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.   

Slide show of photos only: 

http://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2017%20Race%20Reports/2017%20Race%20No%2082%20Comal%20Cops%20for%20Kids%20Turkey%20Trot%205K?sort=2 

BEFORE MY START

My 81st race of 2017 was the Comal Cops for Kids Turkey Trot on Nov 23 held in Gruene, Texas, Comal County, which is about a 30 minute drive from where I live in San Antonio. This event supports the Comal Cops for Kids Foundation  a non-profit corporation that organizes events to raise funds for the benefit of other charitable organizations that support law enforcement efforts to better serve the children of Comal County.  This is a very popular event and gets quite a turn-out.  1,900+ participants this morning for the 5K and there was also a Kid's Run.   It was bit chilly for we South Texans - around 37 degrees when I got up at 6 a.m. - so I wore a base layer under the shirt I was going to run in.  By start time we had a nice sunny day and about 44 degrees, so I took my base layer off when I did the course and felt just fine.  Was glad to have it when I finished though, to put back on a dry shirt. Race start time of 8:30.    Because I live so close, I was able to sleep in a bit, and arrived on-site with about 45 minutes to go to start time. Wandered around getting some pre-start photos

Historic Gruene (pronounced GREEN) Hall, the oldest dance hall in Texas. Many a famous musician has played at this venue.

This was nice photo op for everyone, courtesy of the county police

Athlete Guild crew

My Scallywompus friends were onsite advertising their very good upcoming events.  Their motto is "Come for the race. Stay for the party." And, wow, do they throw an after-party!

Various Participants, etc...

These ladies time-traveled back from Christmas to do the Thanksgiving run

Our Music and Sound man

The front of the pack....not something I often get to see, lol, at my pace.

ON THE COURSE

Course was a loop course on paved roads, starting and finishing in front of Gruene Hall. Pretty flat course, with just a small incline to go up before we finished.  From Gruene Hall we went down to-and-through a nearby neighborhood and then onto an 'open' road; just about everyone in Gruene knows this race occurs every Thanksgiving, so the drivers on the road were aware and pretty patient and polite about it all.  We ran down to a left-turn road; went down that road, another left turn and back to the finish line near Gruene Hall. I managed to finish in 32:05, 14th in my age group (60 - 64), 305th male finisher, and 509th finisher overall. Nice.  And I met my 2 main goals every time I do a race:  I finished standing up and had no ambulance waiting specifically for me....always a good thing at my age.  

My 2nd walk break...a little past the half-way point

AFTER MY FINISH

Nice after-party for this one.  Sausage wraps, cold beer, various types of other drinks, cold beer,  some other goodies like chocolate milk, energy drinks, vendor goodies, and did I mention..cold beer   Got my goodies, sat down to relax a bit and enjoy them and then went here-and-there getting some after-photos.

Done!  Got my dry base-layer shirt back on, have my post-race beer, feeling nice and comfortable

Various finishers, supporters, etc.

This guy is wearing the race shirt participants got, a very nice tech-tee

These two lovely ladies were handing out the sausage wraps to all who wanted

Two lovely ladies, relaxing post-race.  I agree with that lady on the right...I need a nap too..

I think these 3 were sisters...

"Sheriff Turkey" led the Kids Run

With speedy friend Mike.  I finished in 32-something.  Mike finished in 24-something, if I remember correctly - or was it 21? - anyway, long before me, lol, and placed in his age group.

Photobombed by a lovely young lady, sooooo..

Got a photo with her too! 

Apparently she is also speedy...she placed in her age group...

EPILOGUE

One of my favorite races of the year and my favorite Turkey Trot of the year. I tend to alternate doing the local Turkey Trots from year-to-year just to do something different each Thanksgiving, but this one is probably my favorite.  Good cause, lots of friendly participants, nice race venue with room for everyone, FLAT course - I don't want to 'work' on Turkey Day by doing hills, it's a holiday, for pete's sake  - and a good PR course for those who want to shoot for one, lots of people in all kinds of outfits, pet friendly, and lots of nice post-race goodies.  About the only one I've seen that comes even close to matching this one is the H-E-B Food Bank Turkey Trot 5K in San Antonio, a very huge and also friendly event for a good cause, which I have done before.  But, alas, they have no post-race beer..and won't let me bring my own, lol, so the Gruene one usually wins out for me over them.  I do enjoy a nice post-race beer.  Definitely would recommend this one to others.

MUCHO THANKS to all the people that made this one happen for we participants; Athlete Guild for course setup, timing, results, etc; all the law enforcement that was out there for us; all the volunteers, sponsors, and vendors for what they all provided and who had to be out there really early before all we participants got there; the people of Gruene for their patience in letting us invade their turf; and whomever else I may have not mentioned (apologies).  Without all of you, no race for us, to thank you very much!

Looks like a fun one. Nice time for you.