INTRO

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 my 49th race of 2015.  Held on October 10 by local race company Carrera Races with course setup, timing and results done by local company iaapweb.com. The venue was University of the Incarnate Word (UIW), a local higher education institution located in San Antonio.  There were about 200 runners and walkers for this event, and many vendors/sponsors present too.   There were 4 people in my age group and I finished in 33:23, for 3rd in my age group.  So another medal to add to my collection to give to the cancer kids at San Antonio Children's Hospital when I get enough of them to donate. At my pace, that sometimes takes a while, lol.

BEFORE THE START

UIW is pretty close to where I live and I'd picked up my packet a couple of days before the event, so I got to sleep in a bit before heading down to the race venue.   Arrived with about 45 minutes to go to start time and wandered around doing my usual pre-start photo thing.

Arriving at UIW, home of The Cardinals

Our Law Enforcement folks out there for us, keeping us safe

Yours truly, with my speedy pal, Bernadette, who got first in her age group

The official photographer - whose photos are probably a lot better than mine, I'm sure.

Some of the participants, volunteers, etc.

Getting ready to start; a bright sunny day, but it was only 68 degrees and low dew-point, thank goodness.

ON THE COURSE

Due to some construction on the campus, the usual 5K route for races held at UIW was not used.  Instead, we did a 2-loop course. I am not fond of a course with more than one loop because I personally get a little bored mentally on the 2nd loop and I always find myself wishing I was done already, lol.  However Jose, of iaapweb.com, did a great job in laying this course out.  The course was a mix of road pavement and off-road trails.  Wooded trails with lots of shade, and very nice and 'peaceful' in there on the trails part of the run. The loops were long and interesting enough to make it feel like you weren't doing 'loops' at all, and he also made sure we finished on pavement - we started out on a dirt/gravel trail, which was a bit difficult to pick up your pace on - so that was nice to be able to pick up the pace near the end for a strong finish if you were so inclined. Also, another nice touch, we went on a walkway under the bleachers at the UIW athletic stadium and on that part of the course there were several water fountains and even restrooms if people needed them.   It was a very well thought-out and laid out course, so kudos to Jose of iaapweb and Virginia of Carrera Races who got this course laid out and approved by the 'powers that be' at UIW.  I actually kind of like this course better than the usual course used for 5Ks at UIW, so I hope they use this one again for future races.

This was the leader just about finishing his first loop

And the first two ladies...

And more participants, on their first loop with me...

This was one speedy little dog!  He (she?) left me in the dust!

Just after starting my 2nd loop...this is the gravel trail we all started out on..glad we did not have to finish on this surface!

Some folks coming up to the start/finish line to start their second loop - or maybe some of the more speedy ones were finishing up the race; the guy with the bike is Jose from iaapweb, who laid out the course and was the lead pacer for the head-of-the-pack runners, who is now done with his pace leading and heading back to the finish area.

AFTER THE FINISH

I came into the finish with the lady on my left.   I initially passed her. then she caught up to me, then we both RACED for the finish, lol.  I think she finished just a tad ahead of me, or right by me; either way, it was pretty close, and we both seemed to have fun with it.  Her friend joined her and we all had a nice chat.  Very nice ladies.

My friend, Minnie (of iaapweb) with the two ladies.

Tried to get Coco - the dog of the lady in the middle - into the photo, but she was a bit camera-shy I guess, lol.

Our Music Man playing the jams for us.  Does anyone say that anymore.."playing the jams"?  Yeah, I'm old-school, lol.

"Happy Finishers", volunteers, et al....

Nap-time for one young lady, post-race.. 

Going back to my car to get something, I got a photo of these participants on the course, with Old Glory flying proud behind them.

My good friend - and one of my 'running crushes" - race director Virginia on the left, here with a couple of her volunteers.

This young man and I ran together on the course, off-and-on, and chatted a bit on the way.  He did really well.  Very nice young man.  I found out later he was the son of the photographer, also a nice guy.  The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!  His parents sure raised him right.

Some of the goodies, courtesy of La Madeline, a really good local restaurant/bakery.  And they had my favorite - oatmeal raisin cookies!  They were deeeelicious!

Medal winner - US Army guy....HOOAH!  Congrats!

See, what you do if you're old like me, is get as many photos as you can with lovely ladies to make yourself look really good! 

The speedy little doggie and his human - on the far right - got a medal too.  Here with me and his family/friends

EPILOG

Well done, iaapweb and Carrera Races.  Another quality event put on by you folks!  Nice tech tee shirts, good course, nice post-race goodies, music before, during and after.  Nice age-group medals too.  Definitely a worthwhile event to do for a good cause and for those so inclined, probably a good course to shoot for a 5K PR.  Mucho thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers, law enforcement, UIW authorities, vendors, etc. - all the folks who made all this happen for we participants.

Next up for me:  Alamo Beer 10K on October 17th, which will be Race #50 for me for the year.  I thought Race #50 would be on Sunday, Oct 11, the Pink Heals 5K in San Marcos; but when I checked my calendar, I found I was a week ahead of myself, lol..The Pink Heals is not until October 18th....duhhhh...it''s hell getting old, isn't it?  Memory is about the second thing to go....I don't remember what the first thing is..

Congrats on the AG bling. Your races always look so fun, you make me wish I lived near San Antonio.

Yet another fun race on the S. Dawg resume.

I want to be Bernadette when I grow up. (assuming that she's older than I am.)

Yet another fun race on the S. Dawg resume.

 

I want to be Bernadette when I grow up. (assuming that she's older than I am.)

She is 54 going on 25, lol.