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.

SHORT VERSION RACE REPORT

Held on August 23, 2015 at Alamo Brewery near downtown San Antonio.  This was my 40th race of 2015 and my 2nd race of the 22-23 Aug weekend, after having done a fairly hilly 5K in San Marcos on the 22nd. There was a 10K and a 5K.  The 10K folks took off at 8 a.m. and we 5K folks started our route about 20 minutes later. My legs were feeling that 5K a bit for this event, so I slowed down a tad, took an extra walk break to get more photos, and finished in 35-something.  My only suggestion would be to start both races a tad earlier.  8 a.m. start  for the 10K and 8:20 a.m. start for the 5K can be brutally warm and humid on a Texas summer morning!  7:30 and 7:45 starts maybe?  Just a thought. Other than that, great event!

LONG VERSION REPORT WITH PHOTOS

Before the Start

Arrived at the venue about 6:45.  I am glad I got there early because the parking lot adjacent to the brewery filled up pretty darn fast, so some folks had to park outside of the grounds and walk a bit of a ways to the brewery.  I was actually able to park pretty close to the start/finish and activity areas, nice.

After I got my gear on, it was time to take some pre-start photos!

Welcome to Alamo Brewery!

Rog in the 'infamous" yellow VW bus of iaapweb.com, the folks that did the course set up, timing, results, etc.

There was a very nice 'waiting area" for before the races started

Nice view from the brewery of  a bit of the San Antonio skyline, including the Tower of the Americas

Historic Hay Street Bridge right near/above the brewery grounds

Our music-man for the day

Team RWB is in the house! I am lying in the front and, apparently from my 'model pose" in the first photo ..."I'm too sexy for my shirt..too sexy for my shirt..."  lol....  

Our MC and announcer, who did a great job

iaapweb was there letting folks know about their upcoming October Friday night Day of the Dead 5K.....one very fun event!

Some of the participants, supporters, etc.   San Antonio chapter of veteran's organization Team RWB was represented well for this event.

Bart, the founder/organizer of the Scallywompus events, with a Team RWB member.

The Alamo Beer brewery founder and owner - the guy who is responsible for giving us all that great beer! - with Bart

10K folks waiting to start...

National Anthem played...

And the 10K folks are off for their 2 loops

Now we 5K folks had about 20 minutes to wait...as you can see, between the 10K folks shown above and the 5K folks here, this race had quite a nice turn-out.

These folks give a nice view of the Alamo Beer tech tee shirt that race participants got

On the Course

The 10K folks did two loops for their course, the 5K folks one kind of out-and-back route.  Both races took participants over the historic Hays Street Bridge - one time for the 5K folks, twice for the 10K folks.  Finishing up, we came down the street of a local neighborhood, turned onto the street where the brewery was and then into the Alamo Brewery grounds to get to the finish line.   As there was a lot of 'out-and-back' going on along the course, the 'less speedy' participants like me could see the speedier participants coming back after making a turn-around point and lots of interacting with fist-bumps, high fives, low fives, cheering and encouraging each other on, as folks passed by each other on opposite sides of the road.  Made for a fun event abounding with lots of comradery.

And we're off..this is about a quarter mile or so into the 5K...

I'm on the Hays Street Bridge now, looking at the people below coming to the bridge

And on the bridge....

I'm off the bridge now and looking back at the bridge

Near the halfway point, maybe just a tad under that...

Heading up to a turn-around point

Made the turn-around point, now heading for the finish, with lots of folks coming toward me on their way to the turn-around

below photo...looking behind me...

Maybe about a little over a half-mile or so to go...

I am ready for my closeup Mr. DeMille (if you know that reference...you're as old as me!  )

After the Finish

The post-race beer line was verrrrry long!

So I got some water and wandered around for a while taking photos of "happy finishers' et al,  until the beer line got a little shorter.

Pizza and Sausage-on-a-Stick to go with the beer.  Someone looks hungry. 

Yay, got my beer!

My pal, Bernadette, also did the same 5K on Saturday as me, and then this one too. Yes, we're stalking each other.

OK, the lady on the left must be an actual angel, because I tried twice to get her face 'out of the light"...but no matter what I did,  her face just kept on shining in both photos... a touch of Heaven, right? 

Yes...I did have doggie treats for the 4-legged ones...

Well, that is the report for this event.  And now I am 'on track" for my future events.... 

EPILOG

Love the Scallywompus events!  Always a pretty nice turn-out with lots of great people, interesting - and sometimes challenging - courses, and lots of post-race goodies.  Bart knows how to throw a race party!  I did like the course this year better than last year's course...we only had to go over the bridge once and had less hills on the course this year.  Mucho thanks to all the law enforcement folks out there for us; and all the volunteers, sponsors, race organizers, etc., who made it all happen for we participants.  Definitely would this this one again and recommend it.

 

Yay, got my beer!

I'm surprised you didn't need a designated driver afterwards. lol