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.”

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; 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 photo reports.

Link to photos only:

https://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2019%2520Race%2520Reports/2019%2520Race%2520Number%252044%2520Shiner%2520Half%2520Moon%2520Holidays%25205K?sort=2

Full report below.    

BEFORE MY START

My 44^th race of 2019 was the Shiner Half Moon Holidays 5K held on July 6 in Shiner, Texas at Green Dickson Park.  Start and finish area was near the Arthur Ward Pavilion in the park.  This event was part of Shiner’s Half-Moon Holidays annual celebration (July 5- July 6), which included a BBQ cookoff, a parade, youth baseball games, live music, and more.  One of the other participants told me he had heard there were about 90 participants registered for this one, so a nice turn-out for a smaller event.  Beneficiary of this race was one of the local youth athletic groups.

Race start time of 7:30 a.m.   My wife, Gail, also did this 5K.  We got to the park around 6:30 a.m., got our race packets, and I got a few pre-start photos.   As you can see from a couple of the photos, it was pretty darn foggy before the start.

Wife, Gail, before the start, and me and Gail

Race day volunteers

Our race director, Julie

Various participants, supporters, etc 

My AMAZING running friend, Colonel (RET) Mary Kaplan, who is a Texas running legend.  Look her up and read about her exploits, including doing at least one race in EVERY county in Texas, and that is a lot of counties.

Of course the doggie got treats from me!

Veteran's Memorial, with a bit of fog around it

From the Veterans Memorial hill, a view of the pavilion near the start/finish area

Waterway in the park, shrouded with fog...

A view of the water from where we lined up for the start

The front of the pack before the start

In the start crowd

Behind me in the start crowd

 ON THE COURSE

 Start a little back from the pavilion and the finish was right by the finish. This was a very nicely laid-out loop course that exited us from the park and onto public roads which took us by some residential areas and a couple of business places for the first half.  The last half of the race looped us through a really nice residential area, then back onto the first public road we had started on.  After that, it was down this road and a turn back into the park onto the road that took us to the finish.  I ended up with 34 minutes and change, good enough for 3^rd in my age group.  Of course, it also helped that there were only 3 in my age group, I think.  My wife, who walked the course, told me she finished "slow" in 47 minutes;  I don't think that is so slow...she averaged 15-something minute miles, walking.  I couldn't walk that fast.

A little over a half-mile into the race

Just a tad over the half-way mark.  Fog was less around this point, probably due to houses and business buildings around us.

Nice, going along a line of flags.  God Bless America.

Nice touch.  A family in this neighborhood had a sprinkler going for all the participants who wanted to cool off a bit on a humid day, and several participants did just that. One of the local runners told this family did this every year for this race.  Thanks!

After that last photo, it was nonstop running for me all the way back to the finish.

AFTER MY FINISH

Got some water, did a short cool-down walk, relaxed a bit, and then also enjoyed a nice cold adult beverage – Shiner Beer, of course, as Shiner is the home of the historic Spoetzel Brewery that makes this beer.  Sweet.  After that, I wandered around chatting with people and getting some post-race photos of what I call the “Happy Finishers” – since more people are smiling after the race than before and during, lol – and also supporters, volunteers, etc.

A few photos of people coming in a few minutes or so after I did.  Fog was still hanging around in the park.

With friend, Liz, enjoying a post-race cold one

Happy finishers, et al....

3rd place in my age group

This firefighter walked the course in full gear.  

He and friends started a foundation for firefighters with cancer.  God bless you, buddy.  He graciously let me have a photo with him.

EPILOGUE

I don’t know if our Race Director, Julie, laid out the course or it was someone else; but whomever did, it was well done. Personally, I prefer loop courses over any other type of course, so this event ‘hit the spot’ for me.  Nice route with wide roads, friendly people along the way, and also, as the roads were still open, friendly drivers who were very patient with we participants. Nice quality race shirts for participants, and timing chips already on the bibs, so no ‘extra stop’ to get a timing chip.  Goodies consisted mainly of various fruits, bottled water, and those cold adult beverages.  Medals to the first 3 male and female finishers in each age group.  I did this race once quite a few years back and from what saw at this year’s event, it’s only gotten better. I will definitely do this one again and certainly would recommend it to others.

BIG MUCHAS GRACIAS to all the people involved that were responsible for we participants having this event:  Race Director Julie and all her volunteers; all the law enforcement folks out there on the public roads for us and the local park officials; all the race sponsors; the Shiner residents and the park campers/visitors for letting us invade their spaces for a while; and anyone else I may not have mentioned here.  Thank you all so much.