Motivated to Succeed

Stockade-athon 15k

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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
Race: Stockade-athon 15k (9.3 Miles) 01:15:42, Place overall: 493, Place in age division: 8
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
10.750.000.00

9:00 AM - Today I ran with the CLYDESDALES! I had always joked with Jonny about Clydesdales and how one day we'd have to run with them, but I never really thought it would come true. I got to Schenectady's Central Park, and weighed in. A hefty, hefty, hefty 220 pounds! Gag!

Went for a warm up because I was cold and somewhat annoyed by all the Saratoga runners camping out around my car. Their coach just happened to park next to my car of all the free spaces. Jogged down to the soccer field, checked out a trail, turned around and came back. about 12 minutes of warm up 

THE RACE (9.3 MILES)

MILES 1-2: Lined up with the 8:00 milers. I didn't know how hard to go out or what pace to shoot for. Last year I ran 8:00 pace for the entire race, but that was with a LOT more miles under my belt. I always like people watching at races. Some really bizarre pre race rituals. Hit the first mile in 8:00 flat. YES! Second mile is primarily down hill and we opened it up a bit. There was a cute quartet of kazoos cheering us on. Hit the 2 mile mark around 15:40 (7:40 2nd mile, a bit fast).

 MILES 3-4: Mile 3 had a slight hill followed by a downhill. Started to get passed by a couple, but then caught my breath, and accelerated with them. Hit the 5k right around 24:00. Mile 4 brought us down to the low point of the race through the stockade. 

MILES 5-6: These are the "make" or "break" miles. Mile 5 is all uphill, up State Street. A significant and humbling beast. My goal was just to not stop or walk at all during the race. I plodded on and kept my head down.  A couple people passed me but I let them go. Got to the top and headed toward Vale Cemetery. Right at the 6 mile mark a guy in orange came up alongside us, running effortlessly. His gait and stride were noteworthy. It was Bill Rodgers! Nice to know that I can hold my own for 6 miles against a 60-something former elite runner. Also had Wade Stockman come up on me and pass me as we hit the 10k mark. Wade is a super runner, in his mid-70s. He was a big deal back when my parents ran. He's still slicing and dicing!

MILES 7-8: Mile 7 was tough as it came back up the hill we went down in Mile 2. Plodded up and over it. Now the great two loop outer/inner to the finish line around the pond. I could see a lot of people already finishing (~55:00). Mile 8 hurt. A couple of my runners had made the trek as their mom's fiancee was running. I was struggling to hold form and I was keeping pace pretty well, though I had slowed to probably an 8:15 or 8:20 pace. About 50 people passed me during this portion of the race.

MILE 9 & .3: Kept it together going around the pond. About .3 from the finish a man I know Tom Ostrander came up on me. He beat me by a couple minutes last week at the half marathon. I usually beat him into submission, but lately as I've put on weight we have evened out. He recognized me as a "Galway guy" and I said that it definitely is harder to run after putting on some lbs. We ran together to the finish, me just narrowly beating him.

Total Time: 1:15:42 Total Distance: 9.3 miles Average Pace: 8:08

Finished in 493rd place of 1387 total finishers. This was a blast, and I exceeded my overall expectations. Earned 8th place in the Clydesdale division too! 

Brooks Addictions 8 - #3 Miles: 10.75
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Snoqualmie on Sun, Nov 07, 2010 at 21:55:26 from 24.18.192.33

I haven't been by your blog since the wedding - I love the new picture! Congratulations! Oh, and nice race too. ;)

From Rossy on Sun, Nov 07, 2010 at 23:02:58 from 69.251.100.55

Nice race Benn (i.e., 1:15 for nine-plus miles is not bad at all)! Also, I'm envious that you ran with Boston Billy that is awesome!

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