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%2053%20Summer%20Scorcher%205K?sort=2

BEFORE MY START

My 53^rd race of 2018 was Scorcher 5K and Kid’s Run held on July 21 at Mission Park in San Antonio, a very nice park adjacent to paved trails that go along the San Antonio Riverwalk.  Event was put on by Runbar, a local company that does running, coaching, etc.   Timing and results were done by iaapweb, another great running and race management company.  5K time was 7:45 a.m. which was good since we’ve been having a string of 100+ degree temps this summer, so an early start was a blessing.  Even so it was still pretty warm, already creeping toward 80 degrees when we got started.  I live pretty close to the park so got there with about an hour to go to start time and got some pre-start photos.

Welcome to the event

Brought to us by...

iaap folks for the timing, results, etc.

Our MC, Bob, doing his usual great job, and our music and sound man

Various participants, including me, volunteers, supporters, etc

I got the best side of my friend Jon...

Ok, here is his real best side...Jennifer! 

My friend Dan ran the 5K carrying the flag

ON THE COURSE

We started in the park area and then down to the Riverwalk trails for an out-and-back course.  The route was hilly in a few places but provided some really nice views of the river was we went along. We crossed one of the river bridges twice, once going out and then coming back.  Just before we turned back into the park to go to the finish line we had a long up incline – not steep just long – and after that the last bit was flat to the finish line.

My first walk break, a little over a half mile into the 5K.  Crossing the bridge

And the first uphill on the course

Nice view of the river from the hill

Top of the hill..where I will be in a minute or so

  My speedy friend Dan whipped right by me carrying the flag.  

Made the turn-round, heading back to the finish.  This is on the way to Mile 2 marker for me.  People heading to the turn-round and people heading to the finish.

Mama was pushing that stroller so fast this one got a bit blurred, lol

View of the bridge from the top of the hill we climbed going out

Heading down the hill to cross the bridge and head to the finish

On the bridge now.  Looking downriver...

Looking upriver

After that, nonstop to the finish.  34:27 for me, 5th in my age group of 60 - 69 (10 year age groups)

AFTER MY FINISH

Iced-down towels handed out at the finish – nice!  I grabbed one of those and plopped it on my head – ahhhhh – got a bottle of water and went and found some shade to sit in.  Just chilled out for a bit, letting the iced towel thaw and drip cold water all over me – felt great – while sipping my water.  Felt much refreshed after that and went to get some after photos of the ‘happy finishers’, volunteers, supporters, etc.

The iced towel sure feels good on my head.  With friend Dan who finished way ahead of me, and carried the flag for the whole route.

Various people post-race

These ladies put together all the breakfast tacos for us

Enjoying a cold one post-race

Oops, for some reason I could not rotate this photo. Maybe I accidentally had it on protected mode.  Anyway...nice lady with nice doggie

Bernadette placed as usual.  I think this was her 60th race of the year.  And at this race she sported a nice black eye from when she fell in last week's race and hit some rocks.

EPILOGUE

Nicely done event.  I don’t recall if this was an inaugural event but if so it was well organized.  I did not see any ‘glitches’ occurring in this one.  Everything started right on time, nice course, and some post-race goodies including several types of breakfast tacos, bottled water, sports drinks, cold beer, and various fruits and other goodies, including sliced watermelon.   Nice quality cotton tee race shirt. This is the first time I’ve ever done this one – I guess first time for everyone if it’s an inaugural event, lol – and I certainly would do this one again and recommend it to others.

Mucho thanks to all who made this event happen:  Runbar, iaapweb, all the sponsors and volunteers, police officers out there for us, and anyone else I may not have mentioned here.  Thanks for doing what you do so we participants can have an event.