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:

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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
0.000.0020.00

Had my doctor's appointment today though I don't know if it was much of a "doctor's" appointment.. he never came in once for the hour and a half I was there. Guess he was busy. I explained the circumstances and then how the pain came on last weekend at work and I had the physician's assistant look at my achilles. We ended up getting 2 xrays of my right achilles because that was the one that has been the trouble in the past. They showed slight inflammation at the base of the achilles where it connects/goes into the heel bone (forgive me if I don't remember the medical terminology). She suggested that I make an appointment to get new orthotics. The ones I have, though professionally designed, are 5 years old and she suggested another set of custom made ones since perhaps the ones I have now have been compressed over time. She pointed out as I expected how I am the atypical runner as I have the biomechanics of a couch potato. But I assured her I am indeed a distance runner at least at heart and want to do what it takes to get better. I have a followup appointment on December 3rd. She suggested I do pool stuff and stationary bike riding, but as someone moved my bike WHILE it was attached to my wind trainer my bike is officially BROKEN. Grrr. Even better is the fact that my insurance doesn't cover orthotics so that'll be another $300 or so. Should never have spent the money on the wind trainer. I think I want to move somewhere where the weather is nicer. Let's hope at work this weekend my achilles tendons cooperate.

Did arm exercises for 20 minutes, as well as crunches and pushups.

3:00 PM - After an hour and a half tinkering with the messed up bike, decided to just hook up my road bike to the wind trainer. Now I am keeping it in my bedroom so that I can keep an eye on things, rather than keeping it out in the garage. Road for 65 minutes. It felt good to get a ride in again after nearly a month off of the bike.

Total Time: 1:05:00 Total Distance: 20 miles Average Speed: 18.5 mph

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 175.00
Comments
From wheakory on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 13:44:46

Sorry about the news and the expense. I believe you can be a distance runner. You have the patience to get better and things will turn around with God's help.

Doing your other routine exercises will keep you fit and toned. Especially the pool work.

St. George, Utah is a nice place to live and great weather all year around.

From The Howling Commando on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 13:48:54

Thanks, Kory. Just frustrating you know? I would use a bike indoors all winter if I could, but I bought the wind trainer to use and someone forgot to detach the trainer and basically ripped the rear derailer off my bike and now its all bent and unuseable. Nothing seems to be going my way, haha. I will try to get more pool stuff in, but its 30 mins away which is a major downer. The bummer of living out in the middle of nowhere!

From Bonnie on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 16:13:45

I am so sorry to hear about your achilles (and bike) Benn ... I will be thinking positive thoughts for you!

From jefferey on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 16:44:11

Commando,

Hope all turns out OK for you soon-

Do you do much stretching after your runs? When are the upcoming nuptials?

Great pic of you and your fiance!

From The Howling Commando on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 16:57:20

Yeah I do about 10 mins of stretching after the 1st mile, and then 10 mins after the end of the run.

Thanks. Hopefully it turns out well too!

The date is 10/16/10. Next fall is going to be too crazy with my student teaching and all. Plus we want to have time to save up some money to hopefully pay for everything and have money set aside for an apartment and stuff. I'm excited, yet nervous at the same time! I need to get in shape before wedding day!

From marion on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 17:09:47

Yeah for the wedding date! Why not 10-10-10? jk ;)

My insurance does not cover orthodics either. I was not happy to shell out the $250 for them. The ones I have are supposed to lat forever though :)

I sure hope your heels heal quickly!

From The Howling Commando on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 17:18:23

That's what they told me last time. "Oh yeah these things will last 10-15 years!" But the ones I have/had are foamy, not the leather ones that a lot of other people have. Hopefully these new ones will be better!

From marion on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 17:21:17

I sure hope so. Mine are called runner flex, I think. They have lots of layers of futuristic materials and a lifetime warranty.

From Brent on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 19:49:17

Benn, just a little bump in life's journey. When the going gets tough, the howling commandos get going, cross train like an animal, but, don't eat like a horse.

Cross training, going for miles and miles without leaving is tough, stay focused. hang hang in there.

Stay Kool, Goal 148 with a six pack, B of BS Rools out

From Nevels on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 20:03:05

Kudos on the adaptive cross-training. You're taking this little setback much more gracefully than I would. Like Brent said, stay focused, and it will all come back around.

From saamijeff on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 20:56:11

Do you use anti-inflammatories? I know many frown on them but I found then essential when recovering and dealing with tendonitis both achilles and in my forearm. Sometimes better living through chemistry does work.

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