Motivated to Succeed

Week starting Apr 25, 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
42.220.0022.00
Brooks Addictions 8 - #3 Miles: 35.222010 Cycling Mileage Miles: 22.00
Night Sleep Time: 40.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 40.00Weight: 0.00
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
6.030.000.00

2:00 PM - I went to BWAC with Emm. She went on the elliptical and rowing machines while I went on the treadmill. I started reading the April edition of RT but had to ditch that as the sweat started to flow. I wanted to get in a good run so I decided to try and get some hills in. I did the majority of my run at 5%-7% grade and ended up with more vertical feet gained then calories burned for the run which was a good feat. Felt pretty good and now I am tired out. Good run for a rainy day. 

Total Time: 56:00 Total Distance: 6.03 miles Average Pace:  9:17

Yesterday was tux fitting/measurement day and we had a blast. Joe, Dad, Jonn, Me, Steve, Emma, my Mom and others all went to Tux Express in Pittsfield and Jonn helped pick out our tuxes. They look really snazzy :D. Mine is only slightly different because I have both a brown and ivory pocket square whereas everyone else will have just brown. Jonn posed to let me snap a shot :D.


Brooks Addictions 8 - #3 Miles: 6.03
Night Sleep Time: 8.50Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 8.50Weight: 0.00
Comments(4)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
6.100.000.00

6:20 PM - Rainy and drizzly in the mid to high 50s when finally got home from work today. Exhausted. I ended up hopping on the treadmill and then doing 6.10 miles as I read a back issue of RT that they mailed to me. Have not been getting them since I moved to Massachusetts. Felt pretty good, but afterwards I was exhausted and unable to do any school work. Got up at 5am on Tuesday to do some instead.

Total Time: 56:00 Total Distance: 6.10 miles Average Pace:  9:11

Brooks Addictions 8 - #3 Miles: 6.10
Night Sleep Time: 7.50Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 7.50Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
4.340.000.00

7:00 PM - Really long day with a poor amount of sleep. Was up tossing and turning all night. Alarm went off at 430 and I was out the door by 515. I was taking my junior class with Barbara's seniors to the statehouse in Boston for the Diploma Plus exhibition. They had to bring a project that they were proud of that represents their hard work to share with other DP schools. BArT is not a full DP school, however despite this we represented well. I was really proud o the kids and they did a super job. I blundered a bit however when they called us up to give out awards and made us go first. We did not really know that much about the exhibition as I had never gone before, however all the other schools knew what was up and named each kid as "most improved in English", "most outstanding essays" etc. etc. Some of the kids felt let down but I told them afterwards how I was still very proud of them and I apologized for not knowing about how we had to give them awards. It was difficult because I don't teach any of them in class, I only have them in advisory. Oh well. Next time perhaps. We left the school at 6am after some issues with laptops. I ended up letting one of my students use my personal laptop. Got back to the school at about 630pm, drove home and hopped on the treadmill. Felt blah because I did not run yesterday. Ran 40 minutes easy, then got 2 x footlong "Veggie Delite" sandwiches from Subway. Didn't eat much all day and was HUNGRY! Haha. 1 month until my birthday today! :)

Total Time: 40:00 Total Distance: 4.34 miles Average Pace:  9:13

Brooks Addictions 8 - #3 Miles: 4.34
Night Sleep Time: 3.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 3.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
5.250.000.00

6:00 PM - Cool, 55 degrees. Long day at work. Got home exhausted but needed to get in a run to relieve some stress. Went running up into Pittsfield State Forest and did the mountain loop, 2 miles up and 3.25 down and around. Going up I averaged ~11:00 minute miles; pretty strong! Coming down I had a 7:50ish and a 7:24. Really cruising. Hurt on the way down, however it felt good afterward. Went home and had dinner with Emm and then passed out. Long run on Saturday. Oh, the top of mountain had almost every tree down. Wind was ~43mph when I ran. Gusts of 50+ though earlier in the day. No trees fell on me however. Hopefully do 20-22 miles on Saturday!

Total Time: 47:30 Total Distance: 5.25 miles Average Pace:  9:03

Brooks Addictions 8 - #3 Miles: 5.25
Night Sleep Time: 6.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 6.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(7)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
7.000.000.00

4:45 PM - Partly cloudy and temperature in the low 60s. Perfect spring weather. Emm asked if I wanted to go hiking. It was wonderful and I had a great time. It was also the start of a crazy 24 hours with over 6 hours of exercise squeezed in. How about that for ultra conditioning? (hiking, running, biking). It took us 1:09 to get up the mountain and 1:01 to get down. Went up the Cheshire Harbour Trail. Took a few photos at the summit before heading down. Got down and went out to dinner at Zucchinis. A lovely night. I have such a wonderful fiancee :D.

Total Time: 2:10:00 Total Hiking Distance: 7 miles


Night Sleep Time: 7.50Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 7.50Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
13.500.0022.00

8:20 AM - Partly cloudy and in the low 60s at start. Sunny and 72 at the finish. Projected high of 85 today. Phew! Went down to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail and parked by the Lanesborough Mall. Jogged next to the bike trail the whole time. Felt good. Took the Amphipod with me, however I ran out of water with 3o mins left to go and it hurt on the way back! Eeck! Turned around at 1:00 and came back in 59:00. 4 weeks until my ultra! Splits were:

  • Mile 1: 9:04
  • Mile 2: 8:47
  • Mile 3: 8:43
  • Mile 4: 8:44
  • Mile 5: 8:41
  • Mile 6: 8:41
  • Mile 7: 8:59
  • Mile 8: 8:52
  • Mile 9: 8:40
  • Mile 10: 8:45
  • Mile 11: 8:37
  • Mile 12: 8:57
  • Mile 13: 9:10
  • .5: 4:18 (8:36)

Total Time: 1:59:00 Total Distance: 13.50 miles Average Pace: 8:49

 

1:00 PM - 82 degrees and sunny. Went home and got Emmy. We went to the bike trail and then biked down to BArT. The kids are getting ready to present their musical "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" next week and they were looking for volunteers to help paint props. Emmy and I biked down. It was hot hot hot out!! It took us about 40 minutes to bike down (slightly downhill). It took us 51 minutes to bike back with about 3 miles of gradual uphill. It was a fun bike trip. We got SUBWAY for lunch. We ran some errands and then got home and I am ready to pass out! Going to eat another salad however I think! Yummy! Quite the day of exercising! The hike yesterday afternoon, the long run today, and now the bike ride.

One thing I have to take away is that I have to plan better for long runs. I nearly died at the end and my left hamstring was starting to tighten up.

Total Time: 1:31:00 Total Distance: 22 miles

2010 Cycling Mileage Miles: 22.00Brooks Addictions 8 - #3 Miles: 13.50
Night Sleep Time: 7.50Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 7.50Weight: 0.00
Comments(2)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
42.220.0022.00
Brooks Addictions 8 - #3 Miles: 35.222010 Cycling Mileage Miles: 22.00
Night Sleep Time: 40.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 40.00Weight: 0.00
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