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%2052%20I%20Am%20Second%205K

BEFORE THE START

This was my 52nd race of 2016 and my first 5K of my two scheduled 5Ks for the weekend of Oct 8 - 9. Held in Boerne, Texas, at Boerne High School on Oct 8, this event supports I Am Second and their student initiative (more info at: <cite>www.iamsecond.com</cite>).   There was a 5K and a 10K for this event, as well as a 1-mile fun run.   217 finishers for the 5K and 80 finishers for the 5K.  I felt pretty good for this event - and it did not hurt that our area had cooler weather come in for the weekend, giving us a 63-degree start time - and ended up finishing in 33:50, good enough for 2nd in my age group of 60-64.  I think there were only two IN my age group, lol.

I arrived at Boerne High School with about 45 minutes to go to start time and got some pre-start photos.

Our host organization for the race venue.

IRun Texas running store/race management folks (timing, results, course setup, etc)  doing their thing before we participants get started.

The lonely start/finish line before all the participants got there

Our MC who did a really great job

Me and the MC

Me and friend, Karen.  Apparently she had to take a bit of a nap...so another photo followed

Offering a doggie treat to the mascot of the Boerne High School Greyhounds

Various volunteers, participants, sponsors, etc.

Two great friends of mine, Gene (also a cancer survivor) and Loyce.  During the race I caught up to Gene on the track and he and I ran in together.

Oops, I had these ladies looking right into the sun, sorry ladies.  Even so, they are still lovely.   Even the dog. 

Need a massage or stretching before or after the race?

Then come see these folks..this is what they do...

Camp Gladiator folks led the warmup exercises before everyone got started

Some of the post-race goodies waiting for us to finish.

Finisher medals and the water-bottle Age Group awards also were waiting...

...and the lady who helped give them all out to the winners

On the track now...getting ready to start....

National Anthem with the flags flying proud in a good wind

And after that, off we went....

ON THE COURSE

Boerne may be the beginning of "Texas Hill Country" but this course was actually pretty flat.  A mix of paved roads that went through some very nice neighborhoods and some off-road paved trails.  Very nicely thought out loop course, with participants starting by doing 1 lap around the high school track - really nice track, too, one of those 'shock-absorbing' tracks, felt really good on the legs - then doing the route and finishing back on the track.   Weather was just beautiful.

The people behind this lovely lady are the 10K folks who went straight on the road, while we 5K folks turned onto this off-road trail

After taking that last photo of two of the on-course volunteers, I then ran nonstop back to the finish.

AFTER MY FINISH

Surprised myself by finishing under 34 minutes and also I ran in nonstop the last 1.2 miles and passed a whole lot of people that had passed me my last walk break when I was taking photos.   I felt pretty strong the whole way, a nice feeling since my torn-adductor muscle injury back in March.   After I rehydrated a bit and did my post-run stretches, it was off to get some photos of some of the "happy finishers", volunteers, etc.

Selfie!  I use an old-fashioned Canon camera so, unlike a phone camera, I can't see my own image; but I've been using it so long I am really getting this 'no-see' selfie photo thing down, lol.

Oops, I got the doggie in the shadows...well, it's okay, I think doggie was more interested in one of my dog treats than the photo...

Photo bombed in the first photo, lol.

This guy had the right idea.  This was very comfortable field turf to sit on after the race.

Some Team RWB (Red White Blue, veterans organization) members 'in the house'

Karen, 3rd in her age group

And she's just the right height for me to set my water 2nd place AG award bottle down...how convenient. 

Before heading home, photo with friend Mitch.

EPILOGUE

First time I've done this event.  Recommended to me by a running friend who did this one last year.  She said I would enjoy it and she was certainly not wrong.  Nice course, friendly and great people out there - participants and volunteers, sponsors, etc. - nice post race goodies, finisher medal for everyone, and the Age Group awards were unique.  Very nice tech tee shirts in the goodie bags as well as a pair of socks, which I thought was a nice touch - I love me some long socks with designs on them, lol, and you don't see those put into a goodie bag at the majority of race events.   From all my wanderings around before, during, and after the race, looked like everyone was enjoying themselves.   I would definitely do this one again and recommend it to my fellow runners.  Mucho thanks to all the people who made this one happen for we participants - volunteers, law enforcement, sponsors, etc.  A BIG THANKS to Boerne High School for allowing all of us use of school grounds.

The world is Scotty's selfie stick!

"I Am Second" is a great movement!  Congrats Scott!