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.

Here is yet another of my photo reports.  Full report below.     

Link to photos only:

http://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2018%20Race%20Reports/2018%20Race%20Number%2048%20Bears%20Vs%20Beans%205K?sort=2

BEFORE MY START

My 48^th race of 2018 was the Beards VS Beans 5K held on July 1^st at Comanche Park in San Antonio.  This event, put on by two brothers, raised money for the Alzheimer’s Association.  The race name is because of a competition between beards – which one brother is for, and one not – and beans, again, which one brother is for and another not.  So whomever wins the competition – I forget how they decide that – the loser has to either eat a pot of beans or grow a beard, all in the spirit of sibling rivalry and raising money for a good cause.   I think the brothers expected about 100 or so to register but it turned out closer to 200 or so, making for a nice turnout for their cause.  Race start time was 8:30 a.m. so, as I live pretty close to the park, I was able to sleep in a bit on this Sunday morning.  Arrived at the park with about an hour to go to start time and got some pre-start photos.

Race shirt

Welcome to the event

Our sound and music man

The cause we are here for

With friend, Don.  Aren't I color-coordinated, lol.

Race Director Erik (left) with friend

Various participants, supporters, volunteers, etc.

Our cook getting ready to grill up the post race sausages

Boy Scouts did the Color Guard for the National Anthem

Athlete Guild guy hard at work getting ready for the start, timing, etc.

Contemplative Race Director right before we get ready to start

ON THE COURSE

Comanche Park is a very nice Bexar County park with lots of facilities and several well-paved asphalt and cement trails that have lots of shade trees along the way, making it a nice park to run or walk or bike in on a warm Texas summer morning.  This was an out-and-back on the park’s paved trails.   The 5K started right on time.  I had completed a 5K the day before this one and did pretty good (32:49) but still was a bit nervous after being a in-patient in the hospital this past week for 2 days due to what I thought was a mini-stroke but turned out to be a mild TIA episode, thankfully because I went to the ER right away and got it caught early.  After all kinds of tests over 2 days, the doctors cleared me to be released, with some needed meds, and did clear me to run again, no waiting.  I lined up pretty much in the back of the crowd to make sure I had a slow start and took it easy for the first half or the 5K, not push it.  Feeling good at the halfway point so after my last walk break I pushed it on into the finish, crossing the line in 34: 49, a little slower than yesterday, but that was okay, I was feeling good and just happy I could run at all.

AFTER MY FINISH

First thing, got some water, did a little cool-down walk, and then went and sat in my car with the a/c on for about 10 minutes, sipping some water and slowly eating a Cliff Bar to get some protein and nourishment back into me.  Felt very refreshed after that and it was off to get some after photos of the happy finishers, volunteers, supporters, etc.

Me with one of the brothers

He cracked me up..

And then got arrested....   

My friend Carolyn

I always behave around Carolyn...she works for Bexar County Sheriff Dept, has handcuffs and will use them. 

EPILOGUE

This was a very family-friendly and nicely organized event by put on by E. Dragon Productions, a local race management company owned by my friends Erik and Kristin Burciaga.  The company also does shirt printing and lots more.  Athlete Guild did the timing and results for the race.  Nice quality tee race shirt, finisher medals for all finishers, and award medals to the top overall people in various categories.  Post-race goodies that included sausage-on-a-stick, bottled water, iced-down towels right at the finish, various chips, fruits, and watermelon slices, and more.  Nicely shaded pavilion at the park to sit in too, post-race, making it feel cooler after a warm run or walk.  I believe this event was an inaugural 5K but is definitely y a keeper for the future if they keep on doing this one.  Great people, great race venue, lots of goodies and lots of smiles.

Mucho thanks to all the people that made this one happen for we participants;  all the sponsors, vendors, park police out there for us, volunteers, E. Dragon and Athlete Guild, the two sibling-rivalry brothers, and anyone else I may not have mentioned here.  Appreciate so much what all of you do so we can have an event.