Motivated to Succeed

Week starting Aug 10, 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
6.540.0050.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
3.040.0010.00

6:00 PM - Hi everyone! I am back from Montreal! Emmy and I had a blast. Montreal is truly a city that everyone should experience at some point. I have to admit that the first day I was a little bummed because it was so hard to resist the urge to bike. There are so many bikers in Montreal that there are actually separate biking lanes on nearly every road! Plus there are hardly any hills (highest elevation in the whole province is less than a thousand feet which is smaller than most of the hills around my house). We did somewhere between 20 and 30 miles of walking throughout the course of the week. We had a blast and tried out a new restaurant every night. We had Vietnamese, two Indian restaurants, Cambodian, Chinese, dinner at a couple different family restaurants and a sports bar. Long story short, I am wiped. I slept like nine or ten hours a night the whole week because I was so pooped from running around town (figuratively of course). But we made it back home tonight and stopped off at an Olive Garden where we ate so much food our second and third tummies nearly burst!

After getting home and catching up with my brothers and sister, Emma, Jonny, Harry and me all biked to the track where we found my dad doing his normal routine of walking 4 miles. He started this earlier this summer each day after work and I'm really proud of him. He was a runner for about 30 years but stopped running a couple years ago because of achilles issues and heart problems. He is back at it though and tomorrow is his 58th BIRTHDAY! I'm so excited. And to think he doesn't look a day over 46.. seriously!

So we did 10 miles of biking, 5 to the track and 5 from in 20:00 and 23:00 respectively. While at the track I eased into a shuffle for the first time in about a month I want to say. And it felt REALLY REALLY GOOD! It was so cool, my dad walking in lane five, Jonny in lane 4, Harry in lane 3 and Emmy and me in lanes 2 and 1. There was no one else there at the track so we just jogged 4 abreast and my dad gave us encouragement each lap around. I was so happy because I had ZERO PAIN! I know I didn't want to overdo it but I ended up doing 3 miles without stopping (10:08, 10:08, 9:35). The bike ride home was so much fun and we all had a blast. I am so happy to be back in New York. Montreal was a fun place to visit with all the people, languages, buildings, parks, and sights, but it's pretty flat and a little boring! New York is so diverse and full of twists, turns and undulations! :) Weight tonight: 172.. 1 pound lower than when we left and I pigged out on so many yummy foods! haha.

Total Time: 30:18 Total Distance: 3.04 miles Average Pace: 9:57/ mile

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(2)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
3.500.000.00

11:00 AM - Wet and rainy Friday up here in New York. Took Emma to meet her mom in Saratoga this morning and then came back home and got changed and went to the track with Jonn. We got there and did some stretching and eased into a jog on the nature trails and then finished up on the track. Jonn was nice enough to take it easy and run with me, even though his easy pace is probably around 7 or 8 minute pace. Little brothers are great! Was really ecstatic though because today's weight after the run: 170. Lowest weight since when I did the half marathon in January. Really happy about that! Overall felt really strong and ended with 3.5 miles total in 31:50, a little fast, but no pain! Now time to get ready for work.

Total Time: 31:50 Total Distance: 3.5 mi Average Pace: 9:05 / mile

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(1)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.0040.00

9:20 AM - Got up and the sky was blue and sun was out. Good morning for a bike ride. First half was awesome, second half not so much. What I had not noticed on the way out was that the wind was picking up. Coming back there was a cross wind and alternating headwind that made it a slow go. I thought I was booking it, but then I would look down and only be going about 15 mph. Ugh. But I persevered and made it through it. On top of that I nearly scored a dog bite on my right calf. As much as I would not like to deal with a nasty dog bite, I have to admit it would have been nice, considering its owner is a rich lawyer :). Made it home though in one piece even though I had to struggle the last three miles after the dog incident blew my concentration. Oh well. Live to bike another day.

Best part of today so far: WEIGHT - 167!!! The lowest I've weighed since January 1st!!! So happy! Now if only I could knock off a few more pounds and get below 160 maybe?! 

 

Total Time: 2:14:20 Total Distance: 40 mi Average Speed:  17.9 mph

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(3)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
6.540.0050.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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