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


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2014 Books I've Read: 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Blogs:

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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
0.000.005.00

Off to the Orthopedic today to hopefully get fitted for new orthotics! Wish me luck! I will update before class tonight! :) Make it a great day!

UPDATE: Back from the doc's office. The guy was nice and he examined my feet and my gait when I walked and we agreed that my feet are not exactly built to be a distance runner's. They are completely flat and my collapsed arch I guess is the result of a severely weakened postfibular tendon or something like that which is the tendon that controls your arch when you walk. He said that its weakness has resulted in all the other muscles in my feet having to do a lot more work than they should which has hence put stress on my achilles tendons. We figured this out by having me stand on my toes, and then he wanted me to go up on one foot only and then the other and I was surprised to find I couldn't do it! I smiled, embarrassed but he said don't worry about it, now you see how your feet have been "cheating". He said that even though I can go up on my toes, it is usually when both feet are on the ground so as to compensate for the other's weakness. I am hoping I can find stretches/strengthening exercises to do so that I can help myself heal.  So long story short, he took impressions which made me chuckle because they looked just like BigFoot footrpints in the foam, and scheduled a follow up in a few weeks when the orthotics will be ready. Bad news is the pricetag. $350.00 for the orthodics, today's visit, and subsequent followup and fitting sessions. But if it means I can be a runner again, I guess it is worth it. Afterall, there is no feeling like a jog on the open roads.

Short ride on the bike today.  I was going to do more but I just didn't have the drive in me after long morning at the doc's office. Ended with 250 crunches and arm exercises with free weights.

Total Time: 16:00 Total Distance: 5 mi Average Speed: 18.9 mph

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 177.00
Comments
From kelsey on Wed, Dec 03, 2008 at 08:40:16

Good luck, hope they don't cost you a fortune!

From wheakory on Wed, Dec 03, 2008 at 12:14:55

If the new supports work than the money is definitely not an issue. Especially, how bad you want to be a runner. I hope things turn out great and you can run again to your potential. I've always heard that the bio-mechanics for someone with flat feet makes it difficult on the support structure to run a long length of time.

From Kelli on Wed, Dec 03, 2008 at 14:41:28

Orthotics will make all of the difference in the world! They are well worth the price tag!! Good luck and here is to happy feet in the future.

From The Howling Commando on Wed, Dec 03, 2008 at 14:42:52

Let's hope so! He is giving me full length orthotics this time. Last time I only had 1/2 length just to about the end of my arch. Now I just have to wait the 2-3 weeks until they're ready! That'll be the difficult part!

From Brent on Wed, Dec 03, 2008 at 20:57:41

Benn, did the Doc give exercises to be doing? Good luck, Big Foot riding a bike?

Stay Kool, Take the Long Road Home, B of BS Rools out

From The Howling Commando on Thu, Dec 04, 2008 at 22:41:40

I didn't get any exercises yet. I am going to ask when I get my orthodics though .. I wonder if I can "google it" though

From Scott Zincone on Thu, Dec 04, 2008 at 23:17:55

At least you got some answers as to what has been going on. Hopefully this will be another step forward in your recovery.

And I wonder how many other bloggers tried the "standing on your toes" test ? I did and was relieved I could pass it.

From The Howling Commando on Thu, Dec 04, 2008 at 23:21:45

Thanks, Scott. I agree. It's nice to finally have some sense of closure on this very long setback. I want to learn the prober strengthening techniques so that I can come back a lot stronger.

I can't even express how embarrassed and unnerved I was when I couldn't do the standing on my toes test!

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