Motivated to Succeed

Independence Day 5k

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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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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
207.920.000.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
6.350.000.00

55:18; felt nice and relaxed.. amazing how an hour run can feel so easy after 6 hours in the woods yesterday!

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
6.100.000.00

41:35 ; 2 mile warm up and then 3:05, 3:04, 3:04, 3:04, with 200m "offs" in between 1:20 and 1:40. Final 400m was 1:17. Funny thing is that the 400m felt nearly effortless and I don't know why. Maybe because it was so short? Double checked each of the 800s to make sure none were "short". Another couple easy miles tonight when my wife gets out.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
6.350.000.00

6 miles easy, run 4 x 2 minutes hard at goal 5k pace during miles 3-5

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Race: Independence Day 5k (3.11 Miles) 00:22:29, Place overall: 174, Place in age division: 36
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
5.100.000.00

22:29 - went out a bit too fast, died and faded in the closing mile. Kept Dylan Quinn in sight during the first half of the race. Man the noxious hotdog/cotton candy vapors on North street kind of stink!

174th place. oppressive humidity and temp at 80. I hate summer. Seriously. Felt like shit.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
7.520.000.00

7.52 miles in 1:03:59

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
8.100.000.00

1:07:42; wedding to go to. Will move this workout to tomorrow.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
6.000.000.00

50:00. So dead beat tired. Been hydrating like crazy but it doesn't matter. My legs don't want to respond. I feel sluggish and out of shape and can't stop sweating.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
10.130.000.00

Day #192: 10.13 miles. 5 miles up and down Mt. Greylock at Stoney Ledge. Then 5.13 miles at home in 41:20. Last 3 were 8:00 or just under. Redemption? Still need to make up for yesterday. Onward soldiers!

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
10.750.000.00

5 mile run, 1 mile easy, 3 miles of 1 minute hard, 1 minute easy, 1 mile easy for the workout part keep the hards near 5km effort and the easy ones near marathon pace (3:50?) Workout 3 miles "on" were at 7:30 pace and easy ones were slow 9:15 pace. Tired. Sick of sweating.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
11.850.000.00

6.25 miles on the Taconic Crest Trail to Snowhole and back. Then 5.6 miles with Michael in 1:08:50 in the woods at the Boulders. Sweat all the way through my shorts and shirt in 20 mins and had sweat pooling in my Merrell Road Gloves. Feel like I smoked a pack of cigarettes today. Ugh!

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
10.150.000.00

3x's 1 mile, hard half mile this is a pacing workout!! So not full speed. First 800 meters at 5km effort, next 400 meters at your goal 15km pace, last 400 harder then first 800. Goal here is to mimic a quick start to a race, then find your pace you want, then kick off that. Should be 3 different gears you use. 400 meter recovery jogs, then after the miles do 1x's a hard 800 in all you got left, 3:00?

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
10.120.000.00

Easy and relaxed.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
3.100.000.00

9:15s. With 3 x striders thrown in. I hope heaviness lifts for tomorrow!

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Race: Utica Boilermaker 15k (9.32 Miles) 01:27:27
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
11.500.000.00

Say it ain't so, bro! Worst performance ever in a 15k. I got there and it was humid. I had driven since 3am, so maybe that was a factor. Met Lindsay at her friend's house and we loaded up and got dropped off at an exit ramp and walked to the start with bibs. I was not a huge fan already with so many people. Slipped down an embankment trying to find a place to "water the trees". Had a good starting corral and started off fine, but once the furnace got cranking, I couldn't stay cool and overheated. Ice chips came far too late (at mile 7 or so). Got passed by almost everyone in the golf course. Lindsay flew past me. She had a great day. Funny my PR is 20 MINUTES faster than this "glorious" performance! oh well. Stuff happens. Onwards and upwards!

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
5.100.000.00

5.1 easy in 54:00. Oh to be a streaker! Best part? You get to run every day!

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
7.100.000.00

7.1 in 1:01:43:00. Wouldn't know I bonked a race 2 days ago! Feeling better. Got to remember to stay hydrated and hang tough in workouts mentally. That is the biggest challenge. Good things are on the horizon. I can feel it!

