Motivated to Succeed

28th Annual Independence Day 5k Run

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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
24.130.000.00
Altra Lone Peak Miles: 17.13Vibram Komodo Sports (yellow) Miles: 7.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
6.000.000.00

Another day where it was hot outside and hot for me inside. High temperate was just about 90 degrees, and I think that saying it was 77 or 78 was a bit conservative for inside air temp in the house. Once my internal furnace gets cooking the temperature soars, especially in the room with the treadmill. The Lone Peaks are very comfy and I love them dearly, but I don't think they were meant for road and treadmill - the tread is already starting to wear out a bit. Satan's Highway nearly got the best of me today.

Total Time: 55:00 Total Distance: 6 miles Average Pace: 9:09 / mile 

Altra Lone Peak Miles: 6.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
5.130.000.00

8:30 PM - Hard to focus today. When I did go to the track, there were 9 people on it at 8:00 at night! I miss the country where I could run at nearly any hour on the track without other people on it. Too self conscious to run in front of others. I tried running around Taconic HS instead, but after two laps, a cop showed up to yell at some punks on four wheelers.. whatever he said worked for one lap, but then they came tearing around the corner towards me dogging it in "s" shapes as if to play chicken with me. Needless to say I bagged the run. Doing a 5k for the 4th tomorrow and then enjoying James Taylor at Tanglewood with the whole family and Harry's girlfriend Hayley!

Total Time: 48:00 Total Distance: 5.13 miles Average Pace: 9:23/ mile 

Altra Lone Peak Miles: 5.13
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Race: 28th Annual Independence Day 5k Run (3.11 Miles) 00:24:37, Place overall: 353, Place in age division: 64
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
7.000.000.00

8:00 AM - I was the only one running the Independence Day Run this year. I think most of the Griffins got the message last year and learned their lesson about the heat and humidity. Well, apparently I needed another round of ass-kicking because I was dumb enough to sign up. In my defense, where else can you find a better deal. For only $11.00 you get to run a 5k with a good field and get a t-shirt to boot. It said to arrive between 8:00 and 8:30 so that you could get your bib and get to the start room. Stupid me, I thought that the race started at 9:00, but apparently it started at 9:30, so I got there way too early. I parked by House of India and warmed up to the registration table, about .75 miles, then got checked in and got to the starting line about .5 miles away. Went on a nice jog for a warm up. Decided I wasn't going to take this race too hard - but I did want to run negative splits, 8:00, 7:30, 7:00 - In hindsight that is too large a spread and I should have picked something more realistic for my fitness and ability levels at the moment.

 

I ended up starting in the middle of the pack and wasted about :17 getting to the starting line after the gun. Then I was forced to pass "lap traffic" as I call it - people I know I can run faster than. I should have reigned in the horses because I have not done any effective speed work in the last six months. I ran way too fast, going through first mile in 7:14, holding on a slight uphill for a 7:40 second mile, and then dying in the last mile. I actually stopped to walk and drink from my water bottle the third mile and ran an abysmal 8:xx. I was also carrying too much stuff - the bad part about no parking near the starting line is that I was forced to carry not only my water bottle, but the free tshirt as well. Maybe next year I will look into packet pick up the day before.

 

When the race was done, cooled down to the car, changed and just in time to see the Griffin van pull up. Parade was just okay. Went over and hung out at the Chow's aunt's house who lives just across from where Emm's aunt and uncle lived! Small world. Later went to James Taylor. Had fun with Harry, Hayley, Jonn, Emm, Mom and Dad, but concert was just "okay". A let down from JT which sucked. 

Vibram Komodo Sports (yellow) Miles: 7.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
6.000.000.00

I was not recovered from the Fourth of July race - my right calf had a painful twinge in it so I had to stop. I am really bummed - was hoping to get in a long run before the 12 hour overnight race - going to have to try it again at another date - or maybe try a middle of the day run. Felt like a failure. Going to do some biking for cross training - again don't think anything is broken/pulled, but feeling the soreness of racing hard when I should have gone easy. Easier said than done. Too hot this summer to run. I can't wait to move to Bend, Oregon!

Total Time: 55:00 Total Distance: 6.00 miles Average Pace: 9:09 

Altra Lone Peak Miles: 6.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
24.130.000.00
Altra Lone Peak Miles: 17.13Vibram Komodo Sports (yellow) Miles: 7.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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