Barking Mad To Run
INTRO
I am Scott aka Scottydog aka Scotty Dogg, 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.
Held on Jan 23, 2016, this was my 5th race of 2016. Race location was in Selma TX at Bluebonnet Palace, a very popular local dance/music hall in the San Antonio area. This race supported Operation Comfort.
Weather was pretty chilly early in the a.m. for we South Texans – in the 30s for the early morning, but by the 9 a.m. start time it was very sunny and about 41 degrees. About 300 or so participants, including wheelchair and disable vet participants, who are always inspiring to see. I did the 5K and ended up with a finish time of 31:30, finishing 9th in my age group, which was an odd age group of 56 – 69 years old. All the age groups were odd like that. The RD got quite a bit of feedback from runners about that, so next year for this event it will probably be 5-year or 10-year age groups.
BEFORE THE START
Had already picked up my packet and race bib a couple of days before the race, so when I arrived on site, I immediately started wandering around and getting various pre-start photos.
Grumpy Old Men - me and friend Bob
Service dog and its humans. I got permission to give it a treat...and that doggie loved me after that.
Registration/Race Day volunteers. I got there a little before 8 a.m. and thought I was cold; these folks had to be there at 5 a.m. when it was dark and the temp was around 32 with a feels like of 28 - 30. BRRRR!
Athlete Guild did the timing and race results and course set up...and this was our race announcer
..and more folks....
Another service dog who appreciated a treat
These nice folks and sponsors were giving out free long-sleeved and short-sleeved tech tees to everyone while supplies lasted. Pretty nice shirts too!
Two of the law enforcement folks who were out there for us. Thanks!
These folks are wearing the red tech-tees that participants got in their goody bags. Nice shirts too.
Me and bud John Purnell...another member of our "Grumpy Old Vets" club...
At the start line...
Old Glory leading us all off...
National Anthem
ON THE COURSE
Course for the 5K was an out-and-back, one time. The 10K folks did the course twice. Start from Bluebonnet Palace, heading out on wide roads (nice) towards an industrial complex in the distance – which is the area where our local HUGE Amazon.com processing center/warehouse is located. We made a loop through this area, then back to the finish line on the road we first came out on.
I chased that kid on the cart for practically the whole course..I finally caught up to him just before the finish line...and he beat me in, lol. He was getting his exercise too, going up some of those course inclines.
Whoa truck! Runners going up a course incline! The driver did wait very patiently.
My friend, Chris. I'd stop to take photos and she'd pass me and I'd have to catch up to her again. It took longer after each stop (2 photo stops along the way for me), she is coming back from an injury and is getting her speed back. Soon it will be back to normal and she will be her usual speedy self and I'll never see her on the course after that, only before I finish and after I finish.
2-mile marker at the end of this road. After this photo, I ran non-stop back to the finish.
AFTER THE FINISH
Post-race goodies included sausage wraps, sodas, and water, and all kinds of nice goodies from H-E-B, a huge Fortune 500 groceries-and-more company (over $1B in annual sales) that is headquartered in San Antonio. There were crackers, chips, all kinds of fruit and nature bars, sodas, water, banana, tangerines, etc. Basically, you just wandered around the H-E-B area filling up your goody bag; nice! I got some photos of the ‘Happy Finishers”, supporters, volunteers, etc. Started at the finish line after I finished, and worked my way in to where all the goodies were.
Near the finish line after I finished.
Me and Chris, who came in just about right behind me.
Up at the 'after-party' pavilion
Beautiful service dog and his human. Yes, he did get a treat too.
Chris and hubby Bill. Now, Bill, I never did see on the course, that speedy old dog, lol.
Two "old school" Army vets I had a very nice chat with.
Our sausage wrap fixers. Thanks!
Buddy, the mascot of H-E-B
Yay Team RWB (Red White Blue)!
Buddy with some Veterans
Medals for the event, appropriately enough, were dog tags
EPILOGUE
Very nice event! As retired military, I’ve done this one several times in the past and it has never failed yet to please me. Even this year, with those kinda weird age groups for awards, it was still a darn good event. Definitely will continue to do this one and certainly would recommend it to my fellow runners, walkers, veterans. Mucho thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers, law enforcement, Operation Comfort, etc.; everyone out there who made this one all happen for we participants.
Next up for me: Snowball 5K at Morgan’s Wonderland on Jan 30 and Dystonia 5K at OP Schnabel Park on Jan 31.
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt
Looks like fun and a nice open course. Definitely unusual age grouping. Did they think there would be no older runners?