Motivated to Succeed

Brock Trot 10k

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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
20.250.000.00
Vibram Five Fingers KSO Miles: 17.15Vibram Komodo Sports (yellow) Miles: 3.10
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Race: Brock Trot 10k (6.22 Miles) 00:54:35, Place overall: 89
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
11.250.000.00

9:00 AM - Overcast, temp in the mid 60s with humidity at 97%. My first race since the July 4th race. Didn't know what to expect going in. I drove to Shakespeare and Company in Lenox, parked the car and went to get my race number, only to find out I guess I was the first person to register for the race and ended up with Bib #1. I kind of didn't believe it at first - either a cruel joke or a mistake in that they gave me a bib maybe reserved for the kids' race. Nope. It was legit. I tried to hide it under my sweatshirt as much as possible. 

Though it was humid, I donned a sweatshirt. Feeling really self conscious with my weight gain in the past year. Jogged down to the start line and back, a total of about 1.2 miles. Stretched and talked with the Wahconah coach who was there. Then jogged back to the start line, .6 miles.

The Brock Trot is named after a guy, named Brock, who had lung cancer and despite being stage IV, managed to finish 4 marathons. He passed away, but they had a moving opening with his brother saying some words. The 5k and 10k started together. Saw a couple former runners, Morgan and Megan Holm, as well as their mom, Shauna Damasca running her second race, and her husband Dan who is a local masters elite. He ended up running low 40:00 in the 10k and nearly passed his step daughters in the 5k!

 THE START:

The gun went off and the 5k runners bolted and went left. 10k went straight and to the right. The first couple miles were downhill, and I had heard from a guy to "save it for West Mountain Rd". How right he was. I was trying to hold back but felt myself getting sucked along. I settled in behind a short little lady, also in Vibrams, and all I heard for a while was the steady slap-slop slap-slop of our Vibrams. I was the only runner in a sweatshirt, and by the end of the first mile, I was already drenched in sweat. 8:07 for the first mile, 8:19 for the second.

Then hit a gigantic uphill. West Mountain Road was my downfall. Scary road. People started falling back towards me. Miles 3 and 4 were uphill and rolling, before popping out at Tanglewood going the opposite way of the Josh. 8:08 and 8:58 for those two miles.

Really started to come undone the last two miles. Considering my longest run this summer was about 4 miles, this is understandable. Also, given the humidity and the fact that most of the last .5 miles is a hill. Last two miles were: 8:56 and 9:06.

Overall I felt pretty good. Finished 89th of 154 runners in the 10k. Even beat some 5k runners. 54:35; good for 8:37 average pace per mile. 

Cooled down with Emma and then walked around the Apple Squeeze in Lenox.

 

Later after we got home, Emm and I went hiking near New Lebanon on the Taconic Crest Trail. I fell once, but it was a nice fast hikeable trail nestled at the New York/ MA border. Did 3 miles in a bit over an hour.

 

Total Miles for the Day: 11.25 miles 

Vibram Five Fingers KSO Miles: 8.15Vibram Komodo Sports (yellow) Miles: 3.10
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
3.000.000.00

Ran 3 miles with the team after school, total about 30 minutes. Dylan is really starting to impress me. I think he's coming into great form!

Vibram Five Fingers KSO Miles: 3.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
3.000.000.00

Ran 3 miles with the team after school. Felt pretty good. Legs a bit sore still from Sunday's excursions. Really tough to get moving when you have to struggle to get up the staircase.

Vibram Five Fingers KSO Miles: 3.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
3.000.000.00

Ran 3 miles with one of my runners, Chris. He was the only runner who chose to stay for practice. We went nice and easy and averaged 10:40/ mile pace.

Vibram Five Fingers KSO Miles: 3.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
20.250.000.00
Vibram Five Fingers KSO Miles: 17.15Vibram Komodo Sports (yellow) Miles: 3.10
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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