Barking Mad To Run
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%2012%20Diploma%20Dash%205K
A couple of the photos came out a bit blurry, sorry about that, I am definitely no professional photographer, lol, but at least the photos are free.
BEFORE MY START
My 12th race of 2017 was the UTSA (University of Texas at San Antonio) Diploma Dash 5K held on Feb 25th. This race helps fund Alumni Association scholarships. The route that goes around the university campus. This is a great event with a really great after-party too. Dog friendly event too, for those who like to run with their dog(s). I work for UTSA so I try to do this event whenever my race calendar permits. I have not done every one of them but in the 20 years I’ve worked for UTSA I have done quite a few of them. Arrived with about an hour to go and got some pre-start photos.
Let's get me out of the way first, so you can then get to the actual photogenic people.
I have arrived. In front of the UTSA Convocation Center
Roadrunner colors are orange and blue... I prefer orange...my favorite color....matches my personality..
Me and my friend Jim.. my very speedy friend, who finally got out of my age group this year...
Jim's tickling me!
Me and UTSA co-worker and friend Anne of the Alumni Association....she is one of the key people who gets this race put all together every year. Thanks!
With UTSA mascot, Rowdy Roadrunner
Sausage cookers and the sausage wrappers
Music Man...giving the UTSA Roadrunners hand sign.... "Birds Up!"
H-E-B Mascot, Buddy
These guys were walking around picking up any litter and debris on the ground so nobody would trip over anything...thanks guys!
Various participants, volunteers, supporters, et al
Getting ready to start....ahead of me.....and behind me..
ON THE COURSE
As usual, Mother Nature was on another roll with the crazy Texas weather thing. We were in the 70s and 80s most of the work week and then the temp dropped for the weekend, with a bit of a chilly wind, and temp at the 8 a.m start time around 48 – 50 degrees; we did have sunshine. Not too bad, but that wind was blowing pretty stiff in places along the course. The course changed a bit this year from the course we did last year. Although there were a few more hills on this year’s course, I like this course better and hope they keep using it in the future. At one point we did a small out-and-back on one of the campus hills, so I got to see some of the faster runners – something I don’t usually ever get to see at my slow pace, lol, in a point to point or loop course – and cheer on friends as we passed by each other going in our respective directions.
Up the first hill I go....
Down the other side I go.....as you can see toward the bottom of the photo, we had another hill to go up after we did this first hill. That second hill I ran up nonstop.
Top of the 2nd hill, these guys were out there playing music for us
Just past the halfway point...heading for the third hill..
On Hill 3....
After that, it was nonstop the last 1.3 miles back to the finish. We did have one more hill to climb just before we went to the finish line.
AFTER MY FINISH
I ended up with a chip time of 32:38 finishing 9th in my age group of 60-64…there are some speedy old guys in my age group, lol, the first 3 all finished in the low 20s. I was quite happy with my results and had felt strong the whole way and ‘blasted’ up all the hills I did in good order. Also, it did not hurt that, as I work at UTSA, I often run around the campus after work and sometimes before work, so I was very familiar with the course roads, as I run them quite a lot, the hills included. After cooling down a bit, I was out-and-about to take the after-photos; and, of course, to enjoy some of the many post-race goodies, that included beer, sausage wraps, fresh fruit, cookies, water and various Pepsi products, some kid of rice-dish in a prepackaged box – very popular with the students, as most of them are on a budget, I am sure, with their tuition, etc., so these things were being handed out like crazy and taken pretty quickly by lots of students. Another popular area was an automatic camera that was set up with a timer, and you could push the camera button, stand in front of the camera and get your photo taken…and then find the results later on line. There were just numerous vendors/sponsors out there, all giving away lots of freebies, a music man playing music for us, and much more. . Lots of stuff going on after this one, so much I can’t remember it all. Nice after-party!
I gave him a dog biscuit but he wanted a burger, lol.
Good dogs!
Nice chat with this guy and the lady he was with, who is also a survivor....he loves the camera, lol.... good guy...
Thanks for bringing all the beer, guys!
Two old vets...Army Airborne Guy and Air Force Guy
Me with friend Carolyn...I've known her for several years now....and she never ages!
This young lady told me she was with her mother.....I thought it was her bit older sister...
My friend Bill with Duke....they are both speedy...I think they finished in 20-something...
Just beautiful......oh, and the ladies too...
One of my upcoming races these folks are promoting...Shamrock 5K, the oldest St. Paddy's Day in San Antonio
Kept trying to catch the little one in front looking at the camera...nope..he's not gonna do it, lol
One of the sweetest dogs I ever met...she is very friendly...
We kind of look alike, lol...I know when I run I breathe like she does...
One of my co-workers with "Duke Andy", who will be one of the dogs in the Fiesta San Antonio Royal Dog Court this year
I am with doggie, lol....nap time!
Uh oh...he's baaaack.....
OK, Beast went back to his palace...now it's just the beauties...
These folks know how to relax post-race
On my way to the UTSA gym to shower and change, ran into these two friends of mine..
Before I headed home, got a photo of the iaapweb crew....they were too busy for me to get them during race time...thanks, guys, for the course set-up, timing, race results, etc.
EPILOGUE
Really nicely organized event for a good cause, nice quality tech tee race shirt, nice course, heckuva party, good facilities at the UTSA Convocation Center – inside bathrooms instead of porta-potties, always appreciated by participants – and really nice UTSA Roadrunners ‘goodie bag’ – this one is a keeper bag, nice design:
Yep, this one is definitely a ‘keeper” on the race calendar. If you’ve never done this one, you should give it a go, I do not think you will be disappointed.
MUCHO THANKS to all the Alumni Association folks and UTSA volunteers that work really hard to get this all organized, and to all the volunteers out there for us; and also to law enforcement, the many, many sponsors supporting this one, etc. - all the great people who made this one happen for all we participants.
Hope you enjoyed the report and photos!
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt
I love all the dog pictures from your races. Almost all the races in MD are no dogs.