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%2520Race%2520Reports/2019%2520Race%2520Number%252032%2520Police%2520Firefighters%2520Mem%25205K?sort=2

Full report below.    

BEFORE MY START

 My 32^nd race of 2019 was Police and Firefighters Memorial 5K put on by Purnell Racing on May 25.  This event honored and recognized police and firefighters fallen in the line of duty and proceeds benefit the San Antonio 100 Club that provides surviving family members funds for immediate and long-term needs. Race location was Heroes Stadium, an 11,000-seat stadium serving the needs of North East Independent School District in San Antonio.  Race start time of 8:30 a.m., with a Kids run at 8 a.m., and a remembrance ceremony – color guard, bagpipe players, National Anthem, etc – at 8:15 a.m.  I arrived with about an hour to go to start time and got a few before-the-start photos.

For this event, the randomly selected name of  one of the fallen was put onto your race bib and that is who you were honoring and running or walking for, for this event.  When I got my bib, I noticed the name on it.....Scott Deem....wow....so no slacking off for me today for this local hero.  You can read about Scott here:   https://therivardreport.com/remembering-firefighter-scott-deem-one-year-after-tragic-death/

After the race, I wrote a short note on my bib to Scott's family, then took it down to the Firehouse where Scott Deem was assigned,  and asked the fiirefighters there to give the bib to his family.  It was an honor and a privilege to run this event in his honor and remembrance.

Police cadets

They drafted me for a photo with them.

Police Color Guard for the National Anthem and opening ceremony

Bagpipers

Our bike officer, who was all over the course during the vent, making sure we were okay

Race Director John Purnell, with son Mark Purnell who did the MC duties

With my favorite lady runner

Start/finish line.  As you can see we had a windy day for this one.

Various participants, volunteers, etc.

My friend, Albert (middle) had on his bib the name K-9 Chucky.  Chucky was a German Shepherd police dog of the Bexar County Sheriff's office who was killed in the line of duty this year in January.

Yes, I am crazy, as my UTSA co-worker here indicates....actually he was pointing at his hat, lol

Heading toward the start line, with a view of part of Heroes Stadium

 ON THE COURSE

Starting in front of Heroes Stadium, this was a 2-lap course that took us on roads around the stadium – including one long hill we had to climb twice – and after the 2^nd climbing of the hill, we went back downhill and then turned into the stadium parking lot to finish on the part of the course we had started on. I ended up at exactly 34 minutes on the nose, which was good enough for 1^st in my 65 – 69 males age group; there were only two in my age group, so that gave me some help.

First lap, a bit over a half-mile.  The official photographer is standing on the left.

A distant view of the hill I am heading toward

Going past Heroes Stadium...we started in the stadium parking lot just a bit down from the front of this building

Lap 2...to the right is a small inner-city highway, Wurzback Parkway

This building is CRIT USA, part of Teleton of Mexico, which provides rehab and care services for disabled kids.  They have a pretty nice 5K themselves  near the Christmas Holiday season.

Going past Toyota Field, the home in San Antonio of professional soccer.

Yeah, today's humidity and the hill can take it out of you a bit...

My friend Albert back there seems directionally challenged

My second time up the hill.  I stopped for a few seconds at the top to get a photo, looking down the hill

After that, down the hill and to the finish line.

AFTER MY FINISH

Cool-down walk, enjoyed a post-race sausage wrap and some cold water and then wandering around getting some various photos of finishers, supporters, volunteers, etc.

This officer ran the whole course in uniform, including his police boots.  My second lap, as I was going up the hill, he was already down the hill and heading to the finish. I think he finished under 30 minutes.

With this very nice Air Force family

Medal recipient, 65 - 69 age men age group. 

My speedy friend Terry placed

Three happy finishers

A whole group of happy finishers

My speedy friend Woody also placed

Three old guys with medals...

Bernadette, as usual, got first in her age group. 

This was the timing and results crew, also set up and took down the finish line, etc.  Thank you for being out there for us!

EPILOGUE

I have done this race a few times in the past and it is always a nicely put-on event by Purnell Racing.   There are usually both police cadets and firefighter cadets doing formation runs in this event, but I only saw police cadets today, don’t know what happened to the firefighters, they’ve been there in past years that I’ve done this one.  Even with the hill, pretty nicely laid-out course with plenty of maneuvering room for everyone.  Nice post-race grilled sausage and a few other goodies from various vendors, sponsors, etc    Nice quality race shirt.  BTW, also nice that the stadium folks allowed us to use the indoor stadium restrooms, much nicer than porta-potties.

Kudos to Mark Purnell who did his usual great job as MC and kudos to Race Director John Purnell for standing out on the course cheering on every runner and walker that was out there.   This is a very good event I will do again and would recommend to others.

Along with John and Mark, mucho thanks to all the people that made this one happen for we participants:  all the volunteers, sponsors, vendors, supporters, RaceEntry (I think it was RaceEntry) for timing, results, etc; the police cadets and other officers out there for us, as well as police Color Guard and bagpipers; the police cycle officer out there on the course for us; and any others I  did not mention here.   Thanks for what you do so we participants could have this event.