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.”

A BIG THANKS to runningahead.com for allowing me a “home” for my many many MANY race reports and photos.  Great site, free training log; calendars; running routes; maps; conversation forums for runners; and much more

I don’t have great camera skills and take photos with a camera that is like me  - old fashioned, lol - so sorry if a photo appears a bit blurry, etc.  However, they are free to save, share, etc.

Below is yet another of my many photo reports.

Full report below.  

Link to photos only:

http://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2019%20Race%20Reports/2019%20Race%20Number%2018%20SASH%205K?sort=2

BEFORE MY START

My 18^th race of 2019 was the SASH Spring Thing 5K on March 30, held on the campus of San Antonio State Hospital (SASH). About 200 or so participants for this one. If I remember correctly I think this was their inaugural race too. The run benefitted the Volunteer Services Council of SASH in their efforts of supporting and providing quality mental health treatment.  SASH is one of 10 state mental health facilities within the Texas Health and Human Services department.  Race start time 8 a.m.  Weather was pretty cooperative for Texas; 63 degrees at the start, lots of cloud cover as storms were predicted for later in the day, and the humidity was pretty low.  Also, no gusting winds. I arrived with about an hour to go – I was let into the grounds, but wasn’t sure I would be let out  – and got some pre-start photos.

Thanks for being out there for us, Air Force volunteers

Race day volunteers

Lady on the left is YMCA staff for our local Y's.

iaap crew that did the course setup, timing, results... iaap is a really good local race management company that  puts on several excellent events during the year.

Our sound-and-music man

My friend, the lovely Kim, bike lead for the race toda

Waiting for the start.  A couple are a tad blurry.. between my oh-so-great camera skills and my camera not liking not having full light...

Getting ready to go...

ON THE COURSE

The SASH campus is much bigger than I thought it was, and really nice and peaceful. The 5K route was an out-and-back, and well thought-out with us running along some tree-lined streets and getting views of a few peaceful green pastures along the way.  The course was mainly flat with a couple of inclines you could not really call hills.  Well-located Air Force folks and other volunteers along the way as course marshals, so you really could not get lost, miss a turn, etc. The halfway point turn-round was also the water stop area – no beer, darn it.    - and then it was back the way we had come out.  I ran in the last 1.2 miles non-stop, giving me negative splits, and a finish time of 32:45. I might have finished a little faster but, with friends sometimes telling me I am a little 'off', lol, I kept checking around to make sure some guy with a butterfly net wasn't out looking for me.     I was 14^th overall.  Small race on a tight budget so only the top 3 females and top 3 males got awards.

Leave it to me to find a fire hydrant on the course, lol.

Thanks Course Marshals

AFTER MY FINISH

Got a few photos of some people finishing after me and then of some of the happy finishers, supporters, etc.

Dog friendly event

Timing/results

Interacted with these young lads and their Dad out on the course.  They were pretty speedy too.  Keep at it.  I bet your parents would love for you to get a running scholarship..and save some bucks, lol.

With my amazing friend Gabby.  Must be the name.    I have another amazing friend also named Gabby.

Gut in red was 4th overall male, so just missed getting an award. As "Maxwell Smart" would say..."it was thaaaat close..."

With one of my personal inpirations, Dan The Man...this guy makes the Energizer Bunny look like a slacker.....

He also cracks me up at times,

My very speedy friend Bertha, 1st overall female

With Race Director Jessica..well done today, young lady, well done!

I think she was 2nd woman finisher...

All the Air Force volunteers that were out there for us for this event

The last ones in.....with big hearts.   Never give up!

EPILOGUE

This was a very nicely done small inaugural race.  Really nice course, nice quality race shirts, and one of the vendors – I think it was one of the vendors – was handing out a pretty nice goody bag after the finish to anyone who wanted one.  Also had indoor restrooms, which was nice.  Kind of small, but for a small race, it was fine. If this one grows bigger – and hopefully it will; it is a nice event for a good cause; they might have to consider adding a porta-potty or two. Between what the race and the vendors offered, there were some pretty nice post-race goodies too. Post-race drink was just water – the budget again coming into play, so understandable – so I missed having my post-race beer, lol; but I get it, it is a State facility and a hospital, so probably not exactly the best venue for some post-race beer. It’s all good.  I would do this one again and would recommend it to others.  It is a race that has a nice little ‘small-town runner community” feel about it. Everyone I interacted with seemed to have enjoyed it.

Thanks very much to all the people who made this one happen for we participants, all the volunteers; iaap for the course set-up, timing, and results; all the sponsors and vendors; law enforcement folks out there for us; SASH for allowing us access to the grounds; and anyone else I may not have mentioned here.  Thank you all for what you did so we participants could do this event.