Motivated to Succeed

April 28, 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
0.000.0030.00

7:30 AM - Temperatures plummeted all day yesterday. This morning was -10 or -15. Yuck. But somehow by Saturday and Sunday it will be in the mid 40s and rainy. Go figure. Went biking. Felt good. The knee didn't hurt. The only bad thing was I couldn't stop itching my legs for the first 20 minutes. I don't know if it was the dry skin or what, but it was downright annoying! Have to go get a shower and then go do observations and then homework all day. I might do another bike ride as a study break later today.

Total Time: 1:00:15 Total Distance: 20 miles

Really getting into The Secret Life of Bees. I'm up to about page 60 now. Sue Monk Kidd's writing is engaging I think because she uses vernacular language. Almost has a To-Kill-A-Mockingbird-esqueness to it. I highly recommend it to anyone that likes good literature.

7:45 PM - After more than six hours working on a stupid paper (Stupid not because of the content, but the failure of my teacher to ever give clear, concise directions) I decided it was time for a destressing ride. Only did 30 minutes. Felt strong though. Read another 25 pages of The Secret Life of Bees

Total Time: 30:45 Total Distance: 10 miles

2009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 30.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 179.00
Comments
From Marion on Thu, Feb 05, 2009 at 12:05:33

I really liked the secret life of bees. I LOVED the black Madonna that they had in their home. It was a nice read. Hae you read The Bean Trees?

From Metcalf Running on Thu, Feb 05, 2009 at 12:44:21

Looks like the knee is getting better, maybe when the weather is better you can be out running again.

I really enjoyed the secret life of bees. I might have to reread it. Just finished Pillars of the earth, (big sigh!) and a friend gave me the first in the Stephanie Plum series of books, they are a fun read.

From The Howling Commando on Thu, Feb 05, 2009 at 13:37:39

Follett's books have to be up there with War and Peace on my list.. I would read them if I ever had the time but they are simply too long and dense for me. As it is I just started Doris Kearns Goodwin's TEAM OF RIVALS so that will take me a while with school work and all to get through.

I started my sister on a series similar to Emily Giffin's series .. by Wendy Markham. It's the "Slightly" series, i.e. Slightly single, slightly married, slightly engaged, etc etc. Supposedly very good!

From The Howling Commando on Thu, Feb 05, 2009 at 13:38:36

As for the knee I don't know. I am going to take it easy. I don't want to put my biking in jeopardy you know? And biking makes me happy enough. I'm a runner on the inside. One day I'll get back to being a runner on the outside.. just have to figure out when these injuries will ever pass.

From Metcalf Running on Thu, Feb 05, 2009 at 14:50:33

I know what you mean about not having time to read, I googled the book your started... don't know if it is something I would like. Pillars took a while to get into but after about 500-650 pages I started to like it, LOL. For now I need to really get going on some of my sculpting to reading has to take a back seat.

I agree that you should take it easy on the knee. I have to remind myself may times that I want to be a lifelong runner/exerciser so take recovery to heart. It all heals with time.

From wheakory on Thu, Feb 05, 2009 at 17:05:19

Nice Bike workout. That is some cold weather. I would even hate to walk outside and get into the car. That's stay at home weather and watch a movie. I like good literature I might have to check into it.

From Benn on Thu, Feb 05, 2009 at 19:30:57

Professor Benn, yes, always a runner on the inside. The secret life of commandos, runners and endless ambitions?

Stay Kool, B of BS Rools out

From Brent on Thu, Feb 05, 2009 at 22:29:40

Benn, secret life of bees, watching the flick this weekend. Darn, should read the book first. One thing about not running much, I have found that happiness is not running, but the movement forward.

Stay Kool, Onward, B of BST Rools Out

From The Howling Commando on Fri, Feb 06, 2009 at 07:16:11

I agree both literally and figuratively, Brent. I know I will make strides (haha strides oops!) .. progress rather at my own rate. I know that the important thing is what I get from it. On a side note I think it's funny talking about progress and the movement forward when I ride a stationary bike haha! Although I must admit sometimes when I get clipping at a decent rate, I feel the bike inching ever so slowly forward!

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