Beginners and Beyond

1

Report and Photos: Special Olympics Texas Frozen Flippers 5K at SeaWorld (Read 24 times)

scottydawg


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.

    This was my 66th race of 2015 and my second 5K of 3 5Ks I was doing on December 12, 2015. The SeaWorld San Antonio Frozen Flippers 5K supports Special Olympics of Texas and, if I recall correctly from the announcement at the race, more than $17,000 was raised for the cause, between sponsors and participants. Event was held at SeaWorld San Antonio. I think there were a lot more registered than showed up, probably because the weather was a bit ‘iffy”, with storms threatening. The wind was also blowing like crazy, but at least it was warm, around 70 degrees, although the wind gusting at times 20 – 25 mph did give the air a bit of a bite. I think we had about 30 or so people actually show up – too bad for the rest, because this was a really nice route that included getting a nice running tour of the park, so all the no-shows missed out. It was also a noon start time – rare for our local races, usually held in the a.m. – but nice. I ended up getting first in my age group; of course, there were only two IN my age group, lol. Still nice to get another medal to give to the cancer kids at the local children’s hospital, which is what I do with any medals I may be lucky enough to get. My time was pretty slow too – 35 minutes something – mainly because I kept stopping inside the park to get photos; this is a very unique course, so I just told myself heck with the time, I was going to take time to see what we were running past, and enjoy myself; and I did!

     

    BEFORE THE START

    Got to SeaWorld with about 45 minutes to start and got some pre-start photos of what was around us, and some of the participants, volunteers, etc.

     

    Race Director Anna (right) and another volunteer 'modeling' the very nice tech tee long-sleeved race shirts that participants got

     

     photo 065_zpsnrtkajni.jpg

     

     photo 066_zps4lku8mxo.jpg

     

    Minnie and Jose from iaapweb.com, a very good local race company that did the course setup, timing, results, etc.  I accidentally called Minnie by the name of Lana..but that's okay, it's a natural mistake as Lana is Minnie's "sister" - well, okay, daughter, but Minnie must have had Lana when Minnie was about 12, lol, because they both look so young and are both lovely ladies.

     photo 067_zpsy59s6aij.jpg

     

    Med team out on the job for us; thankfully their services were not needed today, but thanks for being there for us.

     photo 069_zpsucpyuo5v.jpg

     

    View of one of the park coasters from where we were

     photo 071_zps1mrb0f3n.jpg

     

    Awwww....they knew Scotty Dogg was coming and put us right by the kennels..

     photo 072_zpsaqexicqk.jpg

     

    Our Music Man

     photo 073_zpsgfhesoik.jpg

     

    Start/finish point was out in the wide open spaces and it was very windy

     photo 084_zpsrvjjz20n.jpg

     

    Nice view where we were of "Old Glory" waving in the wind

     photo 083_zps10ik0nil.jpg

     

    The wind was really blowing in these open spaces, as you can see from Bernadette's hair doing  the wild thing...here she and I are...Race Number 2 for the day

     photo 074_zps38ozp8qs.jpg

     

     photo 075_zpsj6fx5fg2.jpg

     

    Shamu

     photo 076_zpsguld1etv.jpg

     

     photo 077_zpsxqejf1ls.jpg

     

    Dancing with the EMTs

     photo 078_zpsmxcke7kg.jpg

     

     photo 079_zpsj2ourmez.jpg

     

     photo 080_zpst5hraviu.jpg

     photo 081_zpsv6mazsqc.jpg

     

     photo 082_zpsevjfyazy.jpg

     

     photo 085_zpszhnpdufe.jpg

     

    One of the sponsor groups getting an appreciation award from Special Olympics Texas (SOTX)

     photo 086_zpsmahhctim.jpg

     

     photo 087_zpskg0jqpip.jpg

     

     

     

    ON THE COURSE

    We started in the parking lot area, went up to the main entrance of the park, did a trek through one part of the park, then out onto a service road behind the park; then back into the park coming at it from a different direction, out the main entrance, and back around the parking lot to the finish. To and from the inside of the park was quite windy, but inside the park, with all the buildings, etc., providing a wind break, it was quite pleasant; and lots to see along the way too.