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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
9.000.000.00

1:44:00; 5 in 45 by myself, then 4 on the trails with one of my runners in 44:00

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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
5.000.000.00

You have started at 5 and worked down before, this time start at 1 min hard/1 easy, and work up to 5, then back down to 1. Goal here is on the way UP for you to be hitting half marathon pace on hard, on way down crank them to 5km pace. Try to keep easys at marathon effort. I think the more you do time intervals with using marathon pace as the easy the more muscle memory you have for that pace.   Don't feel well. I did 4 hours of stacking wood outside this a.m. My weight this morning was 225, i drank 4 nalgene bottles of water during wood stacking.. then the workout 7:30s on way up 7:00s on way down, i kind of tripped and fell at the end . ending weight was 215. that ain't good...

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
3.100.000.00

Easy 3.1 before leaving for Montreal with Jonny and Harry tomorrow!

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
1.000.000.00

12 mile race simulation run 2 mile warmup, 8 miles at GOAL Marathon pace, 2 mile cooldown. You can split this has 2x's 4 miles at goal marathon pace if you need to. 3:55 MP pace below, you can probably do 3:50 No i never got in any real running. Did a 5k on the treadmill but there was no a/c unit and it was 90 and humid. did 1 mile days saturday and sunday. legs feel shitty though for some reason. Will you be able to do the workout? Jake Montreal all day

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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
1.000.000.00

Was supposed to be 8. Hard to find time to run with the brothers. Played some frisbee though which was great! Have to recommit to a stronger training regimen from here on out. Kept the streak alive.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
4.000.000.00

4 in 36:30

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
5.300.000.00

6x's 800s, 400 meter recoveries running these 800s as negative splitting intervals. First 400 at Yasoo 800 pace, next 200 a little harder, last 200 like a damn freight train!  so basically 1:55 for first 400, then 55 for next 200, and last 200 in 45-50? 44:24 - Warmup and then hit strong 1:53-1:57 for the first 400s, and kicked it up to 7:00/mi pace for 400-600m, and then down to 6:00/mile (:45) for the last 200s. Was consistent. Felt faster towards the end. The 800s were: 3:45, 3:37, 3:36, 3:36, 3:36, 3:34.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
3.100.000.00

Trail run at the Boulders with Kassey, Emma and Gene. Just easy 5k

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
2.000.000.00

2 miles easy. 17:30, nice and relaxed. Now time to pack.

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Race: Wakefield Around the Lake Marathon (17 Miles) 02:58:00
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
17.000.000.00

Was raining at the start, then hot and humid with gnats flying up my nose, in my eyes and in my teeth. Felt pretty good. Only had 3 laps left, but was worried about the long flight and didn't want to overdo it. So I banked some time and heaced to Lindsays (a 30 min trip) to sleep a couple hours before the flight. In hindsight I should have just finished. I could have walked the 9 miles and finished faster than last year's 5:41. I was at about 3 hours at the 17 mark.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
2.100.000.00

2.1 in Oregon after getting to hotel!

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
8.000.000.00

Great day so far in Eugene. 2.3 mile hike up to Spencer Butte, 3.1 miles running on Pre's Trail by the university with Emma. Then went to Hendrick's Park and walked the Rhododendron Gardens, then stopped by Pre's Rock on Skyline, hit up Hayward Field and walked around the block (it's blocked and won't let you in to run a lap - lame). So far a great day! Dinner in a few hours. 2.3 mile run after dinner nice and easy. Used the bowflex machine

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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
8.000.000.00

Finished up in Eugene with a 2.1 mile run this a.m., 3 mile hard hike up and down Pisgah Mountain, then a 2.5 hour drive to Bend, stopping along the way to see some really cool waterfalls along Rte 126. Walked around Bend before grabbing an awesome Gruyer, Granny Smith Grilled Cheese on homemade bread and a beer sampler at McMenamins Old St. Francis School. Walked around a bike path afterwards and saw some yoga dancers/drummers in Bend's oldest park! Phew! Tired! (8-9 miles total today)

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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
8.000.000.00

2.5 miles up and down Pilot Butte in Bend. Then drove to Spark's Lake and got some great views and a good workout in, 2 miles, then did a LONG 1 mile loop around the lake at Lake Todd (I think it was 1.5mi), finished up with 2.25 miles in 20:29 after dinner. Lots of short little workouts. I'm beat though today!

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
6.000.000.00

More exploring with Emma in Bend!!

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
207.920.000.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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