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.   

Link to photos only:    http://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2017%20Race%20Reports/2017%20Race%20No%2069%20Mascarita%205K

A couple of the photos may not have come out so well; sorry about that.   Plus, at times post-race I forgot to wipe my sweaty lens - duhhhh - so there might be a smudge or two on some of them. And for a few, when I asked someone to take a photo for me, I forgot to tell him/her how to focus the camera, duhhh..   All in all though, I think they came out fairly well.  I am certainly no professional photographer with skills; but at least all the photos are free to save.  J

BEFORE MY START

My 69^th race of 2017 was Mascarita 5K put on by Andiamo Race Productions.  Held on Oct 14 at San Antonio VFW Post 76.  Race start time was 7:30 a.m.  I arrived on site with about 45 minutes to go to start time and wandered around getting some photos.  Sun had not completely come up yet, so still a little dark when I first arrived.

The empty start/finish line when I first arrived

Various volunteers, participants, etc

My friend, Tanya, who was first woman overall....such great light for my old-fashioned camera, lol, which does not like the dark

My friend here modeling the shirt local firefighters are wearing for awareness of Breast Cancer month: October

Since the Mascarita theme was Mexican wrestling, several people had these masks - some even ran with them on.

And off we go, with my friend here from iaap local race management company starting the timing...

ON THE COURSE

VFW Post 76 is right along the Museum Reach part of the San Antonio Riverwalk, so our route was along the Riverwalk.  Out the VFW gate, turn right and head in the direction of Pearl area, a mixed community of shoppes, restaurants, condos, etc. We left the Riverwalk briefly to cross a local street (Josephine) and then continued on a part of the Riverwalk that took us toward local Brackenridge Park and past a golf course.  Did a turn-around in that area and then back the way we came, finishing up back at the VFW.    I ended up with a chip time of 33:31, placing 5^th in my age group of 60 – 64.  The first guy in my age group finished in 25-something.

Our view of the river as we started, although kind of hard to see at it was still not full light.

In the Pearl area

This was one of our two 'uphills'   on the course.  More like small inclines.  For the most part, pretty darn flat course.

Made the turn around and heading back to the finish, with a few looks behind me and in front of me on my last walk break.

Passed by this little grotto on the way out and back

AFTER MY FINISH

Walked around sipping on a bottle of water, sat for a while relaxing and chatting with some friends, and then off to get some ‘after’ photos of various finishers, supporters, volunteers, etc.

Done.  Everyone got a finisher medal.   I ended up giving mine to some little girl in a stroller, since her parents each had one. She did the course too...so now everyone in the family has a medal. 

Got a photo of this beautiful lady....and her human...  

These wrestlers had the patience of a Saint, lol.  There was quite a line - mostly of ladies - to get photos with them.  They stood there for quite a while until everyone who wanted one got a photo.

Oh yeah, I got it.....I got it.....lol...

So I figured they deserved a photo for themselves of just them..

Our MC, Bob, who did his usual great job

This guy finishing up the 5K..he wore that plastic cape for the whole way...and this was a very humid day.

And my friend Carolyn finishing up...mask and all!

You're done now Carolyn, you can breathe again!

With friend Irene....beauty check for me... 

OK, I'm ready for my closeup now...

Another race done with fun.   And so, before going home, bid a fond adieu to VFW Post 76 in San Antonio...

The oldest VFW Post in Texas...

EPILOGUE

MUCHO thanks to all the people who did all the hard work to make this one happen for the participants:  all the organizers, sponsors, volunteers, etc; law enforcement people that were out there for us; Andamio photographers; iaapweb for the course setup, timing, results, etc;  and anyone else I may have not mentioned – apologies – who was involved.  Without all of you doing what you do, there would be no events for us participants to do, so thank you very much!