Motivated to Succeed

April 27, 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
5.600.000.00

6:20 PM - Had a long day at work. Wide awake at 5am and then did some chores, fed the cat and went into work. Got there right before 8am. I stayed until about 3:40 PM. Spent all day doing lesson plans. Oii. I'm exhausted. It was nice though because some of the students were in prepping for a Mock Trial debate tomorrow. Met one of the teachers I share a prep room with, April. She was really nice. There are 8 teachers with desks in a single room. Talk about harnessing brain power, eh?

Afterwards I met Emmy and we went to Walmart so I could pick up some school supplies I needed and then we went to the food store. Finally got home around 5pm, had a snack and then went on the treadmill. Ran 3.5 miles in my normal Brooks's and then switched to the Vibrams for the last 2.1 miles. 200 crunches before the run.

Total Time: 50:16 Total Distance: 5.6 miles Average Pace: 8:59

Vibram Five Fingers KSO Miles: 2.10Brooks Addictions 8 - #2 Miles: 3.50
Night Sleep Time: 8.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 8.00Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Nevels on Fri, Feb 19, 2010 at 19:39:38 from 131.204.15.93

Keeping busy... I feel your pain...

In response to your question from Wednesday about longer runs, I'd say that they are a good idea, and given that you're already running 4-6 per day, I'd say anywhere from 8-10 would be a good place to start, and you can build from there. I've heard a general rule of thumb that you don't want your weekly long run to be more than a third of your total weekly mileage, and I think that in most cases, this is a valid point (with the possible exception of some really long distance training...). Using the one third of weekly mileage as a general guideline should be a good way to determine your longer runs' lengths... as your weekly mileage builds, so will the longer runs...

And I certainly think that if you start slowly building up your long runs now, you should be able to hit 24 on your 24th birthday with ease. Also, if you can run 24 in late May, you'll have no problem finishing (and probably running well) the 50k on July 4.

As far as when in the week to run long, it's entirely up to you. I know you are pressed for time, which makes that one day off per week seem like an ideal day, but I can also understand just wanting to relax that day. If it were me, I'd probably find an afternoon that I don't have a commitment for the night, start my run at the normal time, and simply go for a little longer. Given the paces you seem to run, 10 miles won't take you too long, so it will only eat up between a half hour and an hour extra. In the end, it's totally up to you and when you feel like you can fit it in most conveniently with the rest of your schedule and (perhaps even more importantly) without stressing you out any extra...

Good luck, man... I'm really glad to see you asking these questions again... it sounds like you've about got this knee thing licked... (knock on wood...)

howl on...

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