:02.37ZoneEasy Miles
Cumilative:Distance8.000Time1:02:59.30Pace7:52.41
 

Amoji 1 Miles: 12.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
Add Comment
Tue, Aug 24, 2021
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
10.500.001.500.0012.00

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2021-08-24 08:33:39
Workout Totals: Distance12.000Time1:33:04.10Pace7:45.34
12 total, all at once, as it worked out better with the schedule. Usual distances for everybody, except I push William on 4 miles a day temporarily until he is over the excessive heart rate issue. Did a pickup for 0.5 uphill with Matthew, Joseph and William at the end of 4.

Benjamin did 8x400 in 66 high with 200 recovery. Said he felt some difficulty.
Leg 1:
Distance4.000Time31:17.60Pace7:49.40
With William, Stephen, Matthew, and Joseph.
Split 1:Distance3.500Time28:01.80Pace8:00.51ZoneEasy Miles
Cumilative:Distance3.500Time28:01.80Pace8:00.51
Split 2:Distance0.500Time3:15.80Pace6:31.60ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance4.000Time31:17.60Pace7:49.40
 
Leg 2:
Distance8.000Time1:01:46.50Pace7:43.31
With Jacob, part with Joseph.
Split 1:Distance6.770Time54:00.80Pace7:58.70ZoneEasy Miles
Cumilative:Distance6.770Time54:00.80Pace7:58.70
Split 2:Distance1.000Time5:52.30Pace5:52.30ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance7.770Time59:53.10Pace7:42.43
Split 3:Distance0.230Time1:53.40Pace8:13.04ZoneEasy Miles
Cumilative:Distance8.000Time1:01:46.50Pace7:43.31
 

Amoji 1 Miles: 12.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
Add Comment
Wed, Aug 25, 2021
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
11.500.000.500.0012.00

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2021-08-25 08:43:34
Workout Totals: Distance12.000Time1:34:43.50Pace7:53.62
12 total. Usual distances. Did 0.5 at the end of 4 with Matthew, Jacob, and William. Benjamin did his usual 9+3 with 1 K pickup.
Leg 1:
Distance4.000Time31:21.70Pace7:50.42
With Jacob, William, Stephen, and Matthew.
Split 1:Distance3.500Time28:09.60Pace8:02.74ZoneEasy Miles
Cumilative:Distance3.500Time28:09.60Pace8:02.74
Split 2:Distance0.500Time3:12.10Pace6:24.20ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance4.000Time31:21.70Pace7:50.42
 
Leg 2:
Distance8.000Time1:03:21.80Pace7:55.23ZoneEasy Miles
With Joseph, part with Jacob.

Amoji 1 Miles: 12.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
Add Comment
Thu, Aug 26, 2021
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
8.500.500.001.0010.00

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2021-08-26 08:57:33
Workout Totals: Distance10.000Time1:18:24.40Pace7:50.44
10 total. Tapering for the TOU Half. Jacob did 6. I did a mile pickup with Joseph in 5:49 down the canyon. Stephen did 0.5 uphill with me and Jacob in 3:26.

Benjamin got the vaccine on Tuesday. Did an easy run today, 9+3.
Leg 1:
Distance4.000Time31:56.50Pace7:59.12
With Jacob, William, Stephen, and Matthew.
Split 1:Distance3.500Time28:30.30Pace8:08.66ZoneEasy Miles
Cumilative:Distance3.500Time28:30.30Pace8:08.66
Split 2:Distance0.500Time3:26.20Pace6:52.40ZoneMarathon Pace Miles
Cumilative:Distance4.000Time31:56.50Pace7:59.12
 
Leg 2:
Distance6.000Time46:27.90Pace7:44.65
With Joseph, part with Jacob.
Split 1:Distance3.050Time24:39.80Pace8:05.18ZoneEasy Miles
Cumilative:Distance3.050Time24:39.80Pace8:05.18
Split 2:Distance1.000Time5:49.40Pace5:49.40ZoneVO2 Max Miles
Cumilative:Distance4.050Time30:29.20Pace7:31.65
Split 3:Distance1.950Time15:58.70Pace8:11.64ZoneEasy Miles
Cumilative:Distance6.000Time46:27.90Pace7:44.65
 

Amoji 1 Miles: 10.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
Add Comment
Fri, Aug 27, 2021
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
5.500.000.500.006.00

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2021-08-27 08:37:37
Workout Totals: Distance6.000Time47:06.70Pace7:51.12
6 total for me. Tapering for the TOU Half. 4 for Jacob. Benjamin took it easy today as well, only 9 miles.

