Motivated to Succeed

November 20, 2024

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Location:

Pittsfield,MA,

Member Since:

Jul 02, 2008

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

 

 

  •  2006 Mohawk Hudson River Marathon (NY)
  • 2007 Vermont City Marathon (VT)
  • 2011 BPAC 6 Hour Run (NY)
  • 2011 Mind the Ducks 12 Hour (NY)
  • 2012 Maple Leaf Indoor Marathon #1 (IN)
  • 2012 Maple Leaf Indoor Marathon #2 (IN)
  • 2012 BPAC 6 Hour Run (NY)
  • 2012 Mind the Ducks 12 Hour (NY)
  • 2012 Memorial Day Marathon (MA)
  • 2012 Around the Lake 12 Hour (MA)
  • 2012 Hancock Shaker Village 50 (MA) 
  • 2012 Bay State Marathon (MA)
  • 2012 First Descents Marathon (DE) 
  • 2013 Maple Leaf Indoor Marathon #1 (IN)
  • 2013 Maple Leaf Indoor Marathon #2 (IN) 
  • 2013 Circular Logic Marathon (IN)
  • 2013 Lake Waramaug 50M (CT)
  • 2013 BPAC 6 Hour Run (NY)
  • 2013 Ragnar Cape Cod Ultra Team (MA) 
  • 2013 Memorial Day Marathon (MA)
  • 2013 Relay For Life No. Berkshire (MA)
  • 2013 Ragnar Adirondack Ultra Team (MA)
  • 2013 BayState Marathon (MA)
  • 2013 One Day At the Fair Marathon (NJ)
  • 2013 West Palm Beaches Marathon (FL)
  • 2014 Arena Attack XL Center Marathon (CT)
  • 2014 Maple City 6-Pack Marathon #1 (IN)
  • 2014 Maple City 6-Pack Marathon #2 (IN)
  • 2014 Maple City 6-Pack Marathon #3 (IN)
  • 2014 Maple City 6-Pack Marathon #4 (IN)
  • 2014 Maple City 6-Pack Marathon #5 (IN)
  • 2014 Maple City 6-Pack Marathon #6 (IN)
  • 2014 Circular Logic Marathon (IN)

 Personal Bests:

  • 400 - 1:01 (2004)
  • 800 - 2:16 (2004)
  • Mile - 5:12 (2004)
  • 2Mile - 11:27 (2004)
  • 5k - 19:44 (2005)
  • 10k 40:46 (11/22/07)
  • 15k - 1:07:40 (11/11/07)
  • 13.11 Half - 1:38:31 (12/9/07)
  • Marathon 3:59:18 (1/25/14)
  • 50 miles 11:44 (5/14/11)

Eagle Scout with Bronze and Gold Palms (2002)

Biked from Ticonderoga, New York to Old Orchard Beach, Maine in August of 2005 (Total of about 290 miles

Short-Term Running Goals:

200 miles @ 72 Hour Race in May

Under 200 #

Sub 4:00 Marathon

 

 

Long-Term Running Goals:

QUALIFY AND RUN IN THE BOSTON MARATHON.

Personal:

I am 27.  Have done 33 marathons and ultras. Really trying to get in shape to get back to running the miles I want to. I love to read and worked for four years in a bookstore. I like to keep track of the books I read. Currently I work as a 6th & 7th grade history teacher at the only charter school in Berkshire County, as well as serve as the coach for the cross country team! Been experimenting as a pescatarian (eating only fish) since August 10, 2011. 

 

Just earned my Master's Degree in Adolescent Education for Social Studies. I have the most wonderful WIFE in the entire world.. EMMA! October 16, 2010

Run when you can, walk when you have to, crawl if you must. Just never give up! - Dean Karnazes -

We are all teachers and we are all students in this sport. - Dean Karnazes -

The simple act of putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward at an accelerated rate can be one of life's greatest - and simplest - pleasures. ~Dean Karnazes 

"Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny." - MK Gandhi 

"The marathon mercilessly rips off the outer layers of our defenses and leaves the raw human, vulnerable and naked. It is here you get an honest glimpse into the soul of an individual. Every insecurity and character flaw is open and on display for all the world to see. No communication is ever more real, no expression ever more honest. There is nothing left to hide behind. The marathon is the great equalizer. Ever movement, every word spoken and unspoken, is radiant truth. The veil has been obliterated. These are the profound moments of human interaction that I live for." - Dean Karnazes 

 

Benn Griffin


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2014 Books I've Read: 

 

 

 

 

