I'm baaaack...

I haven't blogged in a while, I've been slacking.

Since I last posted, I've run 2 more events.

I ran Daniella's Journey by the Sea 5k, my time was 26:52. And then I almost didn't run a race in May. Almost...

Last weekend I ran the Race for the Magic Bullet 5k. Let's just say it was HOT! All I can say is that I finished. My time was 27:23. I can only imagine what it's going to be like over the summer.

The Magic Bullet was my 8th event of the year.

I'm running again this weekend, Kendra's Kisses 5k.

And I'm planning to get back on track and run at least 2 events every month.

I'm baaaaack!

KT

Bull Run

This past Saturday I challenged myself by running the Bull Run 10k. I had never run a race longer than 5 miles, so I didn't think another 1.2 miles would be that hard. It was harder than I thought it would be. I was way behind the pace I had run at the St. Paddy's Day 4 miler and the Riverwalk 5 miler just a couple weeks ago. And after the 5th mile, I started cramping up. I walk/ran the last 1.2 miles and finished in just over an hour (1 hour and 50 seconds). I was disappointed with my time, but happy that I finished the race.

The Bull Run was held at Spanish River Park in Boca Raton, FL. If you've never been to that park, it's worth going. It's beautiful. The pre-race was great, it was easy to register even though it seems like there were thousands of people there. I think this was the biggest race in terms of participants that I've ever run. It was a nice run, the first 5 miles anyway. But I was shocked at the end of the race, I grabbed a bottle of water and drank it. I was thirsty, I mean I had just finished 6.2 miles. When I went back to get a 2nd bottle, I was denied. Wait a minute, I just ran 6.2 miles and you wont give me a 2nd bottle of water? It's not like they were running low, when I tried to reach into the bucket, it was FULL of water. I was shocked. I had never had a problem getting a 2nd water before. Note to self for next year...bring my own water.

Oh well, I just bailed and picked up a bottle on my way home.

Overall, the Bull Run was fun. I'm planning to run it again next year. By then I'll have put in alot more miles and built up to where 6.2 miles isn't a stretch. My goal will be 55 minutes.

Next up Daniellas Journey By The Sea on Hollywood Beach on April 26th. Back to a 5k. My goal will be 25 minutes. That's just over a minute less than my PR.

The proceeds from this event will benefit Daniella's Journey at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Florida.

Then I'm thinking about running back-to-back 5k's the first weekend in May.

Broward Victim's Rights Coalition Run to Remember 5K in Hollywood on May 2nd and the Sprint For the Finish 5K Run in Markham Park in Sunrise on May 3rd. I've never run back-to-back events before and I like the idea of challenging myself to see which race I have a better time in.

Catch you later!

Kris Tomb
CashOfTheTitans.com

Going the Distance

I did it! I finished the 3 for the Road Series.

I ran all 3 events, starting with the 5k for a Better Day at the end of February where I set my 5k PR (26:04). Then came the St. Paddy's Day 4 miler (35:51) and finally the Riverwalk 5 miler (44:14). That's a combined time of 1:46:09. Not bad, but I know I can do better and I'm looking forward to running the series again next year.

I had a great time, supported some amazing organizations and I learned alot about myself. I have struggled in the past with the last mile of a race. I struggled with the last mile of the 5k for a Better Day, I struggled with the last mile of the St. Paddy's Day 4 miler, but I didn't struggle with the last mile of the Riverwalk 5 miler. I was still happy and pushing it in the last mile. I felt amazing! So what did I learn about myself? I can go the distance. I can overcome the mental games that come with running 3 - 5 miles. If I can run for 44:14 without walking, then there is no reason that I can't finish the 5k or the 4 miler without having to walk. I overcame a personal obstacle during the Riverwalk 5 miler and now I'm excited to see what I can do in a 10k.

I'm hoping to be able to run the Taking Steps 5k on April 4th and the 10k on April 11. We'll see how I juggle the holiday schedule.

My goal in the 5k is to finish in under 25 minutes and cut my PR time by over 1 minute.

My goal for the 10k is to finish in under 52 minutes. I've never run 6.2 before, but after the 5 miler, I'm confident that I can go the distance!

See ya!

