Motivated to Succeed

Week starting Jun 24, 2012

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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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2014 Books I've Read: 

 

 

 

 

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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
20.600.000.00
Altra Lone Peak Miles: 20.60Lizzy Miles 2012 Miles: 7.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 235.00
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
5.000.000.00

Well, I did it. Finished my second complete year teaching at BART - really about 2.3 school years since I started in February of 2010. At times I find myself thinking, "wow, that's it?!". Realistically though, I cannot complain. Most people my age, especially those with education degrees, have such a difficult time finding steady employment in education that they are just leaving the profession altogether. Sal Presti, my buddy from grad school, has stopped looking I am pretty sure, and is currently waiting/bartending and might be moving to Washington, D.C. or Florida to pursue something else. It really has been a rough time, and I feel like ever since about when I graduated undergrad in 2007 the economy has been in the toilet.

The last week was about the worst week of training I've had all week, but I am hoping to change that this summer and get more consistent, focus on my diet, and hopefully regain some speed and shed a few pounds. I don't know how hard it is or what game plan I need to get back under 200 lbs, but I want to make it happen! 

Easy warm up followed by a one mile time trial. hit 800m in 3:01, 1200m in 4:27, and finished the mile in 5:55, the fastest mile since high school, if that's saying anything.

 

Altra Lone Peak Miles: 5.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 235.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
5.000.000.00

7:00 PM - Ran Olivia's Overlook - Burbank Trail with Emma and Lizzy after she got out of work at 7:00. Lizzy is getting stamina and endurance! I'm proud of her. She really loves the downhills and jumping into Monk's Pond about 2 miles in. She is so funny - stays right with you but has no sense of personal boundaries, so she'll cut you off thinking that it's her trail, not yours. She is pretty good on a 6' leash and will trot right behind you if you hold the leash right behind your back. Ran 2 miles on the treadmill at about 9:30 pace when we got back. All in all a great night. 

Altra Lone Peak Miles: 5.00Lizzy Miles 2012 Miles: 3.50
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
5.500.000.00

6:00 PM - Ran 2 miles on the treadmill and then went with Lizzy and Emm to the trail. Forgot the leash, but Lizzy stayed with us the whole way, minus 20 minutes in when yours truly biffed hardcore and ended up with a nice war wound. She turned and ran the other way, some fearless steed she is! She thought it was a game! All went well and we spent a nice 5 mins or so at the pond where she jumped in. About .5 miles from home, a black bear got startled by Lizzy and Emm up front. It booked it the other way. That was the second black bear we've seen in two years here. They must like the trail as much as we do! Looked at the nice cows on the drive home. All in all a great run. Fastest for Lizzy by far @ 43 minutes for 3.5 miles. She jogged almost the whole way!

Altra Lone Peak Miles: 5.50Lizzy Miles 2012 Miles: 3.50
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
5.100.000.00

Read some of David Bach's "Smart Couples Finish Rich". A lot of it will apply to us in ten or twenty years, but still a good refresher from his "Automatic Millionaire" book. About .28 to the finish, between the a/c unit going (was nearly 91 degrees out today), the treadmill, the light/fan and Emm on the elliptical and me on the treadmill, we tripped the breaker I guess. While I was waiting for Emm to go downstairs to turn it on, in two minutes I counted 130 drops of sweat that hit the treadmill. Disgustingly awesome.

Total Time: 50:00 Total Distance: 5.1 miles Average Pace: 9:45/ mile 

Altra Lone Peak Miles: 5.10
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
20.600.000.00
Altra Lone Peak Miles: 20.60Lizzy Miles 2012 Miles: 7.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 235.00
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