Motivated to Succeed

Week starting Jun 14, 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
12.100.000.00
Asics 2120s Chili Pepper #1 Miles: 12.10
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
3.000.000.00

2:00 PM - Sunny and humid; Temp in the mid 70s. Wanted to try to go back on the bike for the first time since the accident but didn't for two reasons. First and most importantly, my parents didn't think it was a good idea. Second, I got called into work. I never work Sundays! :( Grrr. Spent most of the morning trying to get school work done. It's just so hard to concentrate on school work in the summer! Less than two weeks though until I'm done! Went to the nature trails at the school. Did a couple laps on the track and then hit the trails. Felt good. I don't know but I think I ran more than my Garmin said I did only because I didn't change strides or anything and when I was running between the trails on the field I was averaging 8:00-8:30, but then I'd get on the trail and it would say 10:00. I won't guestimate mileage though. Better to underestimate I suppose. Have a great day everyone!

Total Time: 28:23  Total Distance: 3.0 miles  Average Pace: 9:26

Asics 2120s Chili Pepper #1 Miles: 3.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(2)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
3.420.000.00

5:30 PM - Some bad thunderstorms today going through Albany and Saratoga Counties. Really feeling the "crunch time" trying to get everything done for my summer class with only one week left. I really don't think it's going to happen. Not getting the grades I need to achieve "mastery level" is frustrating. Add to that the fact I am working 4-5 days a week and that makes for some stress. I decided to go to Emma's after school today because I haven't seen her in over a week. She looked up some nature trail in Great Barrington for us to go running on so we drove about a half hour to Great Barrington, MA. Along the way in Stockbridge we saw all this white stuff on the road. I said it was probably pollen because of the huge downpour. But Emma said No, it's got to be snow! We pulled over and sure enough it was hail... lots of it. The most I've ever seen actually. And it was weird because it was only in this one part. Emma got out of the car and I took her picture. I only had my phone though. There was an even bigger section of it across the road but some lady was already over there. Still it's amazing when you think about it in mid June seeing this much ice fall from the sky!


 

 

SNOW IN JUNE?! IT REALLY IS CHRISTMAS!


 

When we finally got to Great Barrington we went to the Housatonic River Walk. Only it was somewhat disappointing. Only about .10 miles long. And there was a sign that said "Warning: No biking, no roller blading, no running". No running? Screw that! We ran! We are such lawbreakers. Then we went and did a loop through the village and down past this castle looking thing, and then back through the village. It is a nice village, but very rundown. It used to be a manufacturing center but as with most industrial cities after 1950 things went downhill. It was nice to have a lovely jogging partner though as I very rarely have anyone to run with.

Total Time: 31:44 Total Distance: 3.42 miles Average Pace: 9:17/ mi

 

Asics 2120s Chili Pepper #1 Miles: 3.42
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(11)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
3.630.000.00

8:30 AM - 56 degrees, rain and 95% humidity. I don't know why but there's something about running in the rain that I like. Maybe it's the challenge. Or the fact that 99% of runners hate running in the rain that makes it so appealing to me. I got up and had a cup of coffee and then drove to the track and stretched. Started jogging. Felt really good. Was a wise move to take 2 days off. It will be hard to hold back to 3-4 days of jogging a week. Must remember slow and steady buildup. Ran a 5k (24:08 [7:46/mi]) and then stretched again and then a half mile cool down. No pain. I can feel the legs adjusting to the running again.  Splits were:

  • Mile 1: 8:20
  • Mile 2: 7:41
  • Mile 3: 7:23
  • .63: 5:27 (8:42)

Total Time: 28:53 Total Distance: 3.63 miles Average Pace: 7:58

Asics 2120s Chili Pepper #1 Miles: 3.63
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(8)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
2.050.000.00

6:50 AM - Wet, soggy, rainy, humid. There was a cute old couple at the track. When I showed up it looked like they were racing. I think the guy let his wife win. :) I stretched and hit the trails for a recovery run. It was very muddy and everything was soaked! Still I had a blast! It's so fun to run in the rain!

Total Time: 22:10 Total Distance: 2.05 mi  Average Pace: 10:49

To everyone else like me that is battling injuries and trying to stay optimistic: Stay calm. Keep the faith. Maintain your optimism. Don't let anyone tell you "no" or "you can't". Runners are a tough stock. We take no timeouts. We run at dawn, at dusk, and at all hours in between. We make our own rules and play hardball 24/7. You guys and gals are the greatest and you have changed my life. So when you think the world has stacked it's cards against you, remember you are a runner. We are all runners choosing our paths through life, whether it be roads, canalways, trails, mountains, tracks, or 'dread'mills. We are all in this together. And yes we can do it!

Asics 2120s Chili Pepper #1 Miles: 2.05
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(1)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
12.100.000.00
Asics 2120s Chili Pepper #1 Miles: 12.10
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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