Motivated to Succeed

Week starting Mar 21, 2010

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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
16.000.000.00
Brooks Addictions 8 - #2 Miles: 4.70Reebok Premier KFS Miles: 6.60Vibram Five Fingers KSO Miles: 4.70
Night Sleep Time: 23.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 23.00Weight: 0.00
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
4.700.000.00

4:00 PM - Sunny and temperature was in the high 50s. Cooler than yesterday and more clouds in the sky. Today was a good day. I helped Emmy and Sky-boy plant some seeds to start some seedlings for our garden while I watched a stream on the computer of the L.A. marathon. Pretty cool stuff. We had a little fire to get rid of the brush from the winter and then took Skyler to go get ice cream on the way to drop him off at his mom's. Afterward we went over to the bike trail and went jogging. Ran most of it slow, but then the last mile or so started to pick it up. Emmy totally called me on it and we were clipping along at about 7:30 pace. Well she really took off after that though she said she didn't even notice. By the last 300m we were cruising at 5:57 pace. This was a good run, especially on tired legs! Yesterday's long run kicked my butt (in a good way though!). Now time for a shower and some prepping for tomorrow's classes. Man the weekend sure goes by a little too fast for my liking! Splits were:

  • Mile 1: 9:34
  • Mile 2: 9:24
  • Mile 3: 9:29
  • Mile 4: 8:42
  • .70: 5:22 (7:42 pace)

 Total Time: 42:31 Total Distance: 4.70 miles Average Pace: 9:03

Brooks Addictions 8 - #2 Miles: 4.70
Night Sleep Time: 8.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 8.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
3.300.000.00

5:30 PM - Long day at school. Got to see Emmy when I got home though and the Ruby Gato. That made it better. I was able to talk about Obama's Health Care bill with my 4 classes today. However most of my classes are shot these next few days because there is MCAS state testing for my kids in the morning. Legs are still shot from the long run 12 miles this Saturday. Going to focus on building up the long run so that I can hit my 24 miler on my birthday and finish the 50k on July 3rd. SO, the question is now, when to fill out and send in my application!?!

Total Time: 30:00 Total Distance: 3.30 miles Average Pace:  9:05

Reebok Premier KFS Miles: 3.30
Night Sleep Time: 7.50Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 7.50Weight: 0.00
Comments(3)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.000.00

Registered for my first ULTRA today! Out in Fabius, NY. I was going to do the Finger lake 50s however there are no hotels near there and the B&Bs cost a bit too much. We found a Comfort Inn for only $68 bucks and plus this race is only $10. It is earlier than the FL50s. This one takes place right around my birthday, Saturday MAY 29th. It is put on by the Syracuse Chargers Track Club and is called the:

 

HIGHLAND FOREST 1-2-3 Trail Race.

 
Runners can choose to run 1, 2, or 3 laps. Oh, and you can switch on the day of the race. I am going to gun for 3 laps. However as per the race site I have to start the 3rd lap before the 4.5 hr mark. So I have to push it the first 20 miles to make the cut off methinks. Check out the website!

http://www.syracusechargers.org/highland123/index.html

 

This is the training plan it drew up for me. I am in Week 3 I believe right now. I only have 10 wks to train. From what I've read the Saturday and Sunday runs are the most important so they are the ones I need to MAKE sure I do! Do you think this schedule will be adequate to finish? I have 4 x 20+ long runs and considering I ran 2 marathons on runs never exceeding 15 miles, I think that this would be more than enough? Thanks!

Week OfWeekMonTueWedThuFriSatSunMiles
Mar 11 CD022208620
Mar 82 CD0224010624
Mar 153 CD0224012828
Mar 2240246014834
Mar 29504460161040
Apr 5604660181044
Apr 12704680201048
Apr 198 CD0486010836
Apr 26904880221052
May 310041085
121049
May 10115
41080241061
May 1712 CD04106010838
May 24134320050K ultra055






































































































































Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(4)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
8.000.000.00

Something that I have learned this week is that we cannot always control our lives and our training. However what we CAN do is control the quality of it. I have spent a lot of time with Emma this week. She lost her grandfather on Wednesday morning and I have spent a lot of time with her just sharing time with one another. I went to the wake yesterday after school. The funeral was today but Mary Rose (Emma's mom) said it was probably better if we did not go to it. I know I have a hard enough time going to a wake. It was the first time for me anyways and I didn't want to tell Emma how much it made me anxious. Ever since my own Poppy died when I was 9 I have had a really hard time dealing with death. 

10:00 AM - Went jogging on the treadmill as I watched an episode of "Dirty Jobs". I'd been up since 6am and really needed to get a jog in. Was going crazy not running this week.

Total Time: 30:00 Total Distance: 3.30 miles Average Pace: 9:05

3:30 PM - Today was pretty cool. I loved it however. I always feel and run better in the cool spring and late fall weather because I sweat less. I always sweat profusely when running, but I was able to run relatively comfortably at the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail with Emmy this afternoon after lunch. Despite only being 40ish out, it was sunny so there were a decent amount of runners and bikers out. We ran out to the duckpond where the guy has built a mini condo for his geese and ducks and stretched. Emma wasn't feeling too hot on the way out, however she felt better after stretching. We really started to pick it up on the way back. This was the longest continuous run outside in my Vibrams. I did buy a pair of those Injinji socks but did not think to bring them for the run today. Will try that next time. Felt good. We were flying as usual at the end. Splits were:

  • Mile 1: 9:08
  • Mile 2: 8:27
  • Mile 3: 8:34
  • Mile 4: 8:22
  • .7: 5:30 (7:54 pace) 
Total Time: 40:01 Total Distance: 4.70 miles Average Pace: 8:31

Vibram Five Fingers KSO Miles: 4.70Reebok Premier KFS Miles: 3.30
Night Sleep Time: 7.50Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 7.50Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
16.000.000.00
Brooks Addictions 8 - #2 Miles: 4.70Reebok Premier KFS Miles: 6.60Vibram Five Fingers KSO Miles: 4.70
Night Sleep Time: 23.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 23.00Weight: 0.00
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