Breaking the Wall

Week starting Oct 12, 2025

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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: 2715.71
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: 3424.44
Totals
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
54.021.009.000.0064.02
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
Mon, Oct 13, 2025
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
10.000.000.000.0010.00

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2025-10-13 09:21:06
Workout Totals: Distance10.000Time1:17:19.60Pace7:43.96
10 total. Easy pace.
Leg 1:
Distance2.000Time16:06.40Pace8:03.20ZoneEasy Miles
With Mary, Bella, Leigha, and Matthew.
Leg 2:
Distance3.000Time23:19.30Pace7:46.43ZoneEasy Miles
With Benjamin and Matthew.
Leg 3:
Distance5.000Time37:53.90Pace7:34.78ZoneEasy Miles
With Benjamin.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
Add Comment
Tue, Oct 14, 2025
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
10.000.000.000.0010.00

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2025-10-14 08:26:06
Workout Totals: Distance10.000Time1:19:14.50Pace7:55.45
10 total. Easy pace.
Leg 1:
Distance5.000Time39:39.00Pace7:55.80ZoneEasy Miles
With Benjamin.
Leg 2:
Distance2.000Time16:43.40Pace8:21.70ZoneEasy Miles
With Matthew, Mary, Bella, and Leigha
Leg 3:
Distance3.000Time22:52.10Pace7:37.37ZoneEasy Miles
With Matthew.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
Add Comment
Wed, Oct 15, 2025
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
7.000.003.000.0010.00

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2025-10-15 09:41:54
Workout Totals: Distance10.000Time1:17:16.40Pace7:43.64
10 total. Did a 3 mile tempo down the canyon with Matthew. We did better than on Saturday. I got 18:16, he fell back in the last 500 meters again but this time held on better and got 18:23. Benjamin paced us for the last half mile or so. Earlier he ran 3 miles in 15:08 with the last mile in 4:58 and the last quarter in 71. No stumbling though he did start feeling some instability towards the end.
Leg 1:
Distance1.000Time8:05.60Pace8:05.60ZoneEasy Miles
Warm-up.
Leg 2:
Distance3.000Time18:16.80Pace6:05.60ZoneThreshold Miles
Tempo run.
Leg 3:
Distance3.000Time26:58.40Pace8:59.47ZoneEasy Miles
To the car.
Leg 4:
Distance3.000Time23:55.60Pace7:58.53ZoneEasy Miles
With Benjamin.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
Add Comment
Thu, Oct 16, 2025
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
8.001.001.000.0010.00

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2025-10-16 09:46:10
Workout Totals: Distance10.000Time1:19:25.30Pace7:56.53
10 total. Did quicker pace for a couple of miles including 6:42 with net uphill.
Leg 1:
Distance2.000Time17:19.20Pace8:39.60ZoneEasy Miles
With Mary, Bella, Matthew, and Leigha.
Leg 2:
Distance3.000Time23:33.70Pace7:51.23ZoneEasy Miles
With Benjamin and Matthew.
Leg 3:
Distance1.000Time6:53.50Pace6:53.50ZoneMarathon Pace Miles
With Benjamin.
Leg 4:
Distance4.000Time31:38.90Pace7:54.73
With Benjamin, part with William.
Split 1:Distance3.000Time24:56.40Pace8:18.80ZoneEasy Miles
Cumilative:Distance3.000Time24:56.40Pace8:18.80
Split 2:Distance1.000Time6:42.50Pace6:42.50ZoneThreshold Miles
Cumilative:Distance4.000Time31:38.90Pace7:54.73

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
Add Comment
Fri, Oct 17, 2025
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
8.000.002.000.0010.00

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2025-10-17 08:35:52
Workout Totals: Distance10.000Time1:18:15.80Pace7:49.58
10 total. Paced Stephen in a 2 mile downhill tempo. He ran 12:23. Started out in 2:55 for the first 0.5, then kept fading. Benjamin helped me pace him.
Leg 1:
Distance1.250Time10:29.60Pace8:23.68ZoneEasy Miles
Warm-up.
Leg 2:
Distance2.000Time12:23.50Pace6:11.75ZoneThreshold Miles
Pacing Stephen.
Leg 3:
Distance1.750Time13:49.00Pace7:53.71ZoneEasy Miles
To the car.
Leg 4:
Distance3.000Time24:02.30Pace8:00.77ZoneEasy Miles
Probably with Benjamin.
Leg 5:
Distance2.000Time17:31.40Pace8:45.70ZoneEasy Miles
I think this was with William.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
Add Comment
Sat, Oct 18, 2025
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
11.020.003.000.0014.02

Fast Running Friend Workout - 2025-10-18 07:53:11
Workout Totals: Distance14.020Time1:49:51.60Pace7:50.16
14 total. Did a tempo run with Chad and Matthew. We pulled Chad through the first 2 miles in 12:12, then sped up. Matthew ran 18:04(5:52), I got 18:09(5:57), Chad 12:26(6:14).

Benjamin did 5 in 27:13 with uphill finish. He stumbled but was still able to run 5:53 for the last mile.
Leg 1:
Distance1.000Time8:13.80Pace8:13.80ZoneEasy Miles
Warm-up.
Leg 2:
Distance3.000Time18:09.60Pace6:03.20ZoneThreshold Miles
Tempo run.
Leg 3:
Distance2.020Time16:39.10Pace8:14.60ZoneEasy Miles
To the house.
Leg 4:
Distance2.000Time15:57.10Pace7:58.55ZoneEasy Miles
Do not remember who I ran this with.
Leg 5:
Distance2.000Time16:53.20Pace8:26.60ZoneEasy Miles
With Mary, Bella, and Leigha.
Leg 6:
Distance3.000Time26:00.90Pace8:40.30ZoneEasy Miles
With Benjamin and William.
Leg 7:
Distance1.000Time7:57.90Pace7:57.90ZoneEasy Miles
Part with Benjamin.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
Add Comment
Totals
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
54.021.009.000.0064.02
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
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