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

This was my 33rd race of 2014, held on May 31, 2014.  The EastPoint 5K Fun Run and Health Fair is a FREE 5K put on by EastPoint.  The race is part of the East Side Promise Neigborhood program - http://eastsidepromise.org/mission-statement/ - overseen by EastPoint. Several San Antonio East Side schools were involved with the 5K and the event started and finished at Bowden Elementary School. Not a bad turn-out for a community free event, about 100 or so runners and walkers.  8:30 a.m start, though, pretty late for a Texas summer morning, so it was already quite warm by start time - 76 degrees - and very humid with a  high dewpoint.  I ended up with a finish time by my chrono of 35:59.   My friend Jim told me that after the race the course was short, but he also said lots of folks turned around before the police car that was on the road, which was the actual  turn-around point.  I went all the way down to the police car - as did several others around me - and turned around, so I think I got in the full route.

LONG VERSION WITH PHOTOS

Before The Start

When I got to the race site, I saw that "Buddy" was there.  Buddy is the mascot of H-E-B, a San Antonio-headquartered grocery company that is a Fortune 500 company and supports a lot of events in the local community, in Texas, and in other states where it has business locations.

Me and Buddy

These folks led everyone in a pre-race warm up 'line-dance' thing, which was quite entertaining

Another mascot...not sure if it is the Bowden Elementary School mascot or EasPoint mascot or what....but on a day like it was on race day, that person inside there must've been pretty darn warm.

Runners, Volunteers, etc, before the start

My speedy running friend, Jim, is wearing the Run Fast shirt.  He's not kidding either, he doe around a 6 - 8 minute mile, pretty good for an "old guy" in his 60s. 

These folks are part of "The Mission Continues" - <cite>https://www.missioncontinues.org/</cite> - .  They implement programs for veterans to help veterans 'adjust' to life after the military, and help get veterans involved with partners at the local level to help build stronger communities.

On The Course

We started at the elementary school, ran through the neighborhood adjacent to the school, then up and over the Hays Street Pedestrian Bridge, did an out-and-back on the street at the far side of the bridge, back up over the bridge, and back to the school the same way we came out.

We went up one small hill and as we crested that and went downhill on the other side, we had a nice view of some of the downtown San Antonio skyline

Some of the water stop volunteers right before the Hays Street Bridge

And up we go over the bridge...

When we got to the level part, nice view of some of San Antonio, including Tower Of The Americas on the left

Looking back the way I just came...and when we runners made the return trip to the finish line, we had to climb that hill

Police car/barricade turn-around point.  Unfortunately, some folks must have not heard the course instructions because several made a turn-around before they got to the barricade and ended up with a shortened course.  I was chasing  the lady on the right (whom I eventually passed) and we both went all the way to the barricade, so I think we got the 'full monte."  There really was no marking for a turn-around point and no volunteer out there to help keep all the runners 'right', so maybe next year they need to post a volunteer at the actual turn-around point.

On my way back to the finish now, on the right side of the street, after I made the turn-around

After that last photo, I trucked on back to the finish.  It was quite warm for the return portion as the route was right into the sun the whole way.  The return side of the bridge was also a longer climb the going out side and after the bridge, we also had two more fairly good-sized hills to climb, so that was a tough little return portion for this 5K.  I took my regular walk breaks, but I sure was not speedy, and I saw several runners whom I know that normally don't take walk breaks also walking for a minute or two.  I think the weather was just getting to most folks.   After I finished, a friend and I checked the weather on her phone and for our finish - race started at 8:30, so a little after 9 a.m. for a slow runner like myself - it was no 79 degrees, almost 80 percent humidity, and a dew-point in the high 60s...gaaack!  Definitely a bit uncomfortable, especially with no wind to help either, just total 'dead air."

After The Race

Never-the-less, I was content with how I'd done - and I did run all the hills - and here is my "Happy Finisher" self in all my color-coordinated glory - and my new Tiger Stripe socks that performed quite well.

Some of my "Happy Finisher" buds....apparently, I'm trying to disguise Jim's identity....

"Happy Finishers" et al....sorry about a few 'blurry spots' on some of the photo, I forgot my camera lens wipe-rag and was sweating like crazy post-race.

EPILOG

In spite of the weather, a very fun event.  Lots of sponsors with tables at the race too - thanks for being there - so you could go around post-race and talk to these health folks, get some various health checks,  and also get free souvenirs - pens, bags, pad, etc., free is good, runners love free stuff - and a pretty nice quality race shirt too.  So the race and everything all for free, pretty darn good deal!  Excellent volunteers and organizers on site, many thanks to them, and mucho gracias to all the police officers out on the roads who did traffic control for us. Definitely would recommend this one to my fellow runners and definitely would do this one again - although I'm hoping maybe they can start it  a little earlier next time.

BONUS REPORT AND PHOTOS - MCALLISTER PARK TRAIL RUN

For the rest of Saturday I was pretty much a lazy bum and sat around in my a/c watching TV and napping in my chair - and enjoying seeing the San Antonio Spurs basketball team win their series over the Oklahoma Thunder, Go Spurs Go!   Sunday I got up early enough to get in a run before it got hot.  I went to McCallister Park, my favorite San Antonio Park, and did some off-road trail running.   I was feeling pretty good and had planned for an easy 3-miles, but was feeling so good I extended it and ended up with 4.3 miles.   Almost right after I started, I was greeted by this creature...

This is a protected park, so is full of deer, who are quite used to people and you can actually get quite close to them...but not TOO close, better safe than sorry.   Apparently, the one above was the Guard Deer, because it kept a close eye on me as its two buddies munched grass or whatever behind Guard Deer

This one was all by itself near the baseball stadium.   Poor deer...wonder what it did to get cast out from the herd...

We runners, cyclists, and hikers in the park sometimes find deer who have died in the park and then report it to the park police or park staff who then take care of getting the remains removed.   Apparently, they missed this one which sure looks like it's been here a while and I almost stepped on it as I was running along.  It almost looks like someone positioned it to be a 'marker' to show the way on the trail.

Parts of these trails can be quite rocky, so I'm glad I wore my trail shoes with the 'toe bumper' cuz I did bang my toes on rocks a couple of times.

Other parts of the trails are quite nice.....this is one of the paved trail areas

The off-road trails have markers to make sure you're on the 'right track."  I was not doing the 6-mile trail loop, but was on part of it and came across this marker.

Love this photo!  I was chasing a runner ahead of me and the trail we were on went between these 'fields of flowers" so I stopped and got a picture....

A very nice, peaceful, and relaxing Sunday-Morning-In-The-Park run/walk after my 5K on Saturday.

Nice report!

Beautiful course! Congratulations on your 33rd race of the year! (I don't think I've done 33 races yet in my whole life. )

As always, nice reports Scotty.  I haven't run in McAllister in a couple of months, but on a whim, I went out there on Sunday to do my long run.  That runner in your picture is actually me.  Small world here on RA!

 

I enjoy the tranquility and the extra challenge of those trails.  Even though I took a spill later in my run (a little banged up, but no permanent damage), it was well worth it.

 

Keep up the good work.  You are an inspiration!  Happy trails, Russell.

Small world indeed!  Now you have a memento of your run yesterday, feel free to save the photo!

Yeah, I take quite a few tumbles myself in that park - some of those roots on the trails are very hard to see; and I swear, sometimes I think the deer are just waiting for me to show up, and then the bound out across the trail right in front of me. In the 20 years I've been running in that park I think I've had to backpedal at least 10 times or so, and fallen right down on my kiester.  Thankfully, none have ever actually hit me yet.