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

Race #49 for me for 2013.  The Whine Run 5 Miles is put on by the San Antonio Roadrunners, with a really nice after-party hosted by the Dry Comal Creek Winery, a beautiful little place in New Braunfels, Texas, about a 30-minute drive from San Antonio.  The "whine" comes in because the only flat part of this course is one small part of the course right near the start/finish.  ALL the rest of the course is inclines, uphills, and downhills, and these are some SERIOUS hills too.  The course is in a neighborhood across from the winery called Vintage Oaks, so much thanks to the residents there for allowing us access to the area for this race.  There was a 5-mile walk starting at 7:30 and then the runners started at 8 a.m.   A handful of we runners elected to start with the walkers.  Me because I usually don't ever get to see the leaders in the race so the early start allowed me to get on the course and take a few photos of the leaders of the pack when they caught up to me.  A couple friends of mine were nursing some sore spots they they started with me and 'shuffled' along at my pace.  My wife Gail walked the course, so she did the 7:30 start too.   The race was chip-timed, so the early start was no big deal for we handful of runners, as our chip times in the results went in with the times of the other runners.  And as slow as we were today, even with the early start, we didn't win anything anyway.  My chip time was 1:05:43, pretty darn slow for 5 miles (13-something minutes per mile) but what the heck, I had fun stopping quite a bit along the way, taking photos, interacting with the other early start folks out there, and cheering on the front of the pack speedy runners as they passed me by. after their 8 a.m. start .  The chip time of the guy who won the race was a VERY speedy 25-something!

LONG VERSION REPORT WITH PHOTOS

I will keep the text to a minimum for this report, as I took nearly 100 photos for this event!  So sit back and just enjoy the photo show.

Before The Start

My lovely wife, Gail, the poor woman who has to put up with me 24/7. 

My friend, Luke, is wearing the tech-tee race shirt from last year for this event

These 2 ladies are wearing the purple tech-tee race shirt for this year that all participants and volunteers got

On The Course

Hilly!  Sunny!  Warm!  82 degrees, 87% humidity, 73 dewpoint.  A few of the photos may be a bit hard to see, as I took them right into the sun, but I think most of them turned out okay.

Let the serious hills begin!

Typical houses in this neighborhood that we passed by

I was a little past Mile 3, heading up this hill when the bike came along in front of the lead runners (8 a.m. start) who were heading toward Mile 3.

Looking back..my shirtless pal Bill, recovering from an injury, is behind me a little ways

One of the lead lady runners coming toward me

The lead runner passed me by at about mile 3.5...on a big uphill too!

More lead runners and early starters coming up behind me

An angel running with us!

The last uphill on the course, thank goodness!  Top of the hill, it was a right turn and downhill to the finish.

After The Race

Finish line area

This lady was also an early starter. I was on the course with her quite a bit. After we crossed the finish line, volunteers handed out to each finisher these nice ice-watered down towels to help us cool off.  Yes, we got to keep the towels.

My friends Bill and Chris (middle) and another early starter.  And congrats to Bill and Chris who are now engaged..Chris showed me the 'rock' on her finger.  Bill and Chris, two of the nicest people ever. Mucho best wishes!

Me, Bill, and Chris. For the protection of your eyes, mental stability, and so you won't turn to stone, my face has been blurred a bit..

Trekking from the finish area over to the winery for the party.  Even after the race, we still get a hill!

The Afterparty!

What can I say?  The San Antonio Roadrunners, Comal Dry Creek Winery, and the other sponsors, such as H-E-B Grocery, really throw a great after-party for this race!  Which is what makes this such a popular local area race on Labor Day, even with the challenging course. Each runner got a souvenir wine glass, and 2 free glasses of wine.  Other goodies available included beer,  hot dogs, bagels, grapes, various types of cheese and crackers, door prizes (I didn't win any) for both volunteers and participants, DJ playing music, etc.   Lots of tables and chairs, lots of wide rocks to sit on, lots of green grass to stretch out on, lots of shady areas.  Fun stuff in a very relaxing atmosphere.

Entrance area to the winery, very pretty...

Two VIP volunteers..the wine ladies!

Food food food...and more food!

"Everybody have fun tonight!"

Got a friendly "sweaty hug" from each one of these lovely ladies...nice!   The hugs were a 'thank-you' for my shirt motivating them.

My mate (pink shirt, blue shorts) enjoying a line dance

Me and my lovely wife.  I definitely married UP!

Epilogue

Challenging course, but one of the best events of the year with everything it has, especially post-race. San Antonio Roadrunners do a heck of a job organizing this event each year, Dry Comal Creek has great hospitality for all, and Vintage Oaks is just a really beautiful neighborhood, and the residents there are great for 'giving it up to us" for this day each year.   This event definitely keeps being put on my race calendar year after year!  MUCHO thanks to all who were out there for us today, police officers, volunteers, winery staff, etc.

Looks like another fun race. I need to come down there some time.

Are my eyes deceiving me or is the lead runner kicking the bike escorts bicuspid?

Great RR Scott!

And let me add San Antonio right below Anaheim on the list of places I will never run in summer. 

Looks like a lot of fun!  I always enjoy your reports Scotty, and I grew up in Austin so it's nice to see a glimpse of (close to) home in your photos.

Looks like a very friendly and well-run event!  The heat and the hills look pretty challenging, though!  Congrats on #49!