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.  And 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, and conversation forums for runners and much more!

My 13th race done in 2016 was the Alamo Runfest 5K, held on Sunday, Feb 21st. This was my 2^nd 5K of the weekend after doing the Street2Feet 5K on Saturday. Alamo Runfest included a half marathon – the primary event – and a 10K and 5K. All starting and finishing at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Title sponsor was H-E-B, a Fortune 500 grocery company headquartered in San Antonio. H-E-B is very involved in the communities in which it does business, sponsoring and supporting quite a few events and nonprofits. This is quite a popular local running event and had a really nice turn-out. Weather was cloudy/overcast, 60+ degrees at start time, with humidity at 95% or so, as rain is supposed to be moving into our area on thisThe half had 625 finishers, the 10K had 546 finishers, and the 5K had 648 finishers. I did the 5K, finishing in 33:14, 5^th in my 60-64 age group and 214^th overall.

The LONG version with all the photos is below.  If you'd rather skip my commentary and just see photos, you can view the slideshow of my photos here - http://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2016%20Race%20Reports

BEFORE THE START

The races had staggered starts, with the half starting at 7:45, the 10K at 8:35, and the 5K at 8:50. Although the 5K was the last race to start, still had to get there early to park in the Alamodome Parking area. I arrived around 6:30 a.m. – so had about a 2-hour wait till my 5K start time, but put the time to good use by interacting with a lot of my fellow runners there and taking lots of photos.  There were quite a few of my fellow Team RWB (Red White and Blue; veteran's organization) members at this event, including those from the San Antonio chapter and some from Fort Hood in Killeen.

As my friend, Bob and I, walked to the main staging area for the start of the races, we encountered our speedy friend, Bernadette. I got a photo of her and Bob

In the starting area....

WHAT? They're going to start everyone right off with a hill?  Yep, that's what they did, lol.

Half Marathoners lining up

Now time for the 10K folks...

Only the 5K folks left now...

Ahead of me...

Behind me...

And we are off!  As I went over the start timing mat, I got a photo of these guy who shot off a volley with their period firearms to get each race going

ON THE COURSE

The half marathon participants went up to Joint Base San Antonio Fort Sam Houston and did a route through the installation – with the post General greeting participants and the Army Band playing for them – while the 5K and 10k folks got a nice tour of some of downtown San Antonio, passing in front of The Alamo. I found out later from some of the half participants that they did have a few hills, while we 5K and 10K folks had courses that were flat as a pancake, except for our immediate start and part of the finish. All race participants did come down very flat Austin Street, made short leg through part of Sunset Station area, and then we had to go up a long incline, then back into one of the Alamodome parking areas, left turn into a stadium tunnel and a loop around the stadium floor to the finish line. The Jumbotron was on too, displaying all the participants coming onto the stadium floor and crossing the finishing line.

A tad after a half-mile..passing by The Alamo

On Alamo Street

Heading to Austin Street under the highway 281/37 overpass

Going down flat, flat, flat Austin Street heading back to The Alamodome.  When I got to this point some of the speedier half marathoners were there on Austin Street heading for the finish too.

There's one of those speedy half guys, on the right with the blue bib

AFTER THE FINISH

Got some water and did a short cool-down walk. Then off to see what post-race goodies were being offered.....

Bagles...

Greek yogurt

Various fruits and drinks...

Cookies!  I love cookies!

HEB Creamy Sensations ladies...

Handing out free ice cream sandwiches...oh yeah....

That was all the free stuff...there were also several vendors on the stadium floor selling a variety of other merchandise and food and giving out a few free samples.

…and, of course, I was wandering around the whole time taking lots of photos of the “happy finishers’, vendors, volunteers, supporters, etc.

Runners on the Jumbotron

Selfie with me and my friend, Margaret.  I'm getting pretty good at taking these selfies with my "old school" Canon camera...even though I can't see the image on my canon, like you can when you do a phone selfie photo.

Wow, these guys took their lives in their hands handing me a weapon...  I was in the Air Force 24 years, shot the M-16 maybe 4 times in that whole time..and still can't hit the broad side of a barn, even if it was right next to me, lol.

Half marathon pacers

Every finisher got a finisher medal for the respective race he/she did.  So these parents each got a finisher medal. I felt bad for the little guy that he didn't have one, so I gave him mine, so all the family would have one. 

My lovely friend, Michelle here, PRed in her half

Me and Bernadette with Mitch Allen of iRun Texas, a great local running store and race management company.  I do several of his races over the year.

My speedy pal, Lisa

My friend Mark Purnell doing the awards ceremony.  He's so good at it he can do it with his eyes closed. 

My favorite running lady, Bernadette, placed in her age group.

EPILOGUE

Great event! Well organized, nicely thought-out courses done by iRun Texas – who also did the timing and the results, so thanks Mitch Allen and crew for doing that for us – lots of post-race vendors if you wanted to pick up some goodies while you were there, and lots of good stuff to munch on. This is the 2^nd time I’ve done this event and I am certain I will be doing it again in the future.

Mucho thanks to Title Sponsor H-EB and to all the volunteers, other sponsors, law enforcement, etc, who were all out there for us participants today; all those folks that made this one happen for all the participants. You did great for us!