Jacob and I paced Matthew for the last 0.5 uphill of his 4 and he ran his fastest time today of 3:08. He was headed for 3:15, but then a garbage truck appeared, he got scared and ran much faster.

Stephen took a break with 2 + 1.5 with Mary and Bella - he developed a bruise on top of his foot, and is trying to heal it.
Leg 1:
Distance4.000Time31:37.60Pace7:54.40
With Jacob, William, Stephen (part), and Matthew.
Split 1:Distance3.500Time28:29.30Pace8:08.37ZoneEasy Miles
Cumilative:Distance3.500Time28:29.30Pace8:08.37
Split 2:Distance0.500Time3:08.30Pace6:16.60ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance4.000Time31:37.60Pace7:54.40
 
Leg 2:
Distance2.000Time15:29.10Pace7:44.55ZoneEasy Miles
Alone.

Amoji 1 Miles: 6.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
Add Comment
Sat, Aug 28, 2021
Race: Top of Utah Half Marathon (13.109 Miles) 01:19:40, Place overall: 17, Place in age division: 3
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
2.080.0013.110.0015.19

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2021-08-28 05:21:03
Workout Totals: Distance15.186Time1:36:57.80Pace6:23.10
Top of Utah Half, 1:19:40, 17th overall, 3rd master, $50. Happy to crack 1:20 one more time.

Jacob ran his first half, and finished just a couple of steps ahead of me. We ran together up until 9 miles. Then he wanted to go faster, and put a gap on me. But then he ran out of juice and with the help of Christina Perry I caught him at shortly before mile 12. He was struggling a lot. I wanted to break 1:20, but I figured we would do it together if I stayed back with him, and I was right. With a little bit of support he picked up the pace, and pulled me for the last mile to my fastest time this year.

Jaydn Asay won with 1:08:21, intrestingly enough exact same time Benjamin ran 2 years ago.

Steve Kindred won the masters with 1:15:59, Mel Suaste was second with 1:16:35.

Kids ran their usual distances at home. Benjamin did 16 with a 2 mile (about) tempo run in 10:02.
Leg 1:
Distance1.500Time12:40.20Pace8:26.80ZoneEasy Miles
Warm-up.
Leg 2:
Distance13.109Time1:19:40.40Pace6:04.67
Race.
Split 1:Distance1.000Time5:48.20Pace5:48.20ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance1.000Time5:48.20Pace5:48.20
Split 2:Distance1.000Time6:03.00Pace6:03.00ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance2.000Time11:51.20Pace5:55.60
Split 3:Distance1.000Time6:05.10Pace6:05.10ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance3.000Time17:56.30Pace5:58.77
Split 4:Distance1.000Time6:01.90Pace6:01.90ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance4.000Time23:58.20Pace5:59.55
Split 5:Distance1.000Time5:44.10Pace5:44.10ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance5.000Time29:42.30Pace5:56.46
Split 6:Distance1.000Time5:45.50Pace5:45.50ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance6.000Time35:27.80Pace5:54.63
Split 7:Distance1.000Time5:51.70Pace5:51.70ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance7.000Time41:19.50Pace5:54.21
Split 8:Distance0.950Time5:34.10Pace5:51.68ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance7.950Time46:53.60Pace5:53.91
Split 9:Distance1.050Time6:38.80Pace6:19.81ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance9.000Time53:32.40Pace5:56.93
Split 10:Distance1.000Time6:18.90Pace6:18.90ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance10.000Time59:51.30Pace5:59.13
Split 11:Distance1.000Time6:28.10Pace6:28.10ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance11.000Time1:06:19.40Pace6:01.76
Split 12:Distance0.813Time5:30.60Pace6:46.64ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance11.813Time1:11:50.00Pace6:04.85
Split 13:Distance0.187Time1:13.60Pace6:33.58ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance12.000Time1:13:03.60Pace6:05.30
Split 14:Distance1.000Time6:01.80Pace6:01.80ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance13.000Time1:19:05.40Pace6:05.03
Split 15:Distance0.109Time0:35.00Pace5:21.10ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance13.109Time1:19:40.40Pace6:04.67
 
Leg 3:
Distance0.577Time4:37.20Pace8:00.42ZoneEasy Miles
A bit of a cool-down.

Amoji 1 Miles: 15.19
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
Add Comment
Totals
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
48.580.5017.111.0067.19
Amoji 1 Miles: 67.19
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
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