Motivated to Succeed

Week starting May 04, 2008

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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
4.000.0085.35
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.0020.25

1:00 PM - So after basically a week of inactivity and stuff, I had cabin fever so I asked Jonny if he'd be up for a bike ride. We decided to go for it. The rain finally stopped and it was partly sunny with temperature about 55 degrees I'd say. We went for a nice ride, and cruised on the flat parts, but we're just not used to biking, as I haven't done a 20 miler in probably about 8 or 9 months now. So it ended up being more of a ride for fitness bike trip. Not too much pain actually in my achilles. So I think I might be a biker for a while. It's not the same as running, but I read that it burns more calories time wise so maybe I can lose some weight doing this! Felt pretty strong on the flats. I think that in a few weeks I could even think about a 50 miler :)

Total Time: 1:24:15 Total Mileage: 20.25 miles Average Speed: 14.4 mph

*Max Speed: 30.2 mph (didn't try to push it though. just happened on a downhill)

Note: Steepest grade hill - 13%

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.0015.00

9:45 AM - Woke up and temperature was about 50 degrees and sunny. Decided that to reward myself for finishing my paper yesterday and getting my last project of the semester done, I would go for a bike ride. Went by myself since Jonn and Harry were in school. Followed a lot of the same route yesterday. Legs felt pretty good. No soreness, just some fatigue from all the hills yesterday. Was thinking about how many decent sized hills are on that route, and found out that I scaled exactly 15 hills today. Phew! And yesterday was 22! Thats a lot of hills! Finished strong, though my legs feel a little like jello!

Total Time: 57:34 Total Mileage: 15 mi Average Speed: 15.5 mph

*Max Sustained Speed: 34.0 mph

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.0024.89

9:00 AM - So, it was about 50 degrees and sunny again this morning. A slight wind but by golly was it gorgeous out. I decided to hop on the bike and go on a nice big loop for a bike tour. I started off how I did the last few days, but stayed on Jockey Street and went over to Charlton, and then came back home through the other part of town. Felt really great today. Though I did get my workout. Some of the roads were really bumpy and uncomfortable and I managed to have to have sprint outs with not 1, not 2, but FIVE dogs! Don't worry I owned them hardcore. They didn't stand a chance. I showed them how the Howling Commandos roll!

Total Time: 1:34:40 Total Distance: 24.89 mi Average Speed: 15.8 miles

*Max Sustained Speed: 36.6 MPH (New PR for 2008)

Now I am off to Massachusetts after my last final for a few days to see Emma's African Dance Recital for her college course. Can't wait! Be home after work on Saturday!

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
4.000.000.00

10:00 AM - A rainy, drizzly dreay morning today in North Dartmouth, MA so what better to do that go outside!?! Went with Emma to the track. We walked and did a mile and then stretched, then eased into a jog. I did 2 miles in 21:40 (10:50/ mile). Then 1 mile of walking cool down and stretching. Overall Felt pretty good.

Total Time: 51:40 Total Distance: 4 miles Average Pace: 12:55/ mile

Emma's performance was amazing. Had a blast watching it. Hopefully there will be a link on her college's website so I can share some of the performance with FRB! Met a lot of interesting people that showed up to watch the performance as well.

On a sad note: After checking the SGM site religiously (or maybe obsessively) 15x a day for the last week, I was served up a great big Goose Egg. They don't want me to grace them with my presence so it looks like I'll just do the local marathon again. Oh well. Such is life I guess. As for tomorrow, I work 8am to 3pm. I think I will go for a long bike ride after work and try to destressify and refocus.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.0025.21

6:00 PM - After a rousing game of Ping Pong, I decided to go ahead and get the ride in, even though it was slightly overcast and I was tired from work. I'm glad I did. It was an amazing ride. All the worries of finals done with, and the disappointment with SGM behind me, I felt "light as a feather" (even though I was probably as heavy as a dumbbell). I decided to go down Jockey Street and into Charlton, a very hilly ride both to and from. It was fast going there probably as I had a lot of energy and it was primarily downhill. Coming back took a little bit longer than I expected and I just barely beat the sunset. Going down there was about 40:20. Finished coming back in 50:14 (uphill). Overall I felt good though. It's weird that I can bike like it's my job, but then as soon as I try to run a few miles, or am at work on my feet all day the redness starts to come back. :( I dont' like this Achilles stuff. On a plus though, set a new 2008 MAX SUSTAINED SPEED RECORD! 38.2 MPH!!

Total Time: 1:30:24 Total Mileage: 25.21 miles Average Speed: 16.7 mph

All in all a nice way to end the week. Sorry for my ranting and raving fellow FRB members. I will hold my tongue! ;) Hope everyone's weekend is going swell, and Happy Early Mother's Day to all you Moms out there! As a son I know I'd be absolutely lost without my mom!

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
4.000.0085.35
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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