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.” Here is yet another of my Race Reports with Photos. I am not exactly a good photographer but hey, at least all the photos are free so my ‘subjects’ can save and share their photos if they so desire. Mucho thanks to all the people I interacted with at this event for their graciousness, patience, and good humor in letting me take photos of them.

Also - MUCHO THANKS to my friends at  Running Ahead (www.runningahead.com) for letting their site be the 'home" for all my many many MANY race reports.  If you are a runner, walker, biker, whatever, check their site out, free training log, running routes, and more.

My 10th race done in 2016 was held on Feb 13, 10 a.m. start time, at OP Schnabel Park in San Antonio. Quite convenient as there is a YMCA at the park and I am a member so I could stow my items in a locker there and then shower and change post-race before going home. There were about 200 or so participants. Weather was quite nice, sunny, blue skies, 61 degrees, low humidity/dewpoint, a very light wind. This event supported Community Options to help raise funds to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. This event is held at various times over the year in many different cities nation-wide.   I ended up with a chip time of 32:29, good enough for first in my 60-64 age group; of course my friend Neil and I were the only 2 in my age group, and I had a heck of an advantage as this was Neil’s first race in quite a while after surgery. So he pretty much let me win the age group.

BEFORE THE START

Laying out my gear the night before.  As you can see, I love 'crazy running socks"  and have quite a few pairs of socks, both long and short with "imaginative" logos, decor, etc.  Size L/XL for those who may want to give me a gift of any.   I try to be very color-coordinated in my old age with my running gear.  

iRun Texas folks, who did the course set-up, timing, results etc., and me with them

some of the participants, volunteers, supporters, etc.  The race shirts or this Valentine's Day weekend race  were long sleeved, either white or red, with the red meaning the person was unavailable; and the white shirt, person was available.

Love the dog's pose in this photo, lol.

Our Music Man for the event,  He did not have 76 trombones (we older people will get that )

Some of my fellow Team RWB members

My friend, Neil, on the left, was the only other one there in my age group.  His lovely wife, Tina, is beside him, along with another fellow Team RWB member of mine, and her friend - and my apologies for my old-man brain, their names went right out of my head...

In the start/finish area, getting ready to go

Rocky pulled my friend Margaret the whole way.  That is one 'git-along little doggie"!

Two 'sisters'..

ON THE COURSE

Done on paved trails in the park. I run and have run at this park quite a bit so I know what to expect. Up an incline to start, then down an incline, then down a fairly steep hill, and then out to the turn-around point, pretty flat most of the way, with a couple of inclines that didn’t amount to much. Of course, after the turn around and with a little less than a half-mile to go, to get to the finish we had to go back up that steep hill we came down on our way out. The last ¼ mile or so was a nice downhill incline to the finish. That’s okay…hills help build character.

Last photo before I went to the finish...the short, steep, 2-part hill we climbed before heading up another incline and then onto the down incline to the finish.  This is the hill we went down on the way out

AFTER THE FINISH

The last mile or so I was in proximity to these two lovely ladies, and I finished with the one in the first photo.

Wait, that's better..no people behind her...

Got a few of some of the other runners finishing

My fellow Team RWB member, Norma

My fellow team RWB member Margaret, with Rocky

Yay Team RWB..keep 'em coming in!

"Happy Finishers", supporters, etc.  Everyone who finished got a nice Cupid's Chase finisher medal

In the raffle drawing, Tina won a basketball autographed by  now-retired NBA San Antonio Spurs player George "Ice Man" Gervin

Margaret modeling one of the trophies.  Yes, Margaret...we can dream we will be first, second, or third overall someday... 

OK, this is funny...I asked Mitch to take a photo of me with that group above...and he took my camera and turned it the wrong way...and got a nice selfie of himself, lol...

OK, Mitch, there you go....thanks for making us all crack up with smiles for the below photo....I know, that was your plan all along, wasn't it?

This team RWB member was 2nd overall male...the first place guy won by EIGHT seconds.  Quite a finish for those two!

Our event MC with her lovely family.  She did a great job for us.  Mucho thanks!  I also got a nice little 'fist bump" from her beautiful daughter.

I got my medal for 1st in my age group and then passed on to Chris, a great kid who is in the  Community Options program that this event supports.

EPILOGUE

Very nicely done event, organized by iRun Texas specialty running store and race management company in their usual professional manner. Very nice crowd of participants for a good cause. Lots of fun and smiles and photo-taking after the race. Nice course in this pretty park which is  is part of the 'greenway' system of trails in San Antonio and if so desired, you can actually get a pretty nice long run done in this park.  There are also off-road trails to run on and explore. Out-and-back course for this event, and I heard lots of participants giving their friends/family encouragement and shout-outs as they passed each other coming-and-going, very nice, this is just a very friendly event. Nice award trophies for the overall winners and pretty nice medals for the 1^st place age group finishers, and then door prizes afterwards (none of which I won, darn the luck).   Definitely would do this one again and recommend it to my fellow runners, etc.

Mucho thanks to all the volunteers, sponsors, law enforcement, etc, who were all out there for us participants today; all those folks that made this one happen for we entrants. All of you did great for us!