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.”

Here is yet another of my Race Reports with Photos.  I am not exactly a good photographer but hey, at least all the photos are free so my ‘subjects’ can save and share their photos if they so desire. Mucho thanks to all the people I interacted with at this event for their graciousness, patience, and good humor in letting me take photos of them.

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!

LOTS of photos for this report!  I did not realize until I got home and saw my camera count that I took over 100 photos for this event. If you don't want to read the full report below with my commentary, here is a slideshow of the photos only: http://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2016%20Race%20Reports/2016%20Race%2034%20Orange%20Leaf%205K%20and%20Half

BEFORE MY START

The Orange Leaf 5K was my 34th race of 2016.  There was also a half marathon.   The nonprofit beneficiary of this race was Chosen Child Adoption Services.  The local Orange Leaf  Yogurt store was the primary sponsor, hence the race name.  Start and finish at Cross Creek shopping plaza in New Braunfels.  An early start for the events, with the half starting at 6:30 a.m. and the 5K starting at 7 a.m.  I wish ALL Race Directors would do this cuz an early start in hot Texas summer is sooooo nice!   I arrived on location with about a half hour to go for the half start and wandered around taking some pre-start photos and a few of the half folks getting on their way.  Also got photos of some of the 5K participants.

Here I am wearing Orange for the Orange Leaf.   Nice, as orange is actually my favorite color;  and my personality too, according to some psyche-eval test I once took.  Yes, I'm strange... 

My friends at race management company Athlete Guild making all their race preparations before the start. They had to be on location VERY early.

Our MC for this event

My friend William.  The photo on his shirt is of his amazing running dog, Duke, who was not here today as William was running the half and it was a bit too humid for Duke to go that long.  On the back of his shirt, William has printed "You've Been Duked"..which people can read as my speedy friend passes them, lol.

The lovely owner of the Orange Leaf store.  Thanks for this event and the free yogurt to all participants.

Some of the other participants, volunteers, etc

The Half folks are heading out...

5K folks and everyone else now waiting for the 5K to start

Where's the beef?  Well, here it is! 

Team "Chosen"

Getting ready to start the 5K

ON THE COURSE

And we are off!  Out of the parking lot by Orange Leaf, right turn, up one of the shopping center roads, left turn and down a cement road to an asphalt 2-lane 'country road" we went down to a turn-around point, and then back the way we'd come out...flat flat FLAT! Very nice.  Good course for a 5K PR try for those of you who may be interested in that.  My first mile was 10:45 - - what?!! I didn't even know I could run under 11 minute miles, lol - especially as I've been slowly 'nursing back" from a torn adductor I got in March.  I knew I'd pay for that in the back half of the course, and I did, ending up with positive splits.

On the country road

Dang...I wish I could do that....nap on the run... 

Back on the cement road, heading for the finish

Well, I managed to finish in 34:45.  I didn't even come close to placing in my 60 - 64 age group, lol, as the first 3 guys in my AG were 8-and-9 minute milers.  It's all good....compared to my 37-something finish at the Too Hot To Handle 5K the week before, this time made me feel my leg is making some good healing progress, so I was very satisfied with my finish time.

AFTER MY FINISH

After doing a cool-down walk and getting some water in me, it was time to get some "Happy Finishers" et al photo. The half folks each got a finisher medal, so those folks wearing the medals did the half.

Free smoothies of various flavors for all the finishers who wanted one, courtesy of this guy and his crew

I found MY favorite post-race treat....

Oh yeah.....

And there was pizza

Served up by these volunteers

BIG dog!  Friendly too.  Yes, I did give him a doggie treat.

Yeah, this guy has it down post-race...beer, relaxing chair...

My friend William got a finisher medal and an Age Group medal, finishing first in his group at 1:34:12, averaging 7:11 per mile, sheesh!  His dog, Duke, is so proud! 

William and Team RWB member, a group of which I am also a member.

This is how and old man makes himself look good.....stand next to lots of lovely ladies...

A co-worker at UTSA, Martha, where I also work.  And we have mutual friend at UTSA, our friend Elizabeth, who SHOULD be running by now after recovering from an injury....I told Martha to tell Elizabeth she better get with the program or we are both going to hound her, lol.

My friend, Elaine, who also placed in the half

Running friend Rudi placed too...dang, I got some speedy friends.

Athlete Guild...it's all over now guys, you can relax a bit;  well...except for takedown, cleanup, etc... 

EPILOGUE

Very nice event which I have done several times in past years.  One of the few races in the New Braunfels area that is quite flat, a rarity around the New Braunfels area, most of the the races in this local area include a hill or two..or more!  Athlete Guild did their usual great job of course setup, race results, etc.  Lots of post-race goodies, so thanks to all the sponsors who provided those.  Mucho thanks to local law enforcement, volunteers, race organizers, sponsors, etc., all the people that made this one happen for we participants.