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Vibram Five Fingers KSO Lifetime Miles: 367.52
Vibram Komodo Sports (yellow) Lifetime Miles: 570.38
Vibram Bikilas (red) Lifetime Miles: 655.87
Vibram Bikilas (blue) Lifetime Miles: 414.89
Altra Lone Peak Lifetime Miles: 155.19
Lizzy Miles 2012 Lifetime Miles: 58.60
Vibram Komodo Sport (black) Lifetime Miles: 195.60
NB Trail Minimus (orange) Lifetime Miles: 101.74
Altra Instinct (grey) Lifetime Miles: 389.78
Vibram Bikilas (red #2) Lifetime Miles: 10.60
Vibram Bikilas (green) Lifetime Miles: 230.05
Altra Adams Lifetime Miles: 2.00
Merrell Road Glove Lifetime Miles: 46.11
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.0015.00

11:00 AM - It is unseasonably warm here with a projected high of 56 degrees today, though I wasn't able to go running outside because of the intense fog. I have not had much time for exercise the last few weeks with the holiday rush and all. I feel kind of blah. I know I've gained weight. I'm going on a diet starting today. I am anxious to start running again and I hope that 2009 will prove to be much better running wise for me than this year. I feel like a failure sometimes because I haven't accomplished all that much this year and I've put on about 10-15 pounds since all the summer biking. I need to be more disciplined in my approach in training as well so I don't suffer all these setbacks. Did a 45 minute hard effort on the wind trainer this morning.

Total Time: 45:00 Total Distance: 15 mi Average Speed: 20 mph

_________________________________

OPERATION SLIM DOWN: DAY #1 -

Starting Weight: 180.0 pounds

And so it begins... I was going to wait until January 1st to start this plan, but we all know that so many New Years' Resolutions fail. Maybe it has something to do with the date?! Therefore I am starting my own diet a little sooner. Some of the prescriptions for my planned diet include: frequent, smaller meals each day, eliminating as many breads as possible, and no eating after 8:00 pm with the exception of a cup of tea at work. For the time being I am going to blog what I eat so I can monitor calories. And for my calorie tracker I will now put how many calories I eat per day rather than total calories burned. Here goes;

8AM Breakfast: 2 cups of coffee with 1/2 cup of skim milk (50 calories)

12 PM Lunch: 2 cups steamed broccoli with pepper and garlic (60 calories; 8g carb), 1 orange (100 calories; 22 g carb), and 1 large red delicious apple (80 calories; 22 g carb); 2 large glasses of water (32 oz)

3 PM Snack: 1 large red delicious apple (80 calories; 22 g carb); 1 serving Reduced Fat Triscuits (120 calories, 21 carb); large glass of water.

5 PM Dinner: 1 cup long-grained brown rice (210 calories; 44 g carb); 1 cup steamed broccoli (30 calories; 4g carb); one serving of fat free chicken tikka masala (homemade with skim milk) (125 calories; ~25 g protein). Dessert of 1 orange (100 calories, 22 g carb). 2 large glasses of water (32 oz)

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 180.00
Comments
From Snoqualmie on Sun, Dec 28, 2008 at 15:50:12

Good luck with the weight loss! I am sure you will succeed. I am going to take off a few pounds in the next weeks as well, to add to my chances for a BQ this year. I have had great success with The Paleo Diet for Athletes, if you're interested. (You can google it.) I agree with you about the date thing. :)

From Brent on Sun, Dec 28, 2008 at 16:21:57

Benn, lets make this a challenge, lose 10 pounds by the end of Feb? It would be good to have both of us take the challenge. I will do my offical weigh-in tonight.

By the way, when life is full of work, grad school, love of your life, some things just need to take a back seat for a time. Don't be too hard on yourself.

Stay Kool, the thin man won't have anything on us, B of BS Rools out

From The Howling Commando on Sun, Dec 28, 2008 at 16:27:53

Deal, Brent! My mission is to lose 10 pounds by the end of February. We can do it! :) I agree it will be nice to have someone else doing this too. That way we can keep each other motivated!

From jefferey on Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at 16:24:51

I think you will find it harder to keep logging the daily calorie intake than to stay on the diet. Don't cut out all the good whole grain breads though. Good Luck to you! Over the last few years I went from 210 to the low 170's so I know it is possible once you get going.

From leslie on Sat, Jan 03, 2009 at 20:18:25

I just read your first diet day, that is impressive, can you keep that up? I think I would starve, I have to eat more in the AM for my run. I will have to keep checking your blog to see how you do. Good Luck!!! It is nice to see you men so concerned about your weight, I thought it was just us girls!! :)

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