Motivated to Succeed

April 29, 2024

Recent EntriesHomeJoin Fast Running Blog Community!PredictorHealthy RecipesBenn Griffin's RacesFind BlogsMileage BoardTop Ten Excuses for Missing a RunTop Ten Training MistakesDiscussion ForumRace Reports Send A Private MessageWeek ViewMonth ViewYear View
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
20072008200920102011201220132014
15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

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


Create Your Badge{C} 

2014 Books I've Read: 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Blogs:

Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
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
7.000.000.00

3:15 PM - Sunny, temps in the low 50s. A really great day! Went out to lunch with my mom and Emma today before Emma had to drive home to Massachusetts and go to work. Then I came home and got changed and went to the track. I had an unpleasant surprise today. First time it's ever happened too. My GARMIN decided not to work. It won't even turn on and won't do anything when I plug it into the computer. It's just dead. :( I wrote them a message on their website, but I'm not expecting much, as I have no proof that I've only had this item for less than a year. Bummer :(. Run however was PHENOMENAL.. On a side note, I signed up for the Turkety Trot 10k on Thanksgiving. Going to run it, but not race. I want to at leat run 1 race this year. Havent' raced since January 1, 2008 @ the Hangover Half. I need at least a taste of what racing is like again. Plus I want to run the 5k beforehand bandit since Emma, Su, and Jonny are all running that race.

  • Second set of 3 miles on the track: 22:08! (7:22/ mile!!) FLYING!!
  • 1 Mile cool down afterwards and stretching.

Total Time: 55:42 Total Distance: 7 mi Average Pace: 7:57

Asics 2120s Miles: 7.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Nevels on Mon, Nov 03, 2008 at 17:00:23

Sorry about the Garmin, but awesome run, man! How did it all feel?

From Brent on Mon, Nov 03, 2008 at 17:03:44

Howling commando, very nice pace, faster and faster, feet lighter than air, pretty cool feeling. You may have cashed in some of those commando points today.

Stay Kool, Fire it UP, b of bs rools out

From The Howling Commando on Mon, Nov 03, 2008 at 17:39:03

The run felt good. I felt relaxed for the first 3 and then steady and strong for the next 3. Only bad part was a little bit of stomach issues which I assume was from the milk in the soup and coffee I had for lunch less than 2 hours before. Usually I don't have digestive track issues but this one was a close call ! ;)

No pain in the achilles though is the good part!

Thanks, Brent! I think watching the hilights show for the NYC Marathon yesterday and then reading all the race reports the last couple weeks got me fired up! Tomorrow = Election Day! Hoo HA!

From saamijeff on Mon, Nov 03, 2008 at 20:50:33

Hey you're one to talk, you are getting fast asgain! Great strides and effort on your comeback. Nice progression run. Wonderful to hear no tendon issues! So be careful and train well. I expect to hear great race reports down the line.

From Nevels on Mon, Nov 03, 2008 at 20:51:51

I know the feeling of GI problems mid-run, but glad to hear that you're still pain-free.

What a race NYC was...

From Brent on Mon, Nov 03, 2008 at 21:34:36

Benn, how about Paula, looked like she was done, just kept pushing and pushing. What an amazingly strong marathon. It was nice to see Gourcher take third.

I have often said, elite runners are not just elite physically, they have made themselves elite mentally.

No guts, no glory,

Stay Kool, B of BS Rools out

From The Howling Commando on Mon, Nov 03, 2008 at 21:46:03

I agree, Brent! She is so tough! And Goucher looked so strong in there as well. I think Paula has really proven that you can train hard and if you train right and your body and mind align you can accomplish great things. Similarly her poor experience in Athens in 2004 also shows that she too can have a bad day and is human.

I just hope that I can continue to add mileage. I am afraid to do too many miles too quickly, so I will shoot for 20-25 I think for this month every week. It would really be something to finally hit 100 miles in a month again!

From Scott Zincone on Mon, Nov 03, 2008 at 23:22:06

Benn, before you throw that Garmin away have you tried to reset it? Mine has locked up as yours a couple of times before. You can either go to garmin.com or just Google something like: Garmin - 205 - 305 - not working - will not turn on - reset...well you get the idea.

It had something to do with holding and releasing a couple of buttons when you turn it on.

And if that does not work, remember Kory only a few weeks ago. His got stepped on well after the warranty ran out. And they replaced it with a brand new one. So there is still another option other than the reset.

Hope it helps.

From The Howling Commando on Tue, Nov 04, 2008 at 07:01:58

I don't know if you are a seer or what, Scott but I woke up and it was magically back on and it said "Battery Charging Complete" . So I guess we're back in order?! Sweet!

From Jody on Tue, Nov 04, 2008 at 07:03:21

Wow! You are getting back your speed. Very nice job!

From The Howling Commando on Tue, Nov 04, 2008 at 07:07:32

Thanks, Jody! It must be all the bagels I eat! Fuel Fuel FUEL!

Add Your Comment.
  • Keep it family-safe. No vulgar or profane language. To discourage anonymous comments of cowardly nature, your IP address will be logged and posted next to your comment.
  • Do not respond to another person's comment out of context. If he made the original comment on another page/blog entry, go to that entry and respond there.
  • If all you want to do is contact the blogger and your comment is not connected with this entry and has no relevance to others, send a private message instead.
Only registered users with public blogs are allowed to post comments. Log in with your username and password or create an account and set up a blog.
Debt Reduction Calculator
Featured Announcements
Lone Faithfuls
(need a comment):
Recent Comments: