Motivated to Succeed

Week starting Sep 23, 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
27.510.000.00
NB Trail Minimus (orange) Miles: 8.26Vibram Bikilas (blue) Miles: 19.25Lizzy Miles 2012 Miles: 1.50
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
1.000.000.00

Day #75: 1 fat mile; 9:52. Spent the day doing school work, but managed to get out in the morning to go apple picking with Emm for the first time since I started working full time at school three years ago. Felt good. Got to make an effort to put family first. No excuses. Work needs to be second at all costs. Hard to say that now after spending the last six hours doing progress report comments, quiz grading, lesson planning and fretting. Ugh! Time for a nap. Was happy to escape to watch one episode of Dr. Quinn with her and then do a fat mile. Official results were posted and only 7 finishers. The two we saw at Aid Station 10 took three hours to do the last 2 sections of the trail. I am confident it would have taken me much much longer than that. As it was they finished amid the lightning and downpours. Anxious to move forward and start thinking about my next races coming up including BayState Marathon in October. I might do Monroe-Dunbar again for some redemption on a much shorter course. 

Sore legs, tight quads.... stretch?
Next year seems so far away,
But not long to train!

NB Trail Minimus (orange) Miles: 1.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
2.000.000.00

Day #76: 2 miles with the cross country team - nice and easy. Made them do hills and they cried, big babies. Legs are really tired still. Had double charlie horses last night which was not fun!

Hills are for sissies.
Real runners run up mountains.
What? You Cry? So sad!

NB Trail Minimus (orange) Miles: 2.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
5.260.000.00

Day #77: 5.26 miles; 3 miles with the cross country team including 1 x 400m which I joined on the grass field in 1:32. Started :30 after all of them, and caught six who were slacking. Loved it! 20:00 jog tonight by myself, 2.26 miles total. Next thing to look forward to is BayState Marathon on 10/21. Got to redeem myself. Had a tough time with not doing the Joseph Smith Marathon in July nor finishing the 50 miler this weekend. Getting close to 2/3 of the way done with this challenge. Emma suggested, "Can you do 360?" I'm going to try! Legs still really sore. Hoping no charlie horses tonight when I sleep.

No babies here please.
Earn your keep; Do the work, bitch!
Wait... a marathon?!?

NB Trail Minimus (orange) Miles: 5.26
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
5.000.000.00

Day #78: 5 miles; 3.5 with the team including some quick 400 repeats and some hilly 400s on uneven terrain. Another 1.5 miles much later tonight by myself at about 8:30/mile pace. Ear almost back to normal. Still some echoing when I talk. Looking forward to seeing how some of my cross country runners are going to do in the race on Friday. Still some lingering lactic acid in my legs from Saturday, but I'm ready to get back at it and start training for the marathon next month. Been stuck on marathon 10 for far too long. Highlight of my day was watching my 6B class not only read, annotate and ask questions about a text on the Berlin Conference they were reading for the first time, but being able to successfully organize and defend their positions in one of the following: + effects on Africa, + effects on Europe, - effects on Africa, - effects on Europe. Really proud of them. If only every day were as productive. I'm tired now. Time for a nap and then up at 4 to lesson plan again. Goodnight.

Sleep, come quickly now,
For I am a man of work,
And patient I'm not!

Vibram Bikilas (blue) Miles: 5.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
5.500.000.00

Day #79: 5.5 miles; 3.5 miles easy with the team including warm up, 2.5 miles with Mark and Dylan and then .5 mile cool down to the school. Then another 2 miles at home at 8:30 pace. Legs are still the littlest bit sore from last weekend's escapade. Ready to focus on getting healthy and in shape for the marathon at the end of next month.

One step then the next,
Limits are for the resigned.
I focus on GOALS!

Vibram Bikilas (blue) Miles: 5.50
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
2.000.000.00

Day #80: 2 miles only in 17:00; Early dismissal at 12 today. Rain all day and contacted the host school about the problematic decision they were making. They said they were calling the meet at 12 whether yea or nae. Problem was that if my students stayed to wait at the school until the 2:30 bus, only to have the race cancelled, then many would be without rides home until 6 or later after the school dance being held. Couldn't have that over my head, so decided to call it. We have another race anyways on Wednesday, so will just aim for that one. Was really bummed though to see that at 12:36 I got an email saying the race was on. If they had just been respectful of our circumstances we could have found out when we needed to and still gone to the meet. Ugh! Frustrating. Headed to New York to pick up Lizzard and bring her home and to check on Dad who has successfully survived his first month of retirement! Woohoo!

Rain, rain go away.
Please let the good runners play.
No? Please? Come on! Lame

Vibram Bikilas (blue) Miles: 2.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
6.750.000.00

Day #81: 6.75 miles total; 1.5 around the block with Emma and Lizzard who is nursing some swollen elbows. Then stretched and on the treadmill. 1 mile easing into it and then hit an 800 workout. Did a total of 6 x 800m at about 80% effort, contained, with 400m recoveries. Times for the 800s were: 3:43, 3:47, 3:45, 3:43, 3:38, and 3:34. Recovery laps were: 2:22, 2:20, 2:17, 2:17, 2:20, 2:20. Felt really good and strong considering this time last week I was recovering from a 32 mile odyssey in the woods. Any suggestions for how to get in shape for the marathon on Oct. 21st? I feel like I am in better shape in a way than when I ran my marathon PR at about 160# in 2006 (4:26), even though I'm still just about 225# at the moment. How is that possible? Is a 4:26 even in the realm of possibility? I need to get in 1-2 more long runs between now and then!

Yasso might be right.
800s are perfection.
Tired yet happy.

Vibram Bikilas (blue) Miles: 6.75Lizzy Miles 2012 Miles: 1.50
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
27.510.000.00
NB Trail Minimus (orange) Miles: 8.26Vibram Bikilas (blue) Miles: 19.25Lizzy Miles 2012 Miles: 1.50
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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