Motivated to Succeed

Week starting Feb 01, 2009

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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: 

 

 

 

 

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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
0.000.00100.00
2009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 100.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 179.00
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.0020.00

12:30 PM - Went biking. Finished reading Nando Parrado's Miracle in the Andes. What a fabulous account of heroism, survival, and gut-wrenching heartache! Knee felt pretty good. Only downer I have another ingrown toenail :(

Total Time: 1:00:10 Total Distance: 20 mi

OPERATION BENN'S FIRST CENTURY : SUMMER, 2009

Got excited so I mapped out my proposed route to Emma's house.  I'm excited. Check it out

If you want to see what I am up against elevation wise though, click on "show elevation"... It's a doozy!

2009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 20.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(8)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.0020.00

8:00 AM - Got up, got dressed, and away on the bike. Have so much to do that I wanted to get a ride in. Got a lot done while I was on the bike actually. Read a chapter from my textbook for tomorrow, went over the 17 major themes/concepts that will be on my state test in 3 weeks and then read the first twelve pages of Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees. My knee felt a little stiff when I first started but this went away after about 10 minutes. I stretched a bunch and everything is doing much better than a week ago, that's for sure! Going to do free weights tonight after class. Happy Groundhog's Day! I wish he hadn't seen his shadow, but we all knew Phil was going to stiff us with another six weeks of winter, didn't we!?!

Total Time: 1:00:15 Total Distance: 20 mi

2009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 20.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(3)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
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7:30 AM - There just isn't enough time in the day to get everything in! Did a bike ride, and now rushing for a shower, 4 hours of observations, then zipping home, changing and off to class down in Albany from 4:30 to 10:00 tonight. Yuck! Had a nice bike ride though this a.m. and surprising phone call from Emmy which made my morning!

Total Time: 1:00:10 Total Distance: 20 mi

2009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 20.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 179.00
Comments(3)
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No ride today.. Bummer. One of the girls that is leaving work as of Friday called out today. Go figure. So I got asked to work 8am to 7pm.. of course I said yes because I am a reliable, good worker. :-. Finally got home and was too exhausted to do anything since I didn't get home from class last night until 11 something. Grr. Frustrated that there aren't more hours in the day. I learned a lot about my writing last night though. I learned that I am often too verbose and tend to write in the passive voice. I am going to work on changing this for my next paper due for my class. Just wish I had more time to get everything done. I need to take a minute and just chill and tell myself it will be okay. Going to get a quick nap and then try to get a bike ride in before I have to go observe tomorrow for a couple hours. I feel bummed though because 1. I know I'm stressed out, 2. I miss Emmy, 3. I feel like I just pass my stressfulness onto her when I already know she has enough to worry about. I have to stop being a slacker and get my butt in gear!

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(1)
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7:30 AM - Temperatures plummeted all day yesterday. This morning was -10 or -15. Yuck. But somehow by Saturday and Sunday it will be in the mid 40s and rainy. Go figure. Went biking. Felt good. The knee didn't hurt. The only bad thing was I couldn't stop itching my legs for the first 20 minutes. I don't know if it was the dry skin or what, but it was downright annoying! Have to go get a shower and then go do observations and then homework all day. I might do another bike ride as a study break later today.

Total Time: 1:00:15 Total Distance: 20 miles

Really getting into The Secret Life of Bees. I'm up to about page 60 now. Sue Monk Kidd's writing is engaging I think because she uses vernacular language. Almost has a To-Kill-A-Mockingbird-esqueness to it. I highly recommend it to anyone that likes good literature.

7:45 PM - After more than six hours working on a stupid paper (Stupid not because of the content, but the failure of my teacher to ever give clear, concise directions) I decided it was time for a destressing ride. Only did 30 minutes. Felt strong though. Read another 25 pages of The Secret Life of Bees

Total Time: 30:45 Total Distance: 10 miles

2009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 30.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 179.00
Comments(9)
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3:20 PM - After work hopped on the bike and did 30 minutes hard effort. Was a little tired from just everything. Going to try to get a good nights sleep tonight! :) Missing Emma something fierce :( yuck. Touching moment today: on the way to work I was listening to NPR's local station and their fund drive.  A homeless man called in and pledged $5 and stated that he hoped that he could pick up enough bottles and cans today to meet that pledge. Well all the way to work I was listening to people call in and pledge an extra $5 to cover his donation. It actually made the head guy from our station, Alan Chartok cry (and he's a pretty hard/conservative guy of about 65). I was really moved. Too bad that moment was ruined with the first snobby Saratogians of the day. At least I know that there are good people out there. I only wish more people from Saratoga would listen to NPR. Maybe they would stop always thinking about themselves.  Oh, and tomorrow Harry (my youngest brother) turns 15!!! Exciting! I told my mom "I bet you feel old." She laughed and said "What? Me. No I'm 29!" haha Young at heart trumps Age in a heartbeat. Carry on friends.

Total Time: 30:05 Total Distance: 10 miles

Am I the only one that is not having a baby on the running blog? I feel left out! :(

2009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 10.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(4)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.00100.00
2009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 100.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 179.00
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