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.

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

Link to photos only:

http://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2018%20Race%20Reports/2018%20Race%20Number%2049%20Let%20Freedom%20Ring%205K?sort=2

BEFORE MY START

My 49^th race of 2018 was Let Freedom Run 5K held in Schertz, Texas on July 4, 2018, put on by Purnell Racing.  This event started at 9:15 a.m. and went along the route of the 4^th of July Schertz Parade.  With a late start, I was able to sleep in a bit and arrived on site with about an hour to go to start time. After getting my race packet I got a few pre-start photos.  There were a lot of Team RWB (Red White and Blue, a veteran's organization) members at this event.

Various participants, supporters, etc

Very festive lady.  She got Most Patriotic Costume award

These two reminded me of my and my wife in that the lady is a Gators fan (so is my wife) and the guy is an FSU fan (so am I)

Getting stuffed with some pre-race energy food, lol

Two of the oldest guys there...me and Coach John Purnell of Purnell Racing

Two old guys making themselves look good standing next to this lovely lady

With the commander of one of the local high school Jr. Air Force ROTC detachments.  They have a pretty good 5K too, coming up in August

Start line area, just before we got started

ON THE COURSE

Start was at near the Schertz Community/Civic Center parking lot area, proceeding out to Schertz Parkway, the ‘main drag’ of Schertz, where we began passing in front of people who already had their spots to watch the parade.  Made our way down Schertz Parkway, then a right turn onto another road where the parade route continued, passing more people in their parade-watch spots.  Lots of enthusiastic cheering, calls, and support from the spectators as we passed by.  Some people had brought their doggies along too and I stopped a few times along the way to give the doggies treats.  Killed my finish time, lol, but it was all good, had a lot of fun out there.  Another turn took us past the last of the spectators and into a really nice shaded, tree-lined, wide streets neighborhood.  Where I and a few others around me were when we first turned into this neighborhood it got kind of interesting for us some driver had made an attempt to come down the street toward us and one of the local police officers in his vehicle had made him stop – thank goodness – and turn around and then was following behind that vehicle to make sure it got off the course, so thank you Schertz Police for watching out for us! So for the first block or so in that neighborhood, a few of us were patiently running behind the police vehicle until the officer finally got that front car out of the way and then we could proceed on with nothing impeding us.  I ended up with finish if 34 minutes and change – with my speedy friend George whipping by me near the finish line, lol, and leaving me in the dust, which was good enough for 2^nd in my age group.  Well, last in my age group since there were only two IN my age group, lol.

On Schertz Parkway

Next street on the parade route, US flags lining on down the street

This road took us into the neighborhood where we started heading to the finish.  This was the only 'hill' on the course, very short

Kid is making a get-away, lol.  There were plenty of us around watching out for each other, and to catch him, so no worries;

After that Flag Lady photo, back to the finish, running nonstop the last 1.2 miles.

AFTER MY FINISH

Well, a 9:15 a.m. start in Texas July was pretty warm.  One nice touch for this race was the sprinkler a bit down from the finish line, so after crossing the line, you could just go walk through or stand post-race in the gently spraying cold sprinkler water, which was quite refreshing.  I think just about all of us took advantage of that.  Parking was quite close too, to the start/finish area, so I went and sat in my vehicle for about 10 minutes, sipping some ice water I had brought and enjoying my a/c, cooling down nicely.  After that, off to get some after photos and enjoy some of the post-race goodies that included a variety of drinks and food provided by the race folks and some of the people that had brought their own stuff and were sharing too, very nice.

A few people coming in after I finished

Coach Purnell with son Mark

Mark's network

Various participants et al...

Two of my favorite things...medal and beer

My incredible runner friend, Bernadette, placed as usual.  This same morning she started off with a 4-mile 4th of July race in Kyle, Texas (about an hour from San Antonio) then hopped in her car, drove to Schertz and did this race the same morning

My friend Karen is just the right height to rest on post-race, lol

My friend's son placed too..... way to go!

EPILOGUE

Compared to some of the other 4^th of July races ongoing in our area – including the ones up the San Antonio-Austin Corridor in places like Kyle, Buda, Austin, and so forth – this is a fairly small event in participation numbers, but is one of the friendliest and fun events I have ever done. Lots of participant camaraderie, lots of course support and encouragement from all those spectators, good quality race shirt, pre-chipped timing bibs, nice post-race fun and smiles.  It ain’t the biggest 4^th of July race, but definitely one of the ‘funnest”, with a really nice route and I think the only one in San Antonio with a parade.  I would most certainly recommend this to others to do.

Mucho thanks to all the people that made this one happen for we participants, including Purnell Racing and Coach John Purnell; Mark Purnell of “I Speak for You”, who did the MC duties and announcing in his usual great way; all the sponsors, vendors, volunteers, etc; law enforcement officer that were out there for us; the residents of Schertz for their patience in letting us ‘invade’ one of their neighborhoods for a while; and whomever else I may not have mentioned here.  Thank you all for doing what you do so we participants can have this event!