Motivated to Succeed

Week starting May 18, 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
16.650.0017.05
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
5.250.000.00

8:00 AM - Sunny and temperature around 48 degrees with a slight 2 or 3 mph wind. Can't possibly get much better than that! I was thinking of going for a bike ride, then decided maybe I could test the waters since I don't have work later today. I threw on a pair of running shorts (the short, short kind so I can show off my unbalanced muscular legs; for some reason my right leg seems significantly more defined than my left leg, weird!) and headed to dad's work. Behind the school there's two short nature trails. I parked and stretched and did a slow jog, and ended up easing into 5 x .6 mile loops of the nature trail. Hit the 5k mark at 27:36 (8:54/ mile pace), and then jogged to the short nature trail and did 3 x .3 loops there. Finished with a cool down mile on the track and then walked to the car and stretched. Overall I felt pretty good. It felt good to be able to run a bit again. It's been hard going the last four months that's for sure. I think what I might end up doing as I'm continuing to recover is do short bike rides the days that I work to maintain cardio and then the days that I don't work, go for a little longer of a run/walk/shuffle type deal since I'm more likely to be off my feet those days. It's just that work takes a toll on your feet, especially when you're stuck in the cafe like I've been as you're not allowed to leave from behind the counter for the entire shift! Talk about mundane! Oh well, at least this started the week off right. Probably not another run until Friday or Saturday. I'm thinking about placing an order for a Howling Commandos singlet. Would be pretty good PR I think at races. Imagine me running in short shorts with HC singlet on with a guy on a bike wearing a gorilla costume. I think it might be my new favorite shirt!

Total Time: 47:00 Total Distance: 5.25 miles Average Pace: 8:57/ mile

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
3.500.000.00

8:00 AM - Started with a walking warm up, light stretching, and then eased into a slight jog. Did two miles in 21:20 (10:40 pace), and then cooled down with a .5 mile walking warm down. Overall felt good considering I did over 5 miles yesterday! I'm really hoping that in the next couple weeks I make some headway so I can start to train again. Positive thinking. Climbing the mountain towards recovery. If I do it smart, I should be able to make a full recovery. Such an awesome job everyone at Ogden this weekend. That is definitely exciting for the blog! Way to go!

Total Time: 43:50 Total Distance: 3.5 miles Average Pace: 12:31/ mile

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.0017.05

6:00 AM - So I woke up at 5:18 this morning and couldn't sleep, despite being incredibly tired last night. So I got some coffee and decided to go for a bike ride. Felt good. It was sunny and a little windy, but only about 40 degrees. My hands were pretty cold for most of the ride. It was interesting. I think there were more cars out on the roads at 6AM than when I usually go in the middle of the day! I hate traffic. I always feel like they drive too close to me, and the noise and fumes aren't very nice either. Wednesday will probably be a day off. Really hoping the Achilles holds up at work today because tomorrow is 4 months. And hopefully all of this biking is going to help me in the long run! I really want to set some PRs this fall to get something out of 2008, you know?

Total Time: 1:05:00 Total Distance: 17.05 miles Average Speed: 15.7 mph

Going to take an idea from Paul Ivory and try to record my heart rate when I can. Woke up this morning and rate for a full minute was 48 beats.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
2.750.000.00

12:00 PM - Went to Emma's track at her old high school in Pittsfield and did a walking mile, .5 mile jog, and .75 mile walk cool down. Sunny but a little windy. Felt pretty good I guess. Some soreness in the achilles. Blah.

Total Time: 33:00 Total Distance: 2.75 Average Pace: 12:00/ mile

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
5.150.000.00

1:00 PM - Temp about 59 or 60 and partly sunny with a wind about 10mph. Went to Taconic High School track again in Pittsfield, MA. More people there today than on most other times. Started with a 1 mile walk in 14:34, then eased into a jog, though I suspect my short shorts scared everyone off. The lady that got there at the same time as me, saw me jogging in my short shorts and did 1 lap and left, and the two young ladies that showed up when I was on the back stretch of the track, did less than half a lap before they too quickly exited. Soon it was just me and a lady I'll call Fran. Fran sported spandex and a water hydration-fuel belt. We made eye contact once, well I did. It was hard for her to see since I was wearing my sunglasses to keep a low profile. I ended up doing 3 miles in 26:10 (8:43/mile pace!), then did a 1.15 mile cool down.

Total Time: 57:42 Total Mileage: 5.15 mi Average Pace: 11:12/ mi

 

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
16.650.0017.05
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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