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Report w/Lots of Photos: Police and Firefighter Memorial 5K (Read 4 times)

scottydawg


Barking Mad To Run

    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

     

    Here is yet another of my photo reports.  Full report below.    

     

    Link to photos only:   http://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2017%20Race%20Reports/2017%20Race%20No%2035%20Police%20Firefighter%20Memorial%205K

     

    A couple of the photos may not have come out so well;  sorry about that – I am certainly no professional photographer with skills; but at least all the photos are free to save.  J

     

    BEFORE MY START

    This was my 35th race of 2017.  Held on May 27, this event honored our local area fallen police and firefighters.  This 5K was especially poignant this year as our city lost firefighter, 31-year old Scott Deem, killed the week before in a 4-alarm fire.  He left behind his wife and children and one child on the way.  The whole city felt this loss and many memorials were left at his station house and near the spot where he died. He was the first local firefighter to be killed responding to an alarm since 1997.  May he rest in peace.  Two other firefighters were injured.

     

    Event was held at Heroes Stadium, a venue for a variety of activities in the Northeast Independent School District.  Start time of 8:30 a.m., with some pre-start ceremonies, in remembrance of the fallen.  I live pretty close to the stadium. I left my house at 7:20 and arrived on location at 7:35.   After getting my timing chip, I got some pre-start photos.

     

    Welcome to Heroes Stadium area

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    With pretty ladies...and wearing my "Flash" socks in honor of police and firefighters who "Flash" right in when there is trouble...God Bless them all...

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    With a few of the guys who were part of the opening ceremony

     

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    Our MC

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    Race Director John Purnell

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    Police Cadets

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    Team RWB (Red White Blue) Veterans Group

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    Firefighter Cadets

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    AND MORE....

     

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    Opening ceremonies

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    Unaccompanied by music, National Anthem sung beautifully by this young lady..

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    In the start area

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    ON THE COURSE

    Start was in the parking lot in front of the stadium and then we did two laps around the roads near the Stadium, finishing back up where we had started.  Most of these roads are pretty darn flat, but there is one long uphill/downhill that accesses a local parkway – and our Race Director decided to have us do this hill twice before finishing up.  Good thing I do hill training at least once a week, lol.  Matter of fact, I thought this course would pretty much be all the flat roads, so I’d done 6 miles of hills the Tuesday before this race, thinking that was my hill work for the week.  Guess not.  Surprise from the Race Director, lol.

     

    The weather – just short of feeling like running in a hot house.  Storm fronts moving in this weekend, so the air was pretty still, the temp was already in the 70s by 7 a.m., the humidity was near 90% and the dew-point was in the 60s.   Sweat sweat sweat!    Even so, I felt pretty good and ran fairly well for an old dog, finishing in 33:14, good enough for 3rd place in my 60 – 64 age group.

     

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    Heading toward the right turn that will take us up the hill the first time

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    Made it to the top...gettting ready to head back down

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    About halfway done now..

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    2nd lap.....

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    Those fire cadets are quick...by the time I started up the hill the 2nd time, they were already heading down and to the finish

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    Almost to the top...again!

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    After that last photo...went nonstop all the way to the finish.   Ended up 3rd in my age group.

     

     

     

    AFTER MY FINISH

    Got some water, hydrated, cooled down a bit, and then it was off to take some photos of the ‘happy finishers’, volunteers, supporters, etc.

     

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    My cold energy drink hit the spot....

     

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    My speedy friend Gene and his wife, also my friend, Loyce.  Gene moved out of my age group this year.  Thank goodness!

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    Two pretty ladies on either side....I look great!

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    Thanks for the sausages, cooks!

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    yes, the doggies did get treats from me...but i think they liked the sausages better, lol.

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    Wait...let me fix my hat...

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    OK, ready now!     She had to push her hat up to share that beautiful smile.  

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    Once again...I look great! 

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    This guy pushed the stroller the whole way..twice up that hill.  He was pretty darn speedy too...I was with him until about the 1/2 mile mark...and then I never saw him again until after my finish.  He was waaay ahead of me.

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    Two grizzled old vets...between the two of us, John and I are over 1,000 years old in dog years.

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    Some of the age group award recipients

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    EPILOGUE

     

    This 5K is very well done and done appropriately near Memorial Day.  This year was the 16th year (if I remember correctly) for this one being done. Participants include police officers, police cadets, firefighters and firefighter cadets, and lots of active duty-and-retired military people and, most likely, some other ‘uniformed people’, like EMTs, hospital staff, etc.  We all know about loss.  Everyone experiences loss at some time, of course, but people in uniform probably have a higher percentage of loss, unfortunately.  So this event is a very personal one each year for a lot of us who serve or served and also for a lot of our family members who may not have been in uniform but they too served in their own way, right along with us.  I have done this 5K several times in the past and every time I do, I always have someone in mind that I personally honor in my memory and my heart.  I am sure a lot of the participants do too. This one keeps on growing in participation.  Especially so this year, given the tragedy of last week.   It is a race to remember those lost, and let their surviving family members know their lost are not forgotten.  Race Director John Purnell and his volunteers organize this one perfectly and with respect.  It is definitely one to keep on your personal race calendar.

     

    Mucho thanks to all the people who did all the hard work to make this one happen for us participants, all the volunteers, sponsors, the law enforcement folks out there for us at the various intersections, et al.  Without what all of you do, races for we participants could never happen; your work is greatly appreciated!

    "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt