Motivated to Succeed

December 21, 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:

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

Tue, Dec 28, 2010

Running Miles	Swimming Yards	Bike Miles
18.33	0.00	0.00

9:30 AM - Lindsay left early this morning to go to work in Boston. We spent about 2 hours yesterday digging out. 18.5" of snow was the storm total. Biggest storm in several years, though it is expected to be in the upper 30s and 40s later this week, so not sure how long it will be around.

Drove Emmy to work and then came home and wanted to get in a run before doing work today. Set up this elaborate laptop station on the treadmill. Had the outdoor eating table with a chair on top of it, and then a foot stool on top of that. Then the laptop and speakers. Started watching Season 1 of the Office on NetFlix and before I knew it I had watched the entire 6 episodes of Season 1 and the first 2 of Season 2.

Mode of operation today was to take my time. I had not done more than 8 or 9 miles since the Hairy Gorilla Half on Halloween. Did 25 minutes of jogging at 9:40 pace, followed by 5 minutes of walking at 14-14:30 pace (brisk walk). Continued cycling through this until the end when I did 20 and 5.

Hit 5.85 miles in 1:00, 9.82 miles in 1:40, and hit 15 in 2:34. Funny thing: Found out the treadmill shuts off at 99:59 (1h40m). Took a quick break, changed my shirt and downed a granola bar and back on it and away I went.

This was the longest treadmill run I have ever done. Previous record was probably 12 miles.

Total Time: 2:35:00 Total Distance: 15.08 miles Average Pace: 10:16

4:30 PM - Went jogging after going food shopping before I had to pick up Emmy. Feeling pretty good. My choice of recovery? A large glass of Garelick Farms True Moo 2% Chocolate Milk. Mmmmm !!! Ran most of it at 9:40, with the last .75 miles faster, one lap at 8:34 and one lap at 7:30. I think I'm doing the Hangover Half just for fun on New Years. Now I know I can still go the distance!

Total Time: 30:35 Total Distance: 3.25 miles Average Pace: 9:21

Brooks Addictions 8 - #4 Miles: 18.33

Night Sleep Time: 9.00	Nap Time: 0.00	Total Sleep Time: 9.00	Weight: 0.00

Comments

From nevels on Wed, Dec 29, 2010 at 09:19:54 from 155.74.2.253

new treadmill pr is always good

solid mileage on the day; you'll be fine in the hangover half (fantastic name, by the way)

From Benn Griffin on Wed, Dec 29, 2010 at 09:58:00 from 96.233.184.230

One of my favorite races :D AND just heard the good news they actually have bib numbers now. Since the first HH in the 70s, runners have not only received no bibs, but are responsible for writing down their times on an index card they get when crossing the finish line! I'm excited just to get a bib that I can actually attribute to the Hangover Half now :D.

John - Can we talk some time about coming up with winter and spring training goals? I really want to try to complete another marathon for my 25th birthday. There is one the day after here in MA and it would be my 3rd state. I don't know what goals to shoot for realistically. The course here in MA I have read is also a killer, with significant hills during the last 10k.

From nevels on Wed, Dec 29, 2010 at 10:08:15 from 155.74.2.253

a may marathon (especially a tough one) is a great goal and a good carrot to dangle out there to keep motivation through the winter months. as far as what to shoot for, let's see how the hangover half goes, both in terms of race time, race comfort/discomfort, perceived race fitness, and recovery time, and we can base some training ideas off that. sound like a plan?

From Benn Griffin on Wed, Dec 29, 2010 at 10:31:02 from 96.233.184.230

Okay that sounds like a plan! I don't know what to expect for the Hangover Half, as I haven't really done much running this month! I just need to get back into some sort of shape.

Sounds good though!

From LBC on Wed, Dec 29, 2010 at 12:08:46 from 69.173.106.87

You can do it Benn...especially after that marathon shoveling session Monday!!! I am surprised that I'm not sore from it!

From Benn Griffin on Wed, Dec 29, 2010 at 14:13:40 from 96.233.184.230

I am leaning towards the Memorial Day Marathon, but the problem would be that it is the day after my bday, a Sunday and school on Monday - wait. Monday = Memorial Day perhaps? So that would give me a day to recover.

It's a slow course with monster hills, but I think it's the one I want to do. Can't be sure if I want to do that, or go back out to Syracuse where I ran this past year for my birthday and attempt the 30 miler. I finished the 20 miler and felt pretty good this year, but I want to push it to the next level.

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