Motivated to Succeed

Week starting Feb 15, 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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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
2.300.00121.00
Asics 2120s Chili Pepper #1 Miles: 2.302009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 121.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
2.300.000.00

2:00 PM - I am at Emmy's in Pittsfield, MA today still. She wanted me to do the Power 90 workout with her, and I tried, but it's just not my thing. I have to get over my self-conscious issues doing weird yoga poses and such. I will give it another shot some other time though. It looked like a good workout because Emma was sweating at the end. I did 23 minutes on the elliptical at 5 resistance. Was sweating like crazy. Emma's sister Liana was on the treadmill next to me. Afterwards I did 200 crunches and some other ab work. Phew! I am hoping to cycle 100-120 miles this week. I've noticed that my legs compared to last year are HUGE. So much more muscles from cycling. I don't know if this bodes well or not to my future ambitions of running again. (First off I'll be heavier because of muscle mass, but secondly and more IMPORTANTLY, I think I'm just too darn sexy as a biker ..) ... BAHAHHA Okay. I tried to stop myself from laughing but couldn't. No, seriously though, cycling gives you sick leg muscles!

Total Time: 23:00 Total Distance: 2.3 mi Average  Pace: 10:00

Asics 2120s Chili Pepper #1 Miles: 2.30
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(3)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.0040.00

9:00 AM - Puppysat Libby and Aggie last night on the living room couch. Aggie is still a "puppy" despite being probably about 80 lbs and the size of a full grown labrador. Woke up at 6am, coffee and talked with the Daddio, and then hopped on the bike and cycled 2 hours hard. Got some reading for today's classes done. Felt good to get a nice ride in like that.

Total Time: 2:00:40 Total Distance: 40 miles

2009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 40.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(4)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
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8:20 AM - Hopped on the bike after morning coffee with my dad. Did a 1-hour hard ride. Really got sweating during it. Read from Goodwin's Team of Rivals again.

Total Time: 1:00:43 Total Distance: 20 mi

2009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 20.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.0020.00

2:15 PM - Had a very long night/day so far. I've had a "crick" in my neck for the last couple weeks, and it has gone away and come back several times. I woke up at about 6am this morning and it just hurt too much to go back to sleep. We got 7" of wet snow last night which made our driveway a mess and I got called into work earlier in the week to cover since they still have not hired someone to fill the void another bookseller left when she quit. Ended up being 20 mins late for work because I had to dig my car out when it got stuck (that should count for some kind of cardio, shouldn't it?). Got home after shopping for stuff for dinner. Hopped on the bike and was elated to find I can still bike with a messed up neck (as long as it is inside and I don't have to look over my shoulder for traffic behind me!). Got to thinking a lot while I was on the bike today:

We don't really realize everything life has to offer until it is often times too late. Reading Team of Rivals I got to look at the harsh reality that life in the states at the turn of the 19th century was. Something to note was three of four of the major candidates for the 1860 Republican nomination had all lost at least their father, and in Lincoln's case his mother as well, before they were in their teens. I read from my methods book by Jack Zevin as well about ways through which to approach history in a secondary setting to students.  The biggest idea I took away from those two chapters of Zevin's work is an idea we would do well to remember in our daily lives.. to view things in a "frame of reference". Remember there are always other sides to a story. Remember that often it is the victors that write history, and not the subjugated. We would do well to think of the "other side" of things. I think we as a people and a nation would be a more Christian society if we would morally consider others.

Total Time: 1:00:11 Total Distance: 20 miles

2009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 20.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.0021.00

3:00 PM - Good day at work. Really felt good making so many people's day. It's days like today that make me really appreciate my job. Had the cutest old guy (~85 or so) that came up and said hi to me before I had a chance to say "How are you today?". He goes: "A very good morning to you, young chap!" Read from my prep guide for my test tomorrow. I hope I do well on the ATS-W. We will see though.

Total Time: 1:03:15 Total Distance: 21 miles

2009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 21.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(4)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.0020.00

12:00 PM - My test went okay. Some girl finished in 50 minutes or something, but I took about 3 hours for the 80 m/c questions and essay. I have never been good at m/c questions. That's my excuse for why I went into history where all you do is write essays. I did great on the essay from my own standpoint on things, but the m/c were really rough. It didn't help that 2 or 3 of the answers on every question were actually "correct", BUT they asked for me to choose the "most correct" grrrr. and those stupid roman numeral ones where the answers are like a. I, and III, b. I, II, and III, c. II and III only, etc. etc. I just pray to God I passed. Read another 25 pages of Goodwin's Team of Rivals. It's going to take a month or two to get through as I'm only on page 80!

Total Time: 1:00:13 Total Distance: 20 miles

2009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 20.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(1)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
2.300.00121.00
Asics 2120s Chili Pepper #1 Miles: 2.302009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 121.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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