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


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2014 Books I've Read: 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Blogs:

Click to donate
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
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.000.00

Downer: At work on Friday and Saturday not just my right achilles, but BOTH started to hurt to the point where it hurt to be on my feet and I nearly fell. Had to take the elevator - humbling experience. Have tried to stay off my feet since, and called into work on Sunday night. Hopefully things will improve. I have an appointment with another specialist on Thursday morning and hopefully we can figure out what is up. This just really sucks. Not to mention I feel like a heifer because I am not running so I'm gaining weight.

Did a bunch of arm exercises with 12 lb free weights today ~ 20 mins worth

200 crunches, 100 situps, and 50 pushups (2 x 25 sets).

I need the downtime to finish up the rest of the assignments for this semester. Almost halfway done with my master's degree! I am so sick of school. Yuck!

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 180.00
Comments
From kungfublonde on Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 12:36:25

I'm so sorry to hear you are hurt. Take care of yourself and get better soon! If you want cross training tips, people all over this blog are awesome at it, I've found (not me, though!). Brent and Kelli's blogs are particulaly good for that.

And don't say bad things about school- I am really excited and thankful to finally be going back to get my Master's. I know you get burned out, but try to appreciate it!!

Love the new picture :)

From Snoqualmie on Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 12:38:25

Is is swollen? Maybe you can do some pool running while you heal. Downtime for finishing projects is a great idea!

From The Howling Commando on Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 12:38:54

Im just going to take it easy, forget about the xtraining. It's been 11 months of "recovery" so far and now I have just seemed to make things worse. I am going to take some time off and then only run 3 or 4 times a week max, every other day. Running more than that seems something like my body won't tolerate.

From The Howling Commando on Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 12:42:24

Ironically they aren't swollen like they were earlier this year. They just hurt after I'm on my feet for an extended amount of time.

From wheakory on Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 13:48:00

Sorry about the achillies. Again you may look to see if your using the right shoe for your foot arch. It might just be Tendonitis. I would start doing a lot of stretching something I always forget.

From Nevels on Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 14:04:33

Sorry to hear that. Kory might be onto something with the tendonitis idea, but I think it is a wise decision to take a little time off and then tentatively start back. As a side note, swimming and pool running have helped me in the past during foot injuries; they give good workouts with no impact, and they even help stretch out a lot of those muscles/tendons/ligaments.

And I feel your pain regarding school.

From Paul Ivory on Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 21:28:00

Benn, I join the chorus. So sorry to hear about the achilles. Hang in there. All these challenges will eventually pay a dividend. I wish there were magic words of wisdon for you. How about Ralph Waldo Emerson: "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

From The Howling Commando on Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 22:40:56

Thanks for all of the kind words everyone. I am hoping that when I go to the doctor's I get some sense of what to do. Maybe I am just got out to be an every other day runner. I have to admit I don't have the potential nor the natural gift for this sport that so many of you possess. I will fight the good fight though and I agree. One day I can look back on this and see where I came from.

From Paul Ivory on Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 20:06:04

Benn, one more quote that may apply for you, author unknown:

"Life is a headlong rush into the unknown. You can hunker down and hope nothing hits you or you can stand tall, lean into the wind and shout "Bring It On Darlin'-and don't be stingy with the Jalepenos."

From Brent on Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 21:23:52

Benn, running against the wind, without the silver bullet band. Hey, your right, some runners are blessed with the physical makeup to be great, injury free. The measure of a runner is not in PRs and splits or a spot on the first page of the mileage board. Paul's quotes are great. Never, never, never, never, never, quit.

Stay Kool, Hang in there Buddy, B of BS Rools out

From The Howling Commando on Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 22:29:32

It was so great to check my blog before going to bed and see some of the great things you have all said. You guys make me feel so lucky to be a part of the blog. I'm going to pray for some good news tomorrow at the Doctors. I'll keep you all updated.

From The Howling Commando on Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 22:32:39

And go figure.. Bill Rodgers ran a 1:13:14 this year at the 15k Stockadeathon.. I ran a 1:07:40 last year and lost to him by like 2 minutes. Such is life. If I hadn't been set back by this achilles issue I think I could have easily beat him this year :( . I guess there's always next year (if he runs).

From Lucia on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 11:21:03

Nooooo! Injuries suck! Get better soon!

So proud of you for being half-way done with your masters! I know it's hard, but you'll be soooo glad you did it when you're older. I certainly wish I had done it years ago - my brain isn't what it used to be. To a speedy recovery!

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