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 60th race of 2015 and was held on November 21, 2015 in Boerne (pronounced Bernie), Texas, about a 40 minute drive from where I live in San Antonio.  Weather was overcast and VERY windy, but at least the temp was fairly mild at about 60 degrees. Race supported the local YMCA programs.  As I am a 'city-wide" member of the YMCA I have access to 10 YMCAs in the area, including those in Boerne and New Braunfels.  Convenient as I was able to go to the local Y post-race and take a shower and change clothes and not have to drive back to San Antonio all sweaty-wet.  There was a 10K and a 5K.  I did the 5K, ending up with a 32:34 chip time finish and 4th in my age group (60 - 69).

BEFORE THE START

Event was held at the Main Plaza of Boerne, a nice little park with a fountain, a couple of local hotels nearby, etc.  Arrived with about 40 minutes to go to the 8:15 a.m. start for the 5K (10K started a bit earlier) and wandered around getting some pre-start photos.

Pavilion and fountain area at the plaza

One turkey, two turkeys, three, and four...

...and a bagpiper from the moor....

These two fine people give a nice view of the tech tee race shirts participants got

Yay Air Force!  Not that I am biased or anything, being retired Air Force...

Air Force Junior ROTC was there to present the colors

Old Glory blowing in the strong wind as the National Anthem was played

ON THE COURSE

This was a loop course, very well thought out, that went through a pretty nice neighborhood, then brought us past a local school and back to the start/finish area. The course was mainly flat with a couple of short hills along the way.  By Texas Hill Country standards, you could not really call these 'hills"...but the legs felt them a bit, never-the-less.   The roads were open, but all the traffic I saw along the course at any given point where I was at the time, the drivers were pretty cooperative and patient. Post-race, did not hear about anyone else having problems with drivers, so I assume everyone behaved, drivers and participants.  Pretty nice course.

I turned around and walked back a little to get this photo...I guess I was not paying attention to that sign... 

This is one speedy kid!  I started chasing this kid at about the 2 mile-mark and just could not catch him for quite a while.  We ran and ran and ran...and I finally caught up to him just before the finish line and we both finished.  He did great!

What..who put this darn small hill on the course as we were approaching the finish?  Someone has a wicked sense of humor.

AFTER THE FINISH

Post-race goodies included these guys serving up eggs and biscuits with gravy.

That's Texas Hill Country breakfast...

I passed on that and went and found these guys post race....oh yeah.....

Oh yeah...my type of post-race breakfast...

And after 'breakfast"... on to some of  the "Happy Finishers", volunteers, vendors, etc.

My on-course 'motivator' and his Dad

This lovely lady and I had nice chat.

She told me about her young niece - I think it was her niece, if I remember correctly - who was currently battling cancer; so I got one of the many "I BEAT CANCER" shirts I keep in my car for just this, maybe to help motivate someone, and gave her one she picked for the young lady...and here we are, with her holding the shirt.  Wishing her niece all the best!

In the shadows...

...and out of them...nice of the sun to come out after the race was finished...

yeah, it got brighter by the minute....crazy Texas weather

MC

This guy ran the course with the flag and carries the names of veterans with him to honor them..that's what the writing on the stripes is...names of veterans who served....

My speedy pal, Bernadette, got first in her age group

EPILOGUE

I like running in Boerne, though I don't go up there very often.  Most weekends I'm doing some kind of race somewhere or other and on weekdays I work at UTSA and the I-10 West that goes up to Boerne is a freakin' traffic nightmare during rush-hour times, so I usually just avoid that area altogether and run somewhere in town after work. But when I do get up there to run or to race, I've never been disappointed. Plenty of interesting courses, lots of trails to run and I get to use the local Y as my 'base" which is very convenient.  This race was no exception.  A very well-organized event for a good cause, nice course, lots of post-race goodies between the food and the vendor give-aways. Runners love free stuff!    Definitely would recommend this race and do this one again.   Mucho thanks to all the residents along our route for having patience with us as we took over their roads for a while. And, of course, thanks to the local Y, all the volunteers, sponsors, vendors, law enforcement and medical folks out there for us, etc....all the people who made this one happen for we participants.  Good times for we runners - no pun intended...