Motivated to Succeed

Hot Chocolate Run 5k

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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
16.670.000.00
Brooks Addictions 8 - #4 Miles: 12.672010 Cycling Mileage Miles: 15.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Race: Hot Chocolate Run 5k (3.11 Miles) 00:22:39, Place overall: 308
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
4.410.000.00

8:30 AM - Got up and drove with Emma to Northampton for the 7th Annual Hot Chocolate Run 5k put on by SafePassage. SafePassage provides support for women and children that are victims of domestic abuse. I raised $135 for this 5k in a week, and even though I was feeling lowsy with the cold I've had since Thursday, I wanted to do right by everyone that donated money to me.

WARMUP: We got to NoHo about 8:30, but unfortunately for Emm (who was looking to get some XMas shopping done), nothing but a couple coffee shops were open until 12. Oops! Sat in the Rav4 with her until 9:20, at which point I went for a warm up. Did about 11 minutes (1.3 miles) and stashed my basketball shorts and lined up at projected finish time of 22:00. I knew that I wouldn't be able to hold 22 pace, but looking at how far back I already was and dreading a Turkey Trot fiasco again, I figured that it was the best place.

THE RACE:

Before the gun, I gauged I was about 400 people back from the starting line. There was a sea behind me. The race mascots jogged over next to me about 4 mins before the start. I laughed at the penguin and polar bear, especially when the polar bear decided to do "stretches" and did about 1/3 of a toe touch and said, "Alright! Where's the hot chocolate?" This race has the incentive of a mug and hot chocolate at the end of the race. Yum!

MILE 1: The race started fast, though it took me some time to get to the starting line. Starts on an uphill and then gradual downhill off of Main Street. Saw Sarah Lynn at the corner (coworker and cocoach for the cross country team). I hit the 1 mile in 7:40, but needed to remember it was about 30 seconds to get to the start line after the gun, so I really ran about a 7:10. Feeling good, and throat didn't hurt too much breathing in as I had forgot my cough drop in my other shorts!

MILE 2: Held fast into a headwind. Hit it right at 14:59, 7:19 second mile. A few people passed me. I was just happy I wasn't dying.

MILE 3: Mile 3 had several uphills and it kicked my butt. I was just trying to make it to the finish. I very much prefer winter running as I don't sweat quite as much and I can run faster (or feel as though I do anyways). Tried to work the downhill last .5 and it worked and balanced out the hills. Was striding down the hills around 6:20-6:30 pace.

Hit the finish line in 23:14, but this race goes by chip time only so I ran a 22:39 (7:19 pace) a full 5 seconds faster than any 5k race I've done this year! Ended up 308th place of 2731 finishers. Missed top 300 finish by 1.5 seconds :(.

 

After the race I went to the Montague Book Mill with Emm. Absolutely love it! It is my dream bookstore set right near a babbling brook with a waterfall. It has a cafe with all local foods and sells used and second hand books. If I ever win the lottery, this is the type of bookstore I'd like to run!

Went back to NoHo to do some shopping and got Tibetan food at the Lhasa Cafe. Very yummy! Picked up some really great decaf coffee (It has been close to 6 weeks since I gave up caffeine!) called Peruvian French Roast Decaf (shade grown, organic and fair trade) - deemed the "best tasting decaf coffee in the world". I would have to agree as I've bought it twice!

Still feeling under the weather. Really dragging and dreading the work week. I am going to the doctor tomorrow if I am not feeling better because I just do not like being sick! 

Brooks Addictions 8 - #4 Miles: 4.41
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(3)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
4.260.000.00

11:30 AM - Snowing outside and 29 degrees (with the wind it feels like 9). I am home sick from school and a doctor appointment at 3 so I figured I would try to run the sickness out of me (or sweat it out in any event). Emm did a Power-90 tape downstairs as I ran. Set it at 8:34 pace and 2% incline for the first 3 miles, followed by 1 x 800m for good measure at 6:40 pace, then cooled it down the remainder of the way. 4 miles in 33:20 followed by .26 mile slow cool down before stretches.

Total Time: 33:20 Total Distance: 4.26 miles Average Pace:  8:20

Brooks Addictions 8 - #4 Miles: 4.26
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(8)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
4.000.000.00

7:30 PM - Went on the wind trainer in the basement while Emmy ran on the treadmill. I think that the wind trainer will be a good option for me again this winter as I can still get a good workout in. I read from Lee Miller's Roanoke: Solving the Mystery of the Lost Colony. Really getting into this one! Did a couple sprints at the end of the ride for good measure.

Today at work really stunk. I felt like junk and the flu shot I got yesterday must have been in the wrong place because my entire left shoulder is swollen and sore like your buddy punched you hard in the wrong place the day before. I went through about 40 more cough drops and had a class at the end of the day that basically made me want to cry because they refused to listen and follow directions. I think I have freaked out about the 48 standards I have to cover instead of sacrificing the necessary time to "break" the 7th graders in again. It sucks because it is just like Day 1 of school all over again. I hope I feel a bit better tomorrow because it really is hard to get a good night's rest when you wake up every hour for a cough drop.

*Counting my ride 10 mins : 1 mile of running - Let me know what you think but I think this is a fair assessment to keep track of miles.

Total Time: 40:01 Total Distance: 4 miles 

Brooks Addictions 8 - #4 Miles: 4.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(2)
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
4.000.000.00

4:30 PM - Biked on the wind trainer for an hour while I read Lee Miller's Roanoke. Started sweating pretty good. Emm did Power 90 VHS tape while I rode. I am going to work on two things over the next several months. Goal #1: is to watch my diet specifically with regards to processed foods and grains/cereals. I suspect my weight issues will resolve themselves if I work hard on this and: Goal #2: is to get back to exercising at least 5 days a week.

Total Time: 61 minutes Running Equivalent Miles: 4 miles 

2010 Cycling Mileage Miles: 15.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Running MilesSwimming YardsBike Miles
16.670.000.00
Brooks Addictions 8 - #4 Miles: 12.672010 Cycling Mileage Miles: 15.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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