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 a slideshow of just the photos: http://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2016%20Race%20Reports/2016%20Race%2048%20Scallywompus%208K%20and%2016K

BEFORE THE START

This was my 48th race of 2016 and my 2nd of a 3-race weekend.   The Scallywompus series of races aka "Alamo Beer Challenge" races [http://www.scallywompus.com ] prepares runners and walkers to finish the  San Antonio Rock n Roll Marathon/Half Marathon.  The event I participated in included a 16K and an 8K.   There was also a kids run.  Held at Lady Bird Johnson Park in San Antonio, with the 16K runners and walkers and the 8K walkers starting at 5:20 pm.   We 8K runners started at 5:55 pm.   I live pretty close to the park so was able to relax a bit at home after my morning 5K and arrived at the park around 4:30 pm...and on with the pre-start photo show....

Me with my inspirational friend, Michelle

With friend Karen

With friend Tony G

Various participants, vendors, volunteers, etc

My favorite participant 

This guy is wearing the race shirt participants got

National Anthem before the 16K folks and 8K walkers got started

Our MC

The inimitable and great and all-around nice guy Eugene, founder/owner of Alamo Beer/Brewery.  He has a lot of fans.

The 'beautiful people" at the Freetail Brewery tent advertising their upcoming race for funding segways for disabled vets (yes, I am signed up).  These two are also pretty darn incredible runners in their own right.

ON THE COURSE

Paved trails at the park.  Dang, this race was BAD.  Not bad overall - Scallwompus always puts on quality events - just bad for me personally.  Rain had come pouring down earlier, then stopped - it was nice and dry for the whole event and the after-party - but with storms threatening in the area, the humidity was just about a whopping 100%, dew-point was high, and the air was very still, not a breath of wind.   I did okay with my run/walk until about just before Mile 3 and after that, the humidity quite simply got me, along with my stupid spinal arthritis back having a few spasms - I probably did not really hydrate enough for this one.  So I ended up walking Mile 3 to Mile 4, and then did a pretty slow shuffle for the last mile.  I noticed on the way a LOT of folks were walking more, so I think the heat/humidity was affecting quite a few of us.

My friend Karen already heading to the 8K Walker finish as I am heading to the 8K turn around point

And starting to encounter some of the speedier 16K runners as they head to the finish

Well, one thing about having to walk a bit...I might have missed these 'spectators' along the way if I'd been running.

AFTER THE FINISH

My worst 8K time ever IN 33 years of running.  I finished at  an hour and 14 minutes, and after I did finish, I spent a lot of time stretching out and drinking a whole lot of water and gatorade, which made me feel better.   Even with my crappy time I still got 3rd in my age group, so I guess there must not have been that many in my age group, lol.  After I got myself 're-oriented" and hydrated, I went to Alamo Brewer to get a cold one, but   by the time I got finished, there was a long line of folks at the Alamo Beer tent and although they had quite a supply, they are a very popular brewery with we runners and ran out of product by the time I got in line.  Hey, you can only bring so much beer to an event, and I had no heartburn with it.  No worries though, Freetail Brewery, another great local brewery, was also there advertising an upcoming race they were sponsoring, so they kindly provided me with a cold one.  And to give Alamo Beer credit, they actually directed me over to the Freetail tent.  So, got my cold one, feeling much better, and I wandered around taking photos of some of the award winners and the people enjoying the after-party.

A little fuzzy, sorry ladies..but your loveliness still comes through.... 

Wait..Tony did not have his 16K finisher medal on...

3rd place in my age group

And got my brewski...

EPILOGUE

Although I cannot run distance anymore (stupid arthritis!) - I do the Scallywompus races that I can because Bart Childers and his crew of great folks always put on a great  race; really nice quality tech-tee race shirts, good courses, and one heck of an after-party with food and drink; and very unique awards for the runners that placed.   Scallywompus races are definitely on my race calendar year after year.  If you are a runner and ever in the San Antonio area, do some of these, you will not regret it.  MUCHO THANKS to all the folks that made this one happen for us:  volunteers, sponsors, law enforcement, vendors, etc.

I'm sorry you struggled, but you did finish despite the heat, humidity, and pain. I'm glad you got a beer after all that.