Motivated to Succeed

December 30, 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:

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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

Thu, Jun 11, 2009

Running Miles	Swimming Yards	Bike Miles
3.10	0.00	25.67

REALLY HAPPY I DID NOT DIE TODAY!. At the end of a bike ride I was coming down my road and a cat was on the right side so I went to put on the brakes a bit thinking it'd run into the bushes. It was just watching me and then came back across the road towards me on the left. I slammed on the brakes and tried to swerve, but the cat went right under my front wheel. I tried to find the cat for five minutes but I don't know what happened to it. The front of my bike is totaled, but I am counting myself lucky to be alive. My sunglasses went flying like 15 feet, my helmet cracked in half, I hurt my knee, my right calf muscle seized up and hurts a lot, I have a 10" patch of road rash on my right quad/hip, and my right elbow is pretty bad. Add to that a ripped bike glove (Emmy's bday present to me) and effed up handlebars (including the new handlebar tape Emmy got me *sigh I am a crappy boyfriend) and today was not my day.

9:30 AM - Humid and temperature about 70 degrees. I went to Spa park after meeting with Mr. Morris, one of my cooperating teachers for student teaching in Schuylerville. He's really nice. Run went well except I fell and biffed at like mile 2. Someone driving stopped and yelled out : "Oh no! Are you okay! " I waved and smiled and said "Guess I should stick to biking!" How wrong I was there too.....

Total Time: 26:24 Total Distance: 3.10 miles Average Pace: 8:31

11:00 AM - Got home and decided to do one of my small bike routes. Just a 26 mile loop I do a lot through East Galway and Charlton. Well the ride went really well except that in the last .5 miles, on my dead end road, I was coming down the hill going 25-30 mph. I was just going my normal speed, not pedaling. Then the incident with the cat. I yelled at it as it started to come towards my bike and slammed the brakes, but they skidded and the middle of the cat went under my front wheel. I flew through the air and did a half flip, landing on my right side. The front of my bike is totaled, but I am just glad I didn't die. I got really lucky. I'm a little shaken up, and just sad because I had to call Emmy and tell her that I can't make our bike date on Sunday. *sigh. But at least she still has a fiance if that's any consolation! Had to walk home and called my mom to come check me out. I don't think I have to go to the ER.

Total Time: 1:29:57 Total Distance: 25.69 miles Average Speed: 17.1mph

Asics 2120s Chili Pepper #1 Miles: 3.10	2009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 25.67

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

Comments

From JD on Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 15:01:26 from 64.65.159.206

Glad you're okay. @!#%! cat!

From Nevels on Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 15:04:52 from 131.204.15.93

hey, man, that sucks, but at least you got some cool battle scars out of it.

From Gazelle on Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 15:58:17 from 96.240.194.130

You are a wonderful fiance! Don't worry about the gloves or the handlebar tape or our Sunday cycling date.. none of that matters just as long as you are okay. Rest and relax and we will have plenty of time to get that stuff again and go for another ride when you are ready :) There are always setbacks when you are achieving greatness. The thing that makes you great is that you don't let it stop you from your goals.

From Jody on Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 21:46:40 from 98.202.136.149

Glad you are okay! Thank goodness for helmets.

From The Howling Commando on Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 07:15:34 from 72.224.24.41

Thanks everyone for your concerns. I took my bike to the shop last night and got it repaired. Third time in less than a month I'd been there so they recognized me. I am just really sore everywhere today including my neck. I guess I got whiplash or something because the back and side of my neck hurt something fierce.

From Fast Running Mommy on Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 10:08:02 from 192.168.1.1

At first I thought YOUR cat had died..then I read...so glad you made it okay.

From josse on Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 11:38:35 from 75.216.239.79

Cats have 9 lives, I am sure you just took one of those. I am glad you are not dead though. Watch out for those random cat attacks, they are dangerous animals.

From Kelsey on Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 11:47:04 from 24.35.47.77

Oh man. That's why I am scared of riding a bike. I prefer to stay on my feet.

Glad you are okay. Poor kitty :(

From Metcalf Running on Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 12:04:21 from 207.225.192.66

Holy Cow!!! I'm so glad you are OK!! So happy that you were wearing your helmet and other prtective equipment! Take it easy and heal now. Bummer about having to fix your bike again, but at least you are going to be OK, that is what's important.

From Brent on Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 12:20:45 from 168.178.30.75

Howling Commando, 1,000 commando points for falling on the run and on the bike in the same day and being as tough as nails, you will be back in the saddle. Hopefully, we get better as we bike more. The calf, sore from the fall or muscle issue?

HC, eat your favorite ice crean, ice from the inside out, you deserve it.

Stay Kool, Float like A Bee, B of BS Rools out

From The Howling Commando on Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 12:39:14 from 72.224.24.41

Thanks for all the encouragement everyone. I am just happy I'm safe too!

It would be nice if the cat was okay, but I have my doubts :(

Brent, my right calf seized up as I flipped over the handlebars. It is a little better today, but my entire right side from the neck down is sore. It will be an interesting night at work to say the least!

From Snoqualmie Ridge Runner on Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 01:16:07 from 67.171.56.220

Could you explain why this would make you a crappy boyfriend when none of this was your fault? Several of the guys on my softball team(including me) have big rasberries on our knees but nothing like what you have. OUCH!!

I love both of these quotes from your future wife(she's a good one!)

1-"none of that matters just as long as you are okay."

2-"There are always setbacks when you are achieving greatness."

From The Howling Commando on Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 08:10:06 from 72.224.24.41

Yeah the soreness got worse over night yesterday and then I woke up again this morning to more soreness. I was hurting in places I didn't even know existed yesterday at work. I bet I resemble a Frankenmonster walking around the bookstore haha!

I totally agree, Jeff: She's a great one! She's my optimist :D. Those are two of my favorite quotes now!!

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