Barking Mad To Run
Intro
I am Scott aka Scottydog, runner since 1983, cancer survivor, retired Air Force, friend of dogs, fun-runner, and all-around goofball. In 2003 I had spinal arthritis flare up and ever since then I’ve done the run/walk method since it hurts my back too much now to run continuously with no walk breaks. I’m on what I call my “2F Plan” which stands for Fun and Finish. At events that I now do for fun I carry my camera, chase “Great Legs” to help motivate my slow old man self to keep moving forward, and take pictures before, during, and after the race. Sometimes I even get a nice post-race sweaty hug from one of the Great Legs ladies. I then do a pictorial race report of my events. I also carry dog biscuits with me to treat any dogs I may meet at a run, hence my nickname “Scottydog.” Here is yet another of my Race Reports With Photos, and my thanks to all the people I interacted with for their graciousness and good humor in letting me take photos of them.
Short Version Report
My 25th race of 2013. San Antonio Road Runners ( SARR for short; running club of which I am a member) Fiesta Mission 10K, held on Saturday, April 20th, 2013 at Missions Park in San Antonio. Called Missions Park because the park is near the Missions built by the Spanish in the 1700s. Weather was a chilly 54 degrees at start time - that is chilly for we South Texans! - but the sun was shining brightly and the skies were blue, so made for some nice running weather. Around 500 or so participants for this one, maybe more, to start off the first running event for Fiesta San Antonio - http://www.fiesta-sa.org/ - a 10 day "San Antonio Party" held each April. I have not done 10K distance in about 6 months, so thought this one would take me quite a while, doing run/walk and taking photos along the way; and I was right. I finished 1:11:39 chip time, and 1:14-something gun time.
Long Version With Photos
Arrived at Missions Park with about an hour to go before start time and got some pre-start photos.
BEFORE THE START
SARR official photographer Tom, Race Director Sherri, and Volunteer Extraordinaire Ronnie. The ladies, by the way, do have Great Legs.
Registration volunteers
Our colorful Master of Ceremonies/Official Announcer
My good friend and Great Legs Lady, Sally, SARR Volunteer Coordinator for SARR races, wearing all her Fiesta medals
Two of San Antonio's fine police officers
..who were the escort for Miss Fiesta San Antonio, who graciously attended our event
One of my club buddies, Whit, with Miss Fiesta San Antonio
Other participants/supporters pre-start
Lined up for the start in front of the SARR balloon arch
ON THE COURSE
The course took us along some gravel trail, then onto some grass, then on the road for a bit, then on a narrow trail, then road again, that took us up to San Jose Mission. We went through the grounds of the Mission, came back out on roads, then got onto the Mission Reach part of the San Antonio Riverwalk. Did an out-and back along the Riverwalk, then back on grass again, finishing up back at the SARR balloon arch area. I hadn't been down here for a while, so I stopped quite a bit - even before my 'official' walk breaks, lol - to take photos, probably another reason I was out there for a while. You can tell, can't you, that I really care about my finish time.
Coming up to, and then through the grounds of, San Jose Mission.
We bid farewell to the Park Ranger - Missions Park is a National Park, so has rangers in attendance - and hit the road again
Here we go...the out-and-back portion of the course on the Mission Reach part of the San Antonio Riverwalk. Cement path, hilly on parts of it, nice views of the river and bridges/underpasses along the way.
At last...the turn-around!
And now to the finish!
AFTER THE RACE
A cold beer sure felt good after that...it was warm out there on that open cement!
BrakPack friend of mine. The BrackPack is a group of folks who meet in local Brackenridge Park for a weekly run.
She and me....or....Beauty and the Beast...you can guess which is which
More BrakPak Ladies
And one more Beauty and the Beast photo...
My friend Whit, and two other good friends of mine, Sadie and Chance
Besides beer, we also had sausage wraps. Thanks to these guys for doing a great job cooking them up for us.
What would Fiesta be if at least one person did not have a pinata?
More "Happy Finishers" and supporters
Epilog
A very nice event. Kudos to Sally, Sherri, Tom, and all the many other SARR folks, volunteers, and sponsors who all pull together each year to put this event on. Nice tech tee race shirt too. The men's were a burgundy/red color like I got...
...and the ladies got purple shirts. Several ladies in the photos above are wearing the lady race shirt.
Definitely would recommend this one to my fellow runners.
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt
Smaller By The Day
Excellent job Scotty! I love the fact that you're drinking my "go to" beer of Natural Ice. I have to ask. How many people out there have pictures of themselves with you? If I ever get down to Texas, I'm getting my picture taken with you.
Improvements
Weight 100 pounds lost
5K 31:02 Sept. 2012 / 23:36 Sept. 2013 (Same Course)
10K 48:59 April 2013
HM 2:03:56 Nov. 2012 / 1:46:50 March 2013
MARATHON 3:57:33 Nov. 2013
Scotty, congrats on another great race, and thanks for sharing the RR.
Jess runs for bacon
Wow, a 10k, I don't think I've ever seen you post an RR for one. Always jealous of the pretty places you run
Nice race report. It looks like a beautiful place to run. How did it feel to do the longer distance?
Return To Racing
Sounds like "A Best Place to Retire".
Caretaker/Overlook Hotel
Scotty. Always a pleasure to read your RR's! Pics are still loading as I type this which is great!
i wish I would slow down enough to do the same for my RR's cuz it sure is cool to read and view but I'm like a 5 year old adult with ADD and a lack of patience so I substitute your abilities to do so for my own. Har har.
Awesome pics. And always with the ladies. Touché !!!
Randy
Congrats on #25, and a 10K too! How cool that you got to run in a national park!
What gorgeous pictures of the San Jose mission and the area! So beautiful, I'd love to run there. And as always, I love seeing so many great San Antonio smiles. Thank you for sharing with us, Scotty. And congratulations on your 25th!
PRs: Boston Marathon, 3:27, April 15th 2013
Cornwall Half-Marathon, 1:35, April 27th 2013
18 marathons, 18 BQs since 2010
Scotty, thanks for sharing another great race with us! Congratulations on your 25th!
Jen
Upcoming races:
Covenant Health Knoxville 5K 4/7/13 (and cheering on DH for his 1st Marathon!!)
Rock and Roll Chicago Half Marathon 7/21/13
Tower of Terror Ten Miler 10/5/13
Congrats Scotty. That looks like a really cool place to run. Thanks for the report and pictures.
SheCan
Great pics, and congratulations to you on this 10k (your doctor isn't going to be happy with you now.) I really like all the pictures. It really does look like a festive event. The mission is so cool!
Hope you have fun with the rest of the festival!
Cherie
"We do not become the people who this world needs simply by turning our backs on anyone we don’t like, trust, or deem healthy enough to be in our presence. " ---- Shasta Nelson
Don't call me Buttercup!
What gorgeous scenery! Thanks for sharing!
Slow and steady wins the.... wait a second! I've been lied to!
delicate flower
Good stuff, Scotty! I've got to say its kind of funny to see so many long sleeve shirts and pants when it was 54 degrees. LOL That is ideal shorts and t-shirt race weather 'round these parts.
<3
flashlight and sidewalk
+1...I'd love to do a Scottydog race.
Great pictures from the event. Beautiful course. I was slightly disappointed that there were no pictures of you with Miss Fiesta . Everyone in the pictures has such big smiles...it must have been a great time. Congrats on another great day running...keep'em coming!
**Ask me about streaking**