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

C reate Your Badge{C}

2014 Books I've Read:

Favorite Blogs:

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to Ukraine's Armed Forces

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

Tue, Aug 11, 2009

Running Miles	Swimming Yards	Bike Miles
12.02	0.00	0.00

8:50 AM - Drove to Saratoga and went to Spa Park for a run. Slept a full eight hours last night after the race. Felt pretty good. My quads and hamstrings were a bit sore, but that is to be expected after the conditions yesterday. I stretched at the car. Brought a water bottle and thankfully, filled it with Gatorade, although that didn't even last a full loop! During the course of today's run I drank 8 full 20 ounce water bottles, 20 ounces of gatorade and 140 ounces of water because I didn't have any more gatorade on me. I eased into the first loop and felt good. There were some other runners out, but it was already 80 degrees and sunny and most people had decided not to go out like me, and/or had already run early this morning (what I should have done!). I did a 3-3.05 loop each time and stopped about .6 miles into each loop to refill my water bottle. I would not have made it through the run had I not had access to the free flowing spring water! Felt pretty good until the last mile or two. They were rough. My legs were starting to tighten up and I just wanted to be done with it already. On the third loop I was running around the perimeter of the public pool which has been closed for almost a year, and there was a green bus with prisoners there doing all the yard work. I didn't know if I was allowed to run between their work detail but I did, picking up the pace. The guard with the gnarly shotgun kind of scared me a bit! Saw a lot of dogs on the trail today, most not on leashes which I don't really like because the owners just "assume" that they have good dogs. The last thing I want to deal with is a nasty dog bite! Also realized one of my pet peeves: Smokers. Have never really liked smoking, and its fine if you want to smoke, but don't dirty up nature for the rest of us! Saw a couple leave at the same time on the nature trail as me and I almost lapped them, as they were walking the trail. Both of them were smoking, and by the looks of the dudes popped-collar pink polo and Birkenstocks they were totally the Horseracing people that infiltrate Saratoga in the summer time. I saw three separate cigarettes on the trail, still smoldering as I ran past, and I just hoped to catch them to give them a message: "HEY! NATURE ISN'T HERE TO BE YOUR ASHTRAY!" If I were a cop man I would bust smokers left and right for throwing cigarettes out their windows. Maybe this is my calling in life, to be an enforcer of Clean Earth Policy! Splits today were slow but that is to be expected with the humidity and temperature. Afterwards I got a fruit smoothy and three bagels from work and a coffee to wash it all down. Weight was 187 after eating three bagels and all that and then having another cup of juice when I got home. Splits:

Mile 1: 9:25
Mile 2: 9:28
Mile 3: 10:13
Mile 4: 9:32
Mile 5: 9:29
Mile 6: 10:10
Mile 7: 9:36
Mile 8: 9:31
Mile 9: 11:43
Mile 10: 10:11
Mile 11: 9:51
Mile 12: 10:39

Total Time: 2:00:02 Total Distance: 12.02 miles Average Pace: 9:59

Brooks Addictions 8 Miles: 12.02

Night Sleep Time: 8.00	Nap Time: 0.00	Total Sleep Time: 8.00	Weight: 187.00

Comments

From Mike Warren on Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 12:30:56 from 207.50.149.221

Benn, great run today. Couldn't agree with you more on the smokers. Just realized you had a race yesterday, off to read your report now.

From Nevels on Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 13:08:36 from 131.204.15.93

I remember a couple of times in high school when we would be running mile repeats on the track while someone who lived nearby was standing (in the inside lane, no less) on the track, smoking like a chimney. He was well aware of the fact that he was in the way of our workout, but that didn't seem to bother him in the least, and perhaps he was smoking just to add insult to injury (or vice versa...). In any case, the lead group, consisting of two other guys and me, made a point to mention (very loudly) in our conversation amongst ourselves how we thought it was illegal to be smoking on a high school campus as we passed him for a couple of laps (swinging wide out to the third or fourth lane for effect). Eventually he either got the hint or just tired of whatever he was doing and left.

From Metcalf Running on Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 15:21:18 from 207.225.192.66

Nice run today!!! I think your pace was very good considering your speedy race yeaterday and the long miles today. I agree with you about the smoking!

From The Howling Commando on Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 09:34:09 from 96.240.211.166

Mike and John- Thanks :). As for the smokers, I don't know why they wouldn't just at least wait for a garbage or something first. Although it does remind me in the Roger Banister movie where one of the great milers is smoking a cigar right before the race, puts it on the side of the track, wins,and then picks up the cigar again. I think there is a guy trying to quit smoking on the blog right now that just ran 1:23 for the 1/2! Makes me a little jealous, haha.

Lori - Thanks! I didn't know if it was a good decision or bad one, but after rehydrating yesterday and icing my knees and a good 8 hours of sleep last night I woke up pain free, just have some fatigue in my quads from the runs which is to be expected. Going to take today off and then run an easy recovery run tomorrow :D

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