Motivated to Succeed

April 30, 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

C reate Your Badge{C}

2014 Books I've Read:

Favorite Blogs:

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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

Thu, Oct 30, 2008

Running Miles	Swimming Yards	Bike Miles
5.30	0.00	0.00

8:00 AM - Today was a gorgeous day. Chilly and crisp. Temperature of 35 degrees and sunny. Drove to the track, did a warm up mile and stretched, then out on the backroads and finished with stretching after a couple laps on track and then jogged to the car. Sight of the day: forget scarecrows.. Saw my FIRST SNOWMAN OF THE YEAR. About 3 feet tall with a lot of leaves/sticks mixed in. So not the prettiest thing. More of a Charlie Brown's snowman type deal. Felt good today. Wanted to go longer, but didn't want to overdue it since I had that long run at the end of last week which pushed my mileage higher. Planning on doing an early early run tomorrow morning before work hopefully. Splits:

Mile 1: 8:42
Mile 2: 8:51
Mile 3: 8:46
Mile 4: 8:49
Mile 5: 8:17
.3: 2:35 (8:40 pace)

Total Time: 46:02 Total Distance: 5.3 mi Average Pace: 8:41

Asics 2120s Miles: 5.30

Night Sleep Time: 0.00	Nap Time: 0.00	Total Sleep Time: 0.00	Weight: 171.00

Comments

From marion on Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 10:04:44

The Howling Commando is the name for you!!! You are doing great! Such smart training! I love the snowman! that's what all of ours look like for a while. The snow always flies before we can get all of the leaves up! The look really bad ;)

From saamijeff on Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 15:06:06

Thanks for the comments. You're the one doing great things. I am amazed at your ability to do the right thing and come back at a sensible slow pace. Way to go!

From The Howling Commando on Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 15:08:53

Well I'm hoping that it will pay off. I have my sights set on getting a couple PRs next year.

From saamijeff on Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 15:41:07

I have no doubt you will. Slow, steady, hard work and on to great things!

From The Howling Commando on Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 15:50:21

I ordered 2 new pairs of shoes today :) Going to try rotating between A & B pairs of 2120s for the first time ever :)

Do you think that maybe a full marathon is a bit auspicious for a goal? Maybe I better work at getting my half marathon time down first ?

From marion on Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 16:05:26

two pairs of shoes is a great plan!

When is this full marathon? I say go for the gusto, but I am a moron, by popular consensus! ;)

From Nevels on Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 16:14:48

I would work up to the half over a few months, tackle the PR in it, then move on to a marathon. If you go about your training the way you have thus far, easing back into it and slowly upping the mileage, you'll be in great shape for a marathon PR in 6 or 8 months (probably earlier than that, but to be on the safe side...).

Keep it up; you're doing great!

From The Howling Commando on Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 16:20:58

Well I really like the Keybank Vermont City Marathon up in Burlington Vermont. I ran that in 2006.

The 2009 Race there is on May 24th. That would give me 6 months and 24 days until race day.

Do you think I could be in shape to race the Marathon by then? I really want to knock off my Marathon PR!!

From marion on Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 16:29:17

That would be close, but doable if you had no injuries :) You know, all of the planets would have to be aligned too ;)

From The Howling Commando on Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 16:39:10

Hmm, well I could always think about the marathon I did for my first marathon, Mohawk-Hudson River Marathon in Albany but that wouldn't be until the first weekend in October of 2009. Do you think it would be smarter to think about doing that one instead of the one in May?

From marion on Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 16:49:34

If it were me, yes, but I am WAY older and slower than you are! I am shooting for next fall. Nevels, Michelle or an actually good runner would know better!

Hey Nevels, I've been watching Harry Potter all morning. I'm sure you hate that, but Nevels is my favorite character!

From Nevels on Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 20:21:20

Marion: I'm not too familiar with the Harry Potter series (engineering has somewhat kept me under a proverbial rock for the past few years), but with a name like Nevels, your favorite character must be a class act! (or at least a really good trouble maker!)

HC: You could keep training the way you are and steadily upping your mileage, keeping in the back of your head the thought of a marathon in May, and then take stock of how the training is progressing in, say, February or early March, and if you feel confident and healthy, go for it; if you're still feeling a little shaky, you can always hold off until the October marathon. Again, as has been mentioned by several folks before, I think you'll slaughter your old PR regardless of which one you do!

From Brent on Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 20:51:21

Benn, easy does it, your making good progress, one howl at a time.

B of BS Rools out

From The Howling Commando on Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 21:27:29

Thanks for all the great advice Marion, Nevels and Brent!

I think you all make valid points. For now I will take each day one at a time and move towards better fitness and consistency with the thought of a marathon in the back of my mind. Then hopefully I can decide when would be the best time to "go for it"

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