Motivated to Succeed

Week starting May 17, 2009

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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
0.000.0081.71
2009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 81.71
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.0020.00

10:30 AM - Cloudy and windy after last night's whopper storm we experienced at Su's graduation and then reexperienced driving home. Got called into work tonight so I wanted to get a ride in but it was really windy out so I started inside on the trainer for 30 mins and then moved outside to the garage and finished the ride there. Played pingpong with Harry afterwards. Now time for a quick shower, lunch and off to work all day while the family goes to my cousin's graduation party. :( Stupid work.

Total Time: 1:00:30  Total Distance: 20 miles

WHY DO PEOPLE SUCK?!?! This question has gone through my mind a lot lately, but especially tonight. I was just talking to Emmy who was visiting a friend in Cape Cod, MA this weekend and she just got home. She had been selling a tv entertainment hutch on craigslist.com and this guy had seemed legit and wanted to pay for it and was going to give her extra money to keep it off of craigslist. So Emmy took the listing down and he said his 'secretary' was sending a check. Well lo and behold the check was written for 1,850 bucks instead of 185. He said rather than write a new check to cash it and then western union him the money.. well Emm checked the account and the check had posted to the account before she left for Boston and she went and western unioned the money to the guy. Then she came back today and the check had bounced! aka She had been robbed of two thousand dollars. Now I know money isn't the end all, though I know how hard she works for her money. Why do good people always get f*cking screwed? I know it's not the Christian thing to do but I want to beat him up. Really badly. Can Christians believe in Karma? Because from what I've heard Karma's a beeotch and hopefully he'll get what he deserves. I might not be blogging much. I am going to call work tomorrow and see if I can get extra hours if not I have to find a second job. 

2009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 20.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(7)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.0010.00

5:00 PM - Overcast, windy. Temp around 53 degrees. Needed to get a workout in, so I went out to the garage and cycled 31 mins on the wind trainer. Was a bummer because the neighbors at the bottom of the hill were burning garbage which always flows up into our property and hence into the open garage. Hopefully I didn't get some weird disease breathing in some weird burning plastic. First day of class was okay. Getting anxious about Emma's and My yard sale at her house this weekend! I hope we make a lot of money. Any profits we get are going into our wedding account!

Total Time: 31:00 Total Distance: 10 miles

2009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 10.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.0021.70

9:10 AM - Sunny, blue skies and temperature in the low 40s. What does that spell? Perfect weather for a hill workout! Rode north from my house, a change as the majority of my runs go south with hills at the ends as I ride north again to my house. This was a reversal. I forgot how hilly it is in Providence and Middle Grove north of Route 29. I wore a fleece jacket as I knew it would be chilly in the shade. I think I am going to try to do this workout at least once a week to start building strength. Rode on Barkersville and then Fayville and then back over to Antioch Rd. Saw a hawk and I raced him. I blew him out of the water. Highlight was the last complete 'lap' which is 5 mile increments. From miles 15-20mph I averaged 20mph or 3:00/mile. I rode this workout hard, perhaps the hardest I've gone so far this season. I think that riding a similar route each week will build strength, confidence, and stamina. Finished and now it's time for a shower and homework before getting stuff ready for the yard sale this weekend!! Oh yeah, another highlight today.. SET A NEW PR FOR FASTEST SPEED I'VE EVER RIDDEN ON MY ROADIE!  43 MPH and I wasn't even maxed out! However, this was by far the most taxing shorter ride I've done this year!

Total Time: 1:21:27  Total Distance: 21.7 miles  Average Speed: 16 mph

2009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 21.70
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(2)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.0030.01

7:30 AM - Sunny, blue skies and temperature around 62. Projected high of 88 or 89 today, so I wanted to get a ride in early. I started off on the same route I went on Tuesday, albeit a bit sorer than earlier in the week. My legs are adjusting nicely to biking though I feel. Today was a mix of ups and downs. One of the good things was that Emma got her interview for her job. It is between her and another social mentor at the same place. I hope Emmy gets it. Though I am biased towards her because she is absolutely amazing! We are getting psyched about the garage sale this weekend at Emma's. Su and my mom drove a load of stuff down to Emma's today while I was at work. Had a great ride, including yet another FASTEST SUSTAINED SPEED PR!!  45.7 MPH!! Maybe I was pushing too hard, but yet another spoke busted, this time right after the 30 mile mark. So I called and took my bike into Saratoga the 15 miles to the bike shop. It was just in there 2 weeks ago to get fixed... well to make a long story short, I ended up with two new rims.. 430 dollars later! Luckily since my birthday is next Thursday, my mom offered to go in halfway, so I only have to pay 215 bucks. I am anxiously anticipating getting a ride in after work tomorrow before I drive to Emma's for the yard sale weekend! The ride today was tough though, with a ton of hills. I went north into Barkersville towards Northville, then back up to Antioch Road by way of Lake Nancy Road, then down into Middle Grove by the Stewart's gas station. Finished on Rte. 29 where I busted the spoke.

Total Time: 1:50:43  Total Distance: 30.01 miles Average Speed: 16.3 mph

2009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 30.01
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
0.000.0081.71
2009 Cycling Mileage Miles: 81.71
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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