Motivated to Succeed

April 26, 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
6.600.000.00

8:50 AM - Feels like fall today! Woke up and it was partially sunny, cool mid 50s temperature. After coffee I headed over to Spa Park for a run. Kind of busy at Spa Park because it's the Travers Stakes tomorrow at the race track. I don't really understand horse racing. Betting on animals and making them run against each other purely for 'sport' or 'fun' doesn't seem very humane. Hit the nature trails and did a loop forwards, a loop backwards and then tacked on another loop of the last half mile or so. Was really cooking at the end. My right achilles area under my calf had a bruise from yesterday where I pulled one of those scissor kicking a stick type deals. Didn't hurt during the run much, just when I touch the skin while stretching. Felt good otherwise. Am a little unnerved at Emma's boss. Earlier this week he forgot to inform her of employee training, and then sent an email the second day of training telling her she had to give a presentation at one in the afternoon (hour long presentation too!). And then they never told her about a twenty minute speech she has to make at the convocation for students today at one o'clock so she just found out about it at ten o'clock. Grr. I don't like her boss much. She should be the head of the program not this unorganized s.o.b. I told her she should be a sub because you make a hundred bucks a day and she'd be great at it but she doesn't really want to do that for a career, which is understandable. I can only hope she gets another promotion to the job she really deserves, head of the department! Fun fact for today was that I stopped the watch at 55:55. My lucky number is 5, so I think today will be a great day :). Looking forward to finally seeing Emma tomorrow and then going to see James Taylor with her on Sunday! Splits today were:

  • Mile 1: 9:22
  • Mile 2: 8:57
  • Mile 3: 9:06
  • Mile 4: 8:44
  • Mile 5: 8:22
  • Mile 6: 7:51

Total Time: 55:55 Total Distance: 6.6 miles Average Pace: 8:28

*Note: during the last .5 mile I hit 4:14 pace per mile. I was flying faster than Superman! Howling Commando over and out!

Brooks Addictions 8 Miles: 6.60
Night Sleep Time: 9.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 9.00Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Nevels on Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 11:16:52 from 131.204.15.93

James Taylor...I'm jealous

From The Howling Commando on Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 11:39:40 from 72.224.24.41

And rightly so. On Sunday I'll be chilling with my main man JT, next to a cutie, sipping a Guinness and all after getting an easy 6 or 7 miles in . .. I think Sunday will truly be the best day.. EVER!

From Nevels on Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 11:44:35 from 131.204.15.93

Wow. Everything about that sounds amazing. Jimmy T, cute girl, Guinness (props, by the way, on good taste - it's hard to find guys our age who appreciate the real stuff), relaxing run; it will be hard to top that...

From Gazelle on Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 19:41:38 from 96.240.211.166

You running on Sunday? We gotta figure out how early we need to be at Tanglewood. I can't wait.

I am so upset with work. I am the department head, silly, and a tutor. But I wouldn't want to have boss-man's job. I don't want to deal with people anymore. Period. Stick me in an empty room with a lab coat and I'd be happy as a clam! ah.. someday....

From Gazelle on Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 19:43:51 from 96.240.211.166

P.S. I picked up some Relax riesling for Sunday, too :)

From The Howling Commando on Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 23:46:13 from 72.224.24.41

Oh right, sorry Gazelle. :( You know my flighty nincumpoop skull when it comes to understanding your job ahaha. You are way smarter than I'll ever me. I still think you'd be the best boss ever though.

John - Guinness is the ONLY way, coach! I seriously think that would be the best day ever though, provided it's sunny and all too. Getting anxious about the 1/2! I am interested in maybe running another 1/2 the Hairy Gorilla Half put on by another running group I'm a member of in October. I know I know don't get ahead of myself. Just that the summer series made me remember how much fun racing can be.

From Nevels on Sat, Aug 29, 2009 at 14:05:16 from 75.143.84.140

You'll be fine in the half. Enjoy it...

As far as whether or not to run the Hairy Gorilla (awesome name, by the way), see how everything is feeling a week or two later and make a judgement call...

From Brent on Sat, Aug 29, 2009 at 22:41:40 from 76.8.201.223

HC, King of Sparta will need to wait, read an article about his training for the role, awesome.

Don't step on Howling Commando or Superman's cape. How is student teaching going? Always great to run and release the upsetness over things.

Stay Kool, Bless and Release, B of BS Rools out

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