Motivated to Succeed

Week starting Jan 13, 2013

Previous WeekRecent EntriesHomeJoin Fast Running Blog Community!PredictorHealthy RecipesBenn Griffin's RacesFind BlogsMileage BoardTop Ten Excuses for Missing a RunTop Ten Training MistakesDiscussion ForumRace Reports Send A Private MessageMonth ViewYear View
Graph View
Next Week
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
20072008200920102011201220132014
15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

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


Create Your Badge{C} 

2014 Books I've Read: 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Blogs:

Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
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
43.090.000.00
Vibram Bikilas (red) Miles: 7.34Vibram Bikilas (blue) Miles: 35.75
Night Sleep Time: 9.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 9.00Weight: 220.00
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
8.090.000.00

Round 2, Day #17: 7 miles in 58:49 (8:24/mile). Easy relaxed run on the treadmill as a study break. Then going food shopping and more school work. Rereading Pam Reed's book for about the tenth time. Got up to page 200. 

"Well, I am actually deathly afraid of frogs. I’ve come across bears and moose, but I’d be really scared if I saw a frog."

Working on cadence,
180. Getting easy.
Now... the dreaded scale!

Evening run: Uphill Challenge: 15% incline, 15 minutes. How far can you go? 1.09 miles apparently for me. Got to start somewhere. Want to do this every other week and hopefully hit 1.25 miles by the end of the winter. 

Vibram Bikilas (red) Miles: 1.09Vibram Bikilas (blue) Miles: 7.00
Night Sleep Time: 9.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 9.00Weight: 220.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
6.250.000.00

Round 2, Day #18: 6.25 steady as she goes miles in 48:57 (7:50/mile). There was a lot of food for thought today. One of the funny quotes from a 6th grader today was, "Mr. Griffin, I'm sorry for the loss of your beard. It was a good beard. I'll say a prayer for you." (Red Vibrams EHD2)

Read an article in ultrarunning magazine about Fran Albaugh who is 90 (yes, 90 years as in born in 1923!) who just finished the Presque Isle 12 Hour Endurance Run. He racked up 30 miles in the rain and wind when everyone else called it quits 2/3 of the way through! I want to be like him!

Think about your beard,
DO DO DO DO I want to
remember that beard!

Vibram Bikilas (red) Miles: 6.25
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
4.000.000.00

Round 2, Day #19: 4 miles only in 31:42 (7:56 pace). Been dealing with a health issue that has interfered with running, but got up the gusto and gumption to plop on the treadmill and try to run. Was happy that I was able to get in at least 4 while Emm did the elliptical and we rocked out. Hoping we get some decent snow tomorrow because I need to go snowshoeing on Saturday with mommo, Emmy, Jonny and Harry! Glad tomorrow is Wednesday. Getting through the madness! (Blue Vibrams EHD3)

If fat were skinny,
Wouldn't I be beautiful!
Reality sucks! (teehee)

"I came up with a new thing this summer. I act like I'm telling someone how to do something. I go on with a long description. And then I say, "And shove it up your butt!" It's stupid, but it's my thing now." - Stanley Hudson

Vibram Bikilas (blue) Miles: 4.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
6.000.000.00

Round 2, Day #20: 6 miles only; warm up in 9:10 and then 5 miles steady (41:33) including 3 x 3 minute hill surges at 8:20 pace and 4%, 5%, and 6% grades respectively. Cooled down and stretched. Didn't think I would get a run in as I fell asleep on the couch. Just crashed. Was so exhausted after school. Not feeling all that great. But rallied after a 20 minute nap and got the run in. That's dedication! Total for the run was 6 miles in 50:43; 8:27/mile (Blue Vibrams EHD4)

Reluctant muscles,
Bound up the hills, toward greatness.
You only live once.

Vibram Bikilas (blue) Miles: 6.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(3)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
1.500.000.00

Round 2, Day #21: 1.5 miles only in 12:00. Came home and passed out after school. I swear I am working harder than the students. Took a 25 minute cat nap and then rallied to run on the treadmill. 

Zen runs are supreme,
Shake cobwebs nestled 'tween ears,
Tomorrow's ours mates!

"A runner's high is a special experience that most runners don't have all the time (an important point) but do get at irregular, unpredictable intervals. So don't begin running because you expect every workout to be like some other kind of "high" you might have experienced. The true, but rare runner's high is a zone that we enter when everything seems to click perfectly, when time stands still, and when we can run almost without effort." - Amby Burfoot

Vibram Bikilas (blue) Miles: 1.50
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
7.000.000.00

Round 2, Day #22: 7 miles in 58:04 (8:17 pace). Finished Amby Burfoot's, "The Runner's Guide to the Meaning of Life". I've always admired Amby since I first started reading RW's in 2003 and think he's a true stand up guy. (Vibram Blue EHD6)

Jiggle wogglers
Shake it all about, for you
Know it all hangs out!!

"The longest journey begins with a single step.... Run and rest, run and rest. It is the perfect exercise program because it is coded in our genes. It is what our forefathers did millions of years ago." - Amby Burfoot p.112

Vibram Bikilas (blue) Miles: 7.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
10.250.000.00

Round 2, Day #23: 10.25 miles total; Started the day with a 2.5 mile snowshoe jaunt behind Nonno's house with Emm. Had a blast. Then went for a run. Did 7.75 miles in 1:01:37 (7:57 pace!). Rereading Dean's "Ultramarathon Man" for the umpteenth time. I know I am getting fitter, a little leaner, and perhaps faster. Ran 39 miles two weeks ago, 41 last week, 43 this week. Hoping to heal this ear and the other problem I am dealing with shortly so I can get back to just training. (Blue Vibrams EHD7, EID1)

Pounding ear pain, yet
I push onward.  The fight will
continue Sunday.

"We search too much for false prophets. Some runners believe that they must move to a running mecca like Boulder, Colorado, or Eugene, Oregon. Other runners believe that they need a new coach. Still others believe that they need expensive heart-rate monitors or, perhaps, regular visits to an exercise physiology laboratory.

These runners believe, in other words, that they are most likely to find success by discovering new baubles in the physical world outside themselves. I disagree. I think these baubles are almost always false prophets. Success comes from within. It comes from consistent dedication to core principles and values." - Amby Burfoot

Vibram Bikilas (blue) Miles: 10.25
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
43.090.000.00
Vibram Bikilas (red) Miles: 7.34Vibram Bikilas (blue) Miles: 35.75
Night Sleep Time: 9.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 9.00Weight: 220.00
Debt Reduction Calculator
Featured Announcements
Lone Faithfuls
(need a comment):
Recent Comments: