Motivated to Succeed

Saratoga Stryders' Annual 5K Trail Series #3

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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:

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

Mon, Jul 26, 2010

Race: Saratoga Stryders' Annual 5K Trail Series #3 (3.106 Miles) 00:24:34, Place overall: 27

Running Miles	Swimming Yards	Bike Miles
6.75	0.00	0.00

5:00 PM - Drove from Massachusetts to Wilton, NY for the summer 5k series. Don't know if I'll drive all the way out again, but I have run this race over 30 times, and I like the course. I was a little sore from the tempo miles I ran two days ago, and I was over an hour early for the race. So I decided to run the race as a tempo-ish run. For a warmup I ran the 3.10 mile course once in 28:19 (8:51, 9:32, 9:30). I stretched and sat in the car with the A/C a little bit. I was a little tired and legs felt heavy.

THE RACE:

MILE 1: (7:34) - Started out a bit faster then I wanted. This is the flattest mile on the course though and I chose to just follow a father/son duo. Decided I would slow down in the second mile when we got into the steeper section of the woods.

MILE 2: (8:09) - Slowed down and felt more comfortable. I can run forever I feel sometimes in the 8:00-9:00 range. Got passed by a group of four and then had a really asthmatic runner behind me. He would follow me until I just had to let him pass me for a bit because it was getting annoying during mile 3. I ended up passing him with a 1/2 mile to go and beat him to the line easily. I wonder sometimes if I sound like that when I breathe?

MILE 3: (8:31) - Plugging away on the big hills now. Felt pretty good. Thinking about the wedding for some reason. 82 days until the big day! So much to do in so little time. Will I be ready? Will I faint? What will it be like?! Oops crap! Finish line. Kicked it in across the dam. No sweat. Done and in for another day. Need to start ramping up the miles though to be ready for the marathon. Eek!

Total Time: 24:34 Pace: 7:54 Place: 27th

COOLDOWN: .52 miles in 5:00 - jogged up the trail a bit and back before going to meet my second cousin Annika and my mom at Stewarts for ice cream. I got two scoops of cotton candy icecream, my absolute FAVORITE! A great end to the day.

Total Time: 57:53 Total Distance: 6.75 miles Average Pace: 8:34

Brooks Addictions 8 - #2 Miles: 6.75

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

Comments

From Kelli on Tue, Jul 27, 2010 at 12:31:30 from 71.219.99.30

Another race??? You are a racing machine, and they are hard ones you pick!!! Nice job!!

From Benn Griffin on Tue, Jul 27, 2010 at 12:54:19 from 96.240.220.30

I have another 5k next week. I am trying to race to get some speed. I am getting concerned about the marathon though. I just don't have the long runs under my belt.

Kelli - what are your thoughts about doing like 5-6 miles on a treadmill until I can't stand it any more, then changing and going outside some? I end up doing almost all my runs by myself unless it's either a race or a 4-5 mile recovery run with Emma. I kind of have an idea what you are going to say since you are the Treadmill Princess lol

From Kelli on Tue, Jul 27, 2010 at 19:09:50 from 71.219.99.30

You mean the treadmill Queen???

I think it is a very good idea for many reasons, and the number 1 is that it is so much easier on your body!!! I was doing close to 50% of my miles on the treadmill this spring and I had the best marathon ever (it was not a PR, but it certainly could have been had I not committed to my husband!) I was able to ramp my miles up considerably without feeling the fatigue. Plus, nothing beats the climate control!

Now, it is BORING and I do not love it! I run a lot slower on the treadmill (unless I am doing speedwork, which is another benefit of the TM----you hit the pace you want because you have no choice). The time drags, but get some good music or TV and you will get used to it!

From big legs on Tue, Jul 27, 2010 at 22:11:32 from 68.198.227.192

nice race, it seems we're getting married within a month of each other. congrats!

From Snoqualmie on Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 17:01:08 from 24.18.192.33

Great job! It's very inspiring to see you're running so well these days. Wish I lived closer-- I could play harp at your wedding. Do you have music picked out? Of course you'll be ready! You'll both be brilliant! Cheers, Sno

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