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Race Report and Photos: Carrera Races 1/2, 10K, and 5K (Read 27 times)

scottydawg


Barking Mad To Run

    INTRO

    I am Scott aka Scottydog, runner since 1983, cancer survivor, retired Air Force, employee of University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), 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 3rd event of 2014 and my 3rd race in the first week of  January. Carrera Races - a really great local racing event company - put on half marathon, 10K and 5K events at Wheatley Sports Complex, a local-area events stadium. The weather was sunny and the temp was 43 degrees, but a 20 to 30 mph wind was blowing like crazy, making the 'feels like' temp about 37 degrees...BRRR.   I did the 5K and ended up with a time of 32:07, finishing 2nd in my age group.  The 5K had the smallest number of participants, of the 3 races, and there were only 3 folks IN my age group, lol.

     

    LONG VERSION WITH PHOTOS

     

    Before The Race

     

    Luckily, the sports complex had a 'tunnel area" under the bleachers where everyone could get out of that crazy wind before start time and keep somewhat warmer.   Most of the folks were in that area, so that's where I started taking my photos.

     

    Me and friend

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    On The Course

     

    Half Marathoners started at 8 a.m.  10K folks went at 8:05 a.m.  5K folks went at 8:15 a.m.   We all started by the stadium, went around part of the stadium parking lot and then went onto some nearby Greenway Trails.  The trails were paved and really nice, very scenic, with lots of wooded areas along the way, which was much appreciated because those woods served as a windbreak in several places along the way.   Heading back, however, as we came off the trail and back into the parking lot area to head to the finish line, the wind blew straight into our faces at about 20 - 30 mph, zowie!  Luckily, this was the shortest part of the course, so that was over pretty quickly.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I must've been a bit cold, lol, because on the way back to the stadium, I passed several people I took photos of.  When I came off the trail, there was one person in front of me, a young lady.   Just before the turn to the finish line, I caught up to her and told her  "I'm an old man, I know you can beat me to the finish line."  She took off with me giving chase and she did beat me to the finish line by about  5 or 10 seconds or so...good for her!

     

    After The Race

     

    Everyone that finished any of the races got a finisher medal.  I got a photo with my "finish line race" young lady

     

     

    She and a friend

     

     

     

    Happy Finishers, Volunteers, etc.

     

     

    Virginia - super lady! - the Race Director and co-owner of Carrera Races is on the left

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The folks holding the little red packages are some of the Age Group award winners.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    No, they did not bandit the race...it's just their team name

     

     

    This is Virginia's husband.  I want a hat like his...looks warm!

     

     

    As for post-race goodies...LOVE Carrera Races, they always have a bunch of stuff...

     

     

     

     

     

    This chicken-stuff was really good...

     

    And, of course, Carrera Races ALWAYS has beer at their events post-race..

     

    EPILOG

     

    Participants got a nice quality long-sleeved tech tee shirt

     

     

    And the 'red package' awards contained this stuff for each age group award winner.., a really nice glass cup, a packet of hot chocolate to fill the glass up with on a cold day, a discount coupon from Dick's Sporting Goods, an energy bar (gluten free)...and for those folks that own those little 'yappy' dogs...a miniature leash!    OK, it's one of those ID holder things....

     

     

    A very nice event with lots of friendly folks! In spite of the wind that made it feel like it was freezing out there, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.   Nice venue for a race, good trails to run on, EXCELLENT post-race goodies.  Carrera Races always puts on quality events.  iaapweb.com, another great local racing event company, did their usual great job of timing, course set-up, etc.   If you are ever in the San Antonio area and see a race being put on by Carrera Races, no worries, you are going to get a quality event.  Same with iaapweb.com races and AthleteGuild.  These 3 companies, in my opinion, are the Top Three local area racing companies.  For me, Carrera wins the top spot - just by a nose, because the other companies are really great too - because Carrera ALWAYS  has beer at  ALL their events.   Not that I'm prejudiced about having beer at races ..but it is nice!

    "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt

      Three races already?! Incredible! Congrats on the AG award. Smile

       

      P.S. I think that's the hot chocolate mix I drink. It's very tasty.

      5k - 25:15 (11/18/12)

      10k - 1:01:51 (2/14/15)

      10mi - 1:33:18 (3/2/14)

      HM - 2:06:12 (3/24/13)

       

      Upcoming Races:

      Benched until further notice. :/

       

      Everything you need is already inside. [[Bill Bowerman]]

      GinnyinPA


        I can tell you'all aren't used to cold - most of the runners are dressed for below freezing temps, not 40 and sunny!  That cold wind seems to have sped you up a bit - I think maybe you didn't want to stop as long to take pictures.  Looks like a fun event, and the trail part looks like a nice place to run.

        happylily


          When I came off the trail, there was one person in front of me, a young lady.   Just before the turn to the finish line, I caught up to her and told her  "I'm an old man, I know you can beat me to the finish line."  She took off with me giving chase and she did beat me to the finish line by about  5 or 10 seconds or so...good for her!

           

          This ^ was really cool, Scotty. You're so nice and cheerful to all. 

           

          3rd race of the year already? Some of us are still trying to wake up from all the partying and eating and drinking, but you, you're all set for races, just like a pro! Congrats on 2nd AG! It doesn't matter how many there were in your group, there are many men your age in Texas, and you finished 2nd AG in that 5k. The others didn't. :-)

           

          And OMG, that post-race food looked delicious! Just like some fancy buffet in a restaurant on a Sunday morning, mmmm....

          PRs: Boston Marathon, 3:27, April 15th 2013

                  Cornwall Half-Marathon, 1:35, April 27th 2013

          18 marathons, 18 BQs since 2010

            Prior to the race, the dude with the #49 bib was evidently slightly chilled.  In San Antonio, you guys always have a good selection of post race munchies and drinks.

            “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” - T.S. Eliot

            Mordecai


              We, Team Bandit, didn't pay for that race... REVOLUTION

              scottydawg


              Barking Mad To Run

                We, Team Bandit, didn't pay for that race... REVOLUTION

                 

                If this is actually one of you that I took the photo of, and if true that you did bandit the race, then that makes you two real jerks.  "Banditing", in my humble opinion, is just you stealing 'race resources' that others have paid for.  If you did bandit this one, I  hope it's just a one-time 'kid prank", so congrats, you got away with it, you should be SO proud, and now I hope you're over it.

                 

                You should know that Virginia, the RD of all Carrera Races gets this report, with the photos in full,  and you just put your photo out there in public - gotta love 'stupid criminals" - so now she knows what you look like - as well as all the runners on my distro list who get this report - and can keep an eye out for you at any of her future races, in case you try this again at  her races - or  at any other local company races too, because THEY also get my race reports as a courtesy, so they know what you look like too now.    I'm sure they will be so happy to see you at their events and ensure you are paid participants.   If not, I bet the course marshals/security will be glad to escort you off the course....and might even get a little help from some of the runners who DID pay their hard-earned money to participate.  

                "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt

                Zelanie


                  Boo to Team Bandit, but congrats to Scotty and Carrera for another great race!