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 photo reports.

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!

BEFORE THE START

My 38th race of 2016 was on Aug 14, the Big Red and Barbacoa 5K held at Comanche Park in San Antonio. This inaugural 5K supports the San Antonio Eagles Athletic Club, a nonprofit organization designed to expose  youth to the sport of track & field and running.   Pretty short drive from where I live so got to sleep in a bit.  Arrived at 7 a.m., about an hour before start time, met my friend Karen to give her her 'goody bag' which I'd picked up for her the day before; and then wandered around getting some pre-start photos.

Nice, big pavilion for all the pre-and-post race activities

Me, with friends Karen and Bernadette.  This was the second 5K of the weekend for all 3 of us as on Saturday,  Aug 13, we all did the SMAsh 5K.

Yes, my secret is out...I am an Alien..and this undercover "Men In Black" agent finally caught me...

My friend Minnie of iaapweb.com, the race management company that did the course setup, timing, results, etc

My friends Karen and Loan

Handing out those timing chips

Our Music Man for the event

Getting some of the after-race goodies ready

Race Director (left) and volunteers

A photo of the Official Photographer, taken by the unofficial photographer

Our MC for this event.  He did a great job.

MC with our Music Man and another volunteer. The red shirts these guys are wearing are the very nice tech-tee race shirts that participants got.

My friend Ernie here (left) is obviously an angel..you can see his halo of light behind his head; or maybe he is the guardian angel for my other friends here, Cecy and Victor

Other participants, volunteers, etc

This military vet lady did a beautiful job of singing the National Anthem

And then we were lined up and waiting to go....

ON THE COURSE

And we are off!  Temp, a nice 74 degrees or so, but very humid, with high dewpoint, as thunderstorms were moving into the area; so we had lots of cloud cover.  The course was done on a paved trail in the park, an out-and-back, and very flat.  Which I am sure was greatly appreciated by the participants doing this one who had done the EXTREMELY hilly Dragon's Den event the day before.  It was a very thoughtful and well planned course, laid out by my friend Paul Baultutis, who also works for iaap.  Good job, Paul!

I've made the turn-around point now and am heading back to the finish line

Ernie coming in to the finish.

I usually take 3 walk breaks during a 5K, but I was feeling pretty good for this one, so  I ran the last 1.2 miles nonstop all the way to finish, ending up with a time of 34:27.  Pretty close to what my normal 5K time is, so the adductor I tore back in March is now almost back to 100%.  This race was a nice injury recovery mental confidence booster for me, and I did this one a tad faster than the 5K I'd done on Saturday, the day before this 5K.

AFTER THE FINISH

Very nice race for me...and the doggie got his reward!  

Minnie and doggie Cocoa, and Minnie's friend, cheering people in at the finish.

Happy finishers; supporters, volunteers, etc.

Displaying their 'taco medals' made by my talented friend, Margaret.

My very speedy friend, Tanya, who was first woman overall

And more...

Go Eagles, aka Team RWB (Red White and Blue), a veteran's organization I am a member of.  Many many of my fellow Eagles were at this event.

The 'post-race goodies crew" handing out all the drinks and food and doing all the prep, pre-race and during the race.  Thanks so much!

Even the iaap crew gets to eat once in a while... 

Just before I headed home....a group photo of the iaapweb.com folks - who had to be out there WAAAAY early to get everything set up for we participants; and then break everything down after.  Thank all of you for being out there for us!

They invited me to be in a photo with them.  Yellow shirt, next to my very speedy friend, John.  Of course, I didn't really notice John, cuz I was standing next to my 'running crush" Ceci. 

The 'Taco Medal' - of which I kindly got one - and the Big Red and Barbasosa 5K medals given out as awards.

EPILOGUE

A really very nicely done inaugural event!  Done at a great location too. I think Comanche Park is probably one of the best kept secrets in San Antonio as far as parks go...very nice facilities and trails, lots of shade along the trails, and so forth.  Really surprised this park is not used for more races.  Nicely designed course for this event;  lots of nice race stuff - Big Red, barbacoa tacos, sausages on a stick,  music playing for us, very nice tech-tee race shirts, nicely designed race medal, and a good cause for an event.  This event had a very nice turnout for an inaugural race and I hope the turn-out continues in the future because this is a good one to do.  Definitely will be on my race calendar again!