Motivated to Succeed

Greylock Road Race

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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
38.000.0022.00
Vibram Bikilas (blue) Miles: 8.00Vibram Komodo Sport (black) Miles: 30.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
1.000.0022.00

Day #54: Went for a 22 mile bike ride with Emma and then did 1 mile by myself. Racing tomorrow. Will be my third time on the Greylock Road Race, an 8 mile uphill challenge up Massachusetts's tallest mountain. I always run up and then back down to my car for 16-16.5 miles total. Briefly contemplated running up and down twice, but I don't think my quads can take that pounding. Will see what happens. Had a really nice day in Galway hanging with Harry and then drove back to MA to go from Pittsfield up to Adams and back again with Emm. All in all a great day!

Burned us some tent worms,
They're nasty, vile lil' devils.
Pizza. Beer. Rest. Go!

Vibram Bikilas (blue) Miles: 1.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Race: Greylock Road Race (8 Miles) 01:32:50, Place overall: 47
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
18.000.000.00

Day #55: 18 miles. Got up early and drove up to Williamstown to run from Notch Road/Williams Reservoir up to the summit of Mount Greylock. I did a warm up mile and parked about .25 miles from the start. As I was warming up I was remarking how beautiful it was. Blue Sky. Sun shining. Perfect day for a race. Then... BANG BaNg! BANG! Hunters. Well at least it was perfect for a few seconds. I knew it was going to hurt a bit as I haven't run long in a long time. Met a really interesting guy who was running the whole uphill race barefoot and made his own huarache sandals last night for the first mile which is gravel/rough pavement. I had run this race twice before in 2009 (1:22) and 2010 (1:34). I wanted to run something in between those two times. It was 66 at the start and 83 at the finish. Re

ally nice breeze on the top though. A dumbass motorcycle passed on a double yellow around a bend as two of us were running up a steep incline. He came within a foot of my right elbow. Talk about messing up concentration! Today was a first. Both in '09 and '10 multiple people offered me rides on the way down (not that I took any). About a mile from the bottom of the descent, 4 minivans passed me and I could smell the brakes burning. So awesome to think I just summited and descended the tallest mountain in MA for about the tenth time without any vehicle. Finished the uphill portion in 1:32 something. Then refueled, guzzled 4 bottles of HEED and plummeted back down the access road. Got to the car and did a quick cool down. Total was 3:05 for 18 miles. Happy Labor Day!

Greylock Road Race Time,
A Mountain Goat Wannabe.
Perfect Race. Sore legs.

Vibram Komodo Sport (black) Miles: 18.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(2)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
5.000.000.00

Day #56: 5 miles. Full day of professional development at work at which they announced that tomorrow's Greylock hike has been cancelled for the school. Bummer, considering I spent about a solid hour telling my kids all about it on Friday in class and having them make a list of what to pack and what to leave at home tomorrow for "Mountain Day". I had them even repeat: "When I wake up on Wednesday I will empty my book bag of all things school and fill it with all things fun". Oi. So tomorrow will be a "regular" day of school with some kids in uniform, some kids out, and many teachers scrambling. As of 9:20 tonight I still have yet to assemble a lesson plan for tomorrow since I had no time during PD and thought I had all afternoon tomorrow to do it. Oh well. I'll think of something. Total for the evening before bed was 5 in 45:40; good for 9:08/ mile. (Bikilas blue)

Sometimes you can't win,
Menopausal Nature Shit,
Hope Thursday's better!

Vibram Bikilas (blue) Miles: 5.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
4.500.000.00

Day #57: 4.5 miles total; 2.5 miles with the xc team running in the local graveyard (only on paved paths don't worry). Had 15 runners turn out. There IS hope that we might have full teams for all meets this year. Hopefully optimistic! Ran another 2 after I got home at 8:30 pace. Highlight of the day was getting pulled over while on the phone with Harry. I wasn't speeding, going 35 in a 35. Guy got out, eyed my bumper stickers and I was like "shoot me I'm dead". He calmly came over. I was sitting there clutching my license and registration. He looked over to my windshield and said, "Oops sorry. Must have been the guy in front of you. He was driving with a registration that expired a year ago!" Phew! Relief! Now to rest up. Going to go to school tomorrow early, jog a few miles on the bike path, then scaling Greylock for the second time this week, then xc practice after school. Going to be a killer week for mileage!

Jogging next to graves.
The dead make great company.
Mountain Day, Thursday!

Vibram Komodo Sport (black) Miles: 4.50
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
7.500.000.00

Day #58: 7.5 miles total. Mountain Day at BART where the whole school scaled the 3491' mountain that's the highest mountain in Massachusetts. I started with my core group of students that soon dwindled. I ended up doing the majority of the hike with my friend Matt and a newcomer to our school Brian who is from Louisiana. We spent over an hour talking about Swamp People and cajun lifestyle. Really enjoyed our time together. Brian soon ran ahead with some of the other kids and then I continued to push Matt to the top. So ended the short lived Three Musketeers, or as I called us: The Cowboy, Cajun, and Bearded Tutu Man. We picked up a group of 3-4 other students. All my kids really enjoyed seeing us at the top and especially the fact that I hiked the mountain in a tutu. Funny part was at the top an old guy just visiting when we were leaving said "Did you win a bet, or lose one?" I said, "A little of both I think!". We both laughed. Anything to motivate kids and/or give them something to use against me. At least I had fun. After school we had xc practice were we did another few miles, followed by a single mile by myself at home before going to pick up Emm to vote. 

If you never try,
You won't realize your greatness.
It lies inside all.

Vibram Komodo Sport (black) Miles: 7.50
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
1.000.000.00

Day #59: 1 mile, nice and easy recovery day after watching my cross country team impress. We had 16 starters, and 16 finishers, and all were smiling during the race. They just enjoyed being out there. A truly great day for all.

To coach is to be
Present and Tuned in for them.
Celebrate success!

Vibram Bikilas (blue) Miles: 1.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
1.000.000.00

Day #60: 1 mile, halfway through my challenge of running at least 1 mile for 120 days straight. Did a lot of work last night and went down to school today before the bad storms rolled through. Going to grab a nap and then up early to get a long run in at Taconic High School. 

Halfway to the goal,
Feeling stronger and lighter.
Seize the day, bitches!

Vibram Bikilas (blue) Miles: 1.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
38.000.0022.00
Vibram Bikilas (blue) Miles: 8.00Vibram Komodo Sport (black) Miles: 30.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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