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.

Below is yet another of my photo reports.

Link to photos only:

https://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2019%2520San%2520Antonio%2520RoadRunners%2520Womens%25205K%252010K?sort=2

Detailed report below.    

BEFORE THE START

The 40^th anniversary of the San Antonio RoadRunners Women’s 5K/10K was on July 13, 2019, held in the Lincoln Park/Alamo Heights area of San Antonio, Texas. This used to be a 5K only, and then a 10K was added at some point.  There was also a competitive 5K walk.

I arrived at race site around 5:30 am to help a bit – a very small bit, I am getting slower in my old age –with race day packet pickup.  It got a bit hectic as it got closer to 7:15 a.m. start time.  Always amazes me how board member Debra Acosta efficiently gets these race mornings organized and everything gets done.  After doing my small part for packet pickup – including getting a couple of photos, I headed down to the start area and got a few more photos there, including photos of some of the ladies starting off.

Getting ready to head out from home and dressed accordingly for the Women's 5K/10K

On-site - various volunteers, participants, etc

Getting ready to start

 BY THE COURSE

 The 5K was 1 loop through the Lincoln/ Heights/Alamo Heights area, the 10K was 2 loops. After the ladies had cleared the starting road, I took off on my own, making a ‘loop-around” through part of the neighborhood to avoid getting in the way of the ladies on the course.   Finally came to the widest road on the course and here I ran/walked in the opposite direction the ladies ran, making sure not to get in anyone’s way, and taking a few random photos of the ladies and cheering them on as they came toward me.  Since I was going in the reverse direction everyone else was going and staying on the farthest side of the road where I would not interfere with anyone, I eventually got to the ‘back of the pack”  and got some photos of the ladies there going strong at their own pace – and some of those speedy 10K ladies doing their second loop.  The course is really nicely laid out, with both flat and a bit hilly parts, and I made a mental note of it, as this is a really nice area for a training run.  I finally got back to the road that everyone started and finished on and here I made sure to stay on the sidewalk out of the way of the participants, and got a couple more final course photos.

I had left my garmin running the whole time for this ‘fun run’ of mine and noticed, what with all my photo breaks and walking on occasion and so forth, this was my slowest-ever 2.6 miles done, 40:24, averaging 15:11 minute miles.  Sure was a fun little outing though, and I think I gave a few of the ladies a laugh-break with what I was wearing.  This little outing was very enjoyable.  Kudos to all the ladies who did this one, 5K or 10K.   

Some of the speedy 10K folks on the way to finishing up their 1st loop

My friend Karla was going so fast she was a blur, lol

Back at the start/fnish area and after-party area

Wandering around, chatting with friends, taking random photos and generally just enjoying myself.   This is quite a popular annual event and gets a nice turn-out.  Very nice after-party too, with several types of eats, from various fruits, to cookies, pastries, and more.

Thank you, San Antonio RoadRunners for a great event

EPILOGUE

Very nicely done event put on by the San Antonio RoadRunners. the largest running club in San Antonio.  Sure got nice weather for it too, especially for Texas summer in July, with a bit lower humidity than normal for this time of year and temps in the 70s. Race shirts were nicely done – orange, my personal favorite color -  with both singlets, t-shirt, and youth shirts available. The volunteers wore “Tuxedo shirts”, and this year’s color was pink, so the volunteers really stood out. As noted previously, very nicely laid out course, with a bit of everything – flat, hilly, sun, shade, and more than 1 water stop.  Finisher medals for participants, and age-group awards.  Ladies, if you have never done this one before, you are missing out.  A very high-quality event definitely worth doing. Even one of the local TV news stations was there – and maybe more than one – reporting on it.

Mucho thanks to all people who made this one happen for the participants: San Antonio RoadRunners organization, volunteers, sponsors – especially H-E-B who let all involved ‘invade” the area around their Lincoln Heights store for quite a few hours -  law enforcement officers who were on the course, bike pacers and bike marshals, and anyone else I may not have mentioned here. Event could not happen without the support of all of you.