Kris Tomb
CashOfTheTitans.com

5K for a Better Day Results

Last Saturday I ran in the 4th Annual 5K for a Better Day, which benefitted the expansion of the Chris Evert Children's Hospital Pediatric Cancer Center.

It was an amazing event on a beautiful morning. The course was great taking us down Andrews by the river and back again. I felt good and I ran well. I finished in 26:04, a new PR.

That's over a minute faster than my last event and 51 seconds off my previous best which was January 10 at the FLIPANY Fun Run.

I ran my first 5k last April and finished in 28:17. In less than a year, I've knocked a little over 2 minutes off my time.

In my next 5k I'm shooting for under 25 minutes. My next 2 events will have me primed and ready for a new PR at the Taking Steps For Kids In Distress 5K in April.

Next up - St. Paddy's 4 miler on March 14, followed by the 9th Annual Riverwalk Run on March 21.

I'm pumped!

Kris Tomb
CashOfTheTitans.com

Three For the Road Series

I did it! I signed up for the Three For the Road Series! It all starts in 2 weeks with the 5K for a Better Day.

I'm registered for the 5K for a Better Day, the St. Paddy's 4 miler and the Three For the Road Series. The link for the Riverwalk 5 Mile Run isn't up on the Greater Fort Lauderdale Road Runners site yet, but I clicked on the Junior League link and it looks like you can register for the event via Active.com.

What's great about these events is that I get to learn more about incredible organizations in the South Florida community. I didn't know anything about the Junior League before signing up for the Three For the Road Series.

The River Walk Run (Run For the Future) benefits the Junior League of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s current projects:

- Transitional Independent Living (Adolescents who age out of the foster care system)
- Childhood Fitness and Nutrition
- Ronald McDonald House
- Leeza’s Place

Another event that benefits children's charities.

Gotta run,

Kris Tomb
CashOfTheTitans.com

5K for a Better Day

I got my race results for the I Care I Cure...I Run 5k. I finished in 27:16. Not bad right? That's a pace of 8:46 per mile. That doesn't sound so good does it? 8:46 per mile? There's lots of room for improvement. I scanned the other runners times, and I saw a 65 year old guy finished in 23:46. WOW! I don't know about you, but I'm impressed. And if he can do it, then I can too. I've got to put on those running shoes and get out there. And that's what I'm gonna do!

The 5K for a Better Day is 20 days from today. My goal is to run a pace of 8:20 per mile. When I do that, I'll finish in just under 26 minutes. That's my goal. Ok, so I'm not going to finish with Mr. G (the 65 year old guy), but I'll be getting faster and before long, I won't be hating that 3rd mile.

Time to hit the road,

Kris Tomb
CashOfTheTitans.com

Chasing the banana...

Yesterday morning I ran the I Care I Cure...I Run 5k. I didn't do as well as I had planned, probably because I was out watching the UFC fights the night before and had my fair share of ice cold beer.

Needless to say, I was not feeling it when I woke up Sunday morning after 5 hours of sleep, but I was committed to the run, so I ran.

The weather was nice, the attendance was incredible. I was surprised at how many people there were. The organizers did a great job!

At the start of the race, I noticed that there was a guy wearing a banana costume (I think it was for Jamba Juice)...no kidding. I joked that as long as I finished ahead of the banana, I'd be happy.

Needless to say, I spent the entire race chasing the banana. And I never caught up to him.

I didn't make the time I hoped for, and to be honest, I'm still waiting to see my official time, all I know is that it was somewhere between 27 and 28 minutes. I didn't stick around, I wanted to go back to bed, so after I crossed the finish line, I headed straight to my truck and drove back home. When I got home, my wife had a nice breakfast waiting for me and I ate that and then went back to sleep for a few hours.

So, another race in the books. That's 2 for the year. Next up...

5K For A Better Day, Chris Evert Children's Hospital @ Broward General Hospital on February 28th.

This is part of the Three For the Road Series. I'm still undecided on whether I'm going to run in all three, but right now I'm thinking I might.

#1 - 5k
#2 - 4 miler
#3 - 5 miler

This might help me work up to a 10k. There's a 10k in April I'm considering, we'll see how things go.

Catch you later,

Kris Tomb
CashOfTheTitans.com