INTRO  

I am Scott aka Scottydog aka Scotty Dogg, runner since 1983, cancer survivor – caught very early, so I actually had a fairly easy time of it - retired Air Force, employee of University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), friend of dogs, fun-runner, and all-around punster and 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.  My only goals for a race these days are finish everything I start, have fun along the way, and finish standing up with no ambulance waiting for me.  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 – unless it’s a mean dog; then the biscuit goes in one direction and I go in another.  Hence my nickname “Scottydog.”

And a big thanks to runningahead.com for allowing me a “home” for my many many MANY race reports and photos.  Great site, free training log; calendars; running routes; maps; conversation forums for runners; and much more

I don’t have great camera skills and take photos with a camera that is like me  - old fashioned, lol - so sorry if a photo appears a bit blurry, etc.  However, they are free to save, share, etc.

Here is yet another of my photo reports.  Full report below.     

Link to photos only:

http://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2018%20race%20reports/2018%20Race%20Number%2090%20Elf%20Run%205K?sort=2

BEFORE MY START

My 90^th race of 2018 was the Elf 5K on Sunday, December 16, put on at Children's Rehabilitation Institute of Teleton Foundation USA in San Antonio. This was my 3^rd race of the Dec 15 – 16 weekend, after having done 2 races on Saturday.   TeletonUSA is the US subsidiary of Teleton in Mexico.  The Children's Rehabilitation Institute of TeletonUSA is a state-of-the-art pediatric rehabilitation and therapy facility for disabled children.  I try do to this one whenever I can since disabled kids is a very personal cause for me, as I was a March of Dimes baby born with a birth defect.  There was also a Kids 1K.  Race start time was 9 a.m. so since I live only about 4 miles from this facility, I got to sleep in a bit on a Sunday morning, did not have to get up at 5 a.m. like I usually have to do for most of my events. I arrived on-site with about an hour to go, got my packet and then got some pre-start photos.

With "Buddy" the mascot of H--E-B, a billion dollar grocery company headquartered in San Antonio

My speedy pal, Don.  This was his 104th race of the year.

Athlete Guild crew that did the timing, results, etc.

Our event MC

Various participants, volunteers, etc

ON THE COURSE

I wore a light base layer for this one with running shirt on top.  Texas crazy weather.  For my Saturday night 5K the temp had been 71 degrees and I was in a singlet.  For this one the temp had dropped back into the mid-40s, but we did have “abundant sunshine”, as the weather folks say.  The course was changed from last year and this year’s was MUCHO better. Out-and-back course.  We started at Teleton and then did a loop through Morgan’s Wonderland – an amusement park designed specifically with the disable in mind; their rides even accommodate wheelchairs! – and then back onto flat paved roads going past Toyota Stadium, the home of San Antonio’s major league soccer team, and past Heroes Stadium, an event venue belonging to local Northside School District, that includes track, football field, etc.  We did a turn-round near Hero’s Stadium and then back the way we had come out.  The Morgan’s Wonderland loop was a nice addition to the course with nice views along the way of the park and the park’s man-made lake.  The course ended up being about 1/10 of a mile short, but that was okay, still a very nice course.  I think next year they will just move the turn-round point down a bit and that will take care of that missing tenth of a mile.  I ended up with a chip time of 29:08 – which is why I knew the course was a tad short, I haven’t done an under-30-minute 5K since I was in my 30s, lol; that, and I checked with friends who had their garmins and they all confirmed short also.  Even so, all good, nice course which I enjoyed very much.  I ended up 4^th male in my 60 – 69 age group.

Getting ready to start

After we did the first loop through Morgan's Wonderland we went into this area known as Quarry Park.  Long ago, this was a working San Antonio quarry; now an event local surrounded by these tall quarry hills you can see in the distance

Looking back toward Morgan's Wonderland

Passing the water park that was designed by the makers of Morgan's Wonderland.  This water park is also disabled friendly.  It even has a lighthouse kids can play in.

Heading to the turn-round point. My friend Bernadette was already heading to the finish

My friend Mary K.  This was her 1,410th lifetime race!

Made the turn-round, heading back to the finish, and now chasing Mary, lol.

These two are wearing the race shirt that was in the race packet

After that last photo, nonstop running for me all the way back to the finish. I actually did catch up to Mary on the last loop around Morgan's Wonderland Lake right before we finished.

AFTER MY FINISH

I sweat like crazy when I run – even in cold weather – so first thing got off my wet base layer and put on a dry base layer.  Then it was off to check out the race goodies – no beer, bummer, but I keep hoping they’ll get it one year – and get some after photos.

Two speedy and happy finishers.  Don and his friend here both placed in their age groups. 

With Transformer Guy.  I  jokingly told him I was a Transformer too....sometimes I transform into an Idiot... 

Happy finisher Bernadette with friends.  This was Race 104 for the year for Bernadette.

Teleton mascot

This event was dog friendly so I did give out treats.   This was one relaxed doggie, lol.

Some of the post-race goodies. Besides this stuff, they also had various fruits, water, etc.

A happy family of speedy medal winners

Mary and her husband...two of the greatest people I have had the privilege of knowing

Bernadette, 1st in her age group, Don 3rd in his....and I was 4th lol.  Don was waaay ahead of me in time.

EPILOGUE

This is a very fun event, with lots of people in various types of “elf gear” and other types of Christmas and costume garb.  Given the theme of the race the course is disabled and wheel-chair friendly and there were a few kids out their in chairs and they were all AWESOME to see and so inspiring.  If you think you have problems, come do this event and watch these kids do their thing and then you think, “jeez, what the heck do I have to complain about?”  Well, I still do complain about my aches-and-pains, lol, but this event sure gives you perspective.  Nice quality, colorful red race t-shirts, very nice post-race goodies – I think they also had some breakfast taquitos supplied by Whataburger – the most popular Texas fast food chain – but I missed those, excellent course and really great and friendly participants and supporters.  This race is definitely a keeper and I most certainly would recommend it to others to put onto their race calendar.

Mucho thanks to all the people who made this one happen for us:  organizers and volunteers, sponsors, vendors, the law enforcement folks out there for us, keeping us safe, and anyone else I may not have mentioned here.  And, of course a BIG shout-out to Teleton for bringing this race to us here in San Antonio and for the great cause this event supports.  Thank you all so much for what you do so we participants can have this event.