     

    Starting in the wind

     photo 088_zpsjcihiduk.jpg

     

     photo 089_zpsyx19vudh.jpg

     

    Into the main entrance of the park...

     photo 090_zpszqahhe7i.jpg

     

    Nice and peaceful in here, with lots to see along the way

     photo 091_zps0znk5cct.jpg

     

     photo 092_zpszxcofqtu.jpg

     

     photo 093_zpsrav2edpo.jpg

     

    Out onto one of the service roads, which took us underneath parts of one of the roller coasters

     photo 094_zpspae12ftx.jpg

     

     photo 095_zpsiruijlhp.jpg

     

     photo 096_zpswprmdtgq.jpg

     

     photo 097_zpsptsze3jn.jpg

     

     photo 098_zpsvmcby7hc.jpg

     photo 099_zps1kjievd3.jpg

     

    Back into the park...

     

     photo 100_zpsymmy4x8i.jpg

     

     photo 101_zpsxowi6uoi.jpg

     

     photo 102_zpsa3r3danu.jpg

     

     photo 103_zps8dftc0rs.jpg

     

     photo 104_zpsdxv1k9dg.jpg

     

     photo 105_zpsnive6oka.jpg

     

     photo 106_zpswrqliqzk.jpg

     

     photo 107_zpswsvkcknj.jpg

     

     photo 108_zpsvqvzfzpl.jpg

     

     photo 109_zpsp1zydkwo.jpg

     

     photo 110_zpsmpnmyi3m.jpg

     

    That's a hunka hunka snowman love...

     photo 111_zps1ernz9zk.jpg

     

    Running with the angels

     photo 112_zps4ohoaj02.jpg

     

    Through the kiddie play/rides area

     

     photo 113_zpsnwkedksw.jpg

     

    Past these decorated trees

     photo 114_zpsegcmkife.jpg

     

    ...and then it was back out the main entrance and on to the finish in reverse of the way we had started.

     

     

     

    AFTER THE FINISH

    Wandered around after the finish getting photos and also enjoying the post-race goodies, which included pizza and Shipley donuts…I indulged in both, lol. Then I got my medal – thank you to the MC for doing we ‘old guys’ first during the awards ceremony as I had to get going to get to my 3rd 5K of the day – and was off to the races – literally – heading toward my next 5K location.

     

    This lady and I were in the same proximity for most of the course

     photo 116_zpsqh1aboxl.jpg

     

     

     photo 115_zpsgpxg3a1i.jpg

     

     photo 117_zpsunf3oame.jpg

     

     photo 118_zpsfpjmcakn.jpg

     

    iaapweb.com timing chip remover...sitting there in that wind the whole time...thanks for being there for us, buddy!

     photo 119_zps2mpel1id.jpg

     

     photo 120_zpsh8fro9f3.jpg

     

    Small world!  The lady on the left is Angel from Morgan's Wonderland Park, where I had just been at my first race of the day.   She is a friend of my wife and me.

     photo 121_zpsatwk6and.jpg

     photo 122_zps3em5wgud.jpg

     

     photo 125_zpsqptoshwg.jpg

     

     photo 126_zpsjn1k0jha.jpg

     

    Race number 2 of the day done!

     photo 127_zpsyhhxvscj.jpg

     

     

     

    Post-race pizza...good stuff...and nice to get a bite to eat before my next 5K of the day

     photo 123_zpsvg90yw0q.jpg

     

    Thank you, pizza people...

     photo 124_zpskxh9k11o.jpg

     

     

    EPILOGUE

    This was the inaugural 5K for the event and it was a lot of fun. The route was well planned out, giving everyone a very nice look at just about the whole darn inside of the park. As said previously, those who didn’t show for this one missed out. I would hope this one grows in the future as it is for a very good cause and also is a very unique route. Definitely would do this one again in the future. Mucho thanks to all the race organizers, sponsors, volunteers, law enforcement, etc., who were out there cheering us on, law enforcement, etc; all the people who made this one happen for we participants.

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

    GinnyinPA


      Too bad so few showed up. That looks like a great place to run.

      LRB


        70 degrees and people were wearing long sleeves? Only in Texas. lol


        delicate flower

          70 degrees and people were wearing long sleeves? Only in Texas. lol

           

          And coats!    lol

           

          That looks like a fun race, Scotty!  Very cool to run through an amusement park.  

          <3


          SheCan

            What a fun looking race Scotty!

            Of course before the race started Shamu looked like the only warm one.

            And  you got warm pizza when you finished, Yum!

            Hope you're having a great Christmas season!

            Cherie

            "We do not become the people who this world needs simply by turning our backs on anyone we don’t like, trust, or deem healthy enough to be in our presence. "  ---- Shasta Nelson