INTRO AND SHORT VERSION REPORT

I am Scott aka Scottydog aka Scotty Dogg, runner since 1983, cancer survivor, retired Air Force, employee of University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), friend of dogs, fun-runner, and all-around 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.  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, hence my nickname “Scottydog.” Here is yet another of my Race Reports With Photos, and my thanks to all the people I interacted with for their graciousness and good humor in letting me take photos of them

This was Race number 25 for me for the year 2015.   Held on May 16, 2015 and hosted by San Antonio's Witte Museum - www.wittemuseum.org   This event helped raise funds to support school kids field trips to the museum.  A kids run before the 5K and then the 5K started at 8:30 a.m.  San Antonio had a BLAST of rain for just about all day Friday before the race. Saturday was very cloudy and humid, 75 degrees at race start time, but the it did stay dry for us. 182 finishers, 87 male, 95 female.  This was actually a pretty nice turn-out considering there were about 6 other events this same day in the San Antonio - New Braunfels area. Local area race company AthleteGuild - www.athleteguild.com - did their usual great job of course set up, timing, results print-out, etc.   I ended up with a finish time of 32:34.  No age group awards, as this was pretty much a 'fun run' but all finishers got medals and the top male  and female finisher did get an award.

LONG VERSION REPORT WITH PHOTOS

Before the Start

C'est moi!  Your host for this report

I live pretty close to the Witte and so it did not take me long to arrive on race site.  The Witte Museum is located in Brackenridge Park, a very nice local park that includes running trails, baseball fields, the San Antonio Zoo, a little tourist train, Japanese Tea Gardens, and

Sunken Garden where a lot of various events are held.   Part of the San Antonio River flows through the park and adjacent to the museum. The Witte Museum features scientific and historical exhibits, interactive exhibits for the kids, and its unique "Treehouse".

Some of the volunteers who were out there for us, and some of the participants and their supporters, pre-start.

My friend, Phil

Me and one of my favorite people, Sally Rios

Two of my favorite people....Sherri of AthleteGuild and Sally...and then there's Phil...    Phil is a good guy and a good friend and I enjoy joking around with him.

On the Course

We started by the Witte and then our route took us along paved park roads and the off-road trails. There were a couple of long out-and-backs, so just about everyone got a pretty good look at everyone else, as everyone 'coming-and-going' passed by each other on their way to the respective turn-around points.   I thought it quite funny that I twice saw  Jerome - the guy who was first overall male - once after he made the first turn-around and was already heading back to the finish; and then when I did had about a half-mile to go, he was coming towards me again, this time doing his cool-down run.  That guy is speedy!  He finished in 17:59:59.   Our race MC jokingly said "That guy did NOT want to finish after 18 minutes!"  lol.

After the Finish

Some of the many "Happy Finishers" and supporters, race volunteers, etc.

Displaying the finisher medal every finisher got

Our MC calling in the finishers

Speedy Jerome, the overall winner, is in the yellow shirt.  My friend Ceci will be glad to see her Hurache Turbo shirts were represented at this event.

Enjoying some of the many post-race goodies  (no beer though...bummer..oh, well, I guess I can live with one of my races not having post-race beer...   )

Some

kind of fruit cup thing...

Although there were no age-group awards, there were 'style awards" for the kids out there who were really "doing their thing" and encouraging others and so forth;  these were the Style Awards....getting ready to be presented by Lauren, a super-nice lady who was the organizer for the 5K today

....and the winners....including two adults who, if I remember correctly, coach the kids.  I chatted with them briefly when I took their photo before....very nice people!

EPILOG

This is one really fun event and supports a really good cause.  Brackenridge Park and surrounding area has been undergoing many renovations, so laying out a course in the park can sometimes be a challenge; but AthleteGuild came through and for what they had to work with, the course was well-thought out.  Plenty of room for everyone to maneuver, plenty of opportunities to see and encourage running friends and family along the way, and a water-stop you passed twice - which was nice on a very humid day!  Plus, I love the Witte, it is a really great museum, with lots of exhibits that are changing quite a bit.  The Witte always seems to be adding stuff and getting better and better every year.  I grew up in the Washington DC area and so the Smithsonian was my childhood museum.  Well, the Witt is not QUITE that big yet, but it's definitely well worth a visit if you live in or visit the San Antonio area.   Another nice touch, if I remember correctly - then again, I'm getting old - 427 in dog years! -  and my memory ain't what it used to be  - is that participants got museum entry on race day with their bib number, nice.  If not previously committed to another event on the day, this is one race I usually try to do each year.  See you there next year! 

C'est moi!  Your host for this report

Nice socks!

That looks like a cool place to visit!