INTRO

I am Scott aka Scottydog aka Scotty Dogg, runner since 1983, cancer survivor, retired Air Force, employee of University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), friend of dogs, fun-runner, and all-around 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.  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, hence my nickname “Scottydog.” Here is yet another of my Race Reports With Photos, and my thanks to all the people I interacted with for their graciousness and good humor in letting me take photos of them.

This was my 61st race of 2015 and my second race of the Nov 21-22 weekend after having done the Boerne YMCA Turkey Trot on Saturday.  This race was in support of the San Antonio Children's Shelter, a haven for abused children.  Held Sunday, Nov 22, at Woodlawn Lake, a picturesque little San Antonio park with a man-made lake and paved running trail that goes around the lake.  Temperature was CRAZY!  It was fairly pleasant for my Saturday 5K (about 60 degrees) and then overnight the temp plunged into the 30s.  It was 33 degrees in San Antonio when I got up at 6:15 a.m.  By race-start time, at least there was no wind and the sun had come out and the temp had improved to a whopping 38 degrees...whoo-hooo!   Still, with no wind and lots of sun, it was not too bad at all for we South Texas cold-weather wimps.  I did wear shorts, but also wore a long-sleeved shirt with a base-layer underneath and felt fine for my whole run/walk.  I ended up with a chip time of 32:56, good enough for 3rd in my age group.  There was also a 1-mile run/walk for those who preferred to do a shorter distance.

I dedicated this event to my poor nearly 1 year-old kitty, Scoop, who sometimes thinks she is Super Cat and tried to prove it last night  (Nov 21) by making a jump from kitchen counter to a nearby table...and missed and let out a howl.  So off to the emergency vet I took her when I saw her foot 'dangling.'  Her foot hit the floor the wrong way when she landed and she broke it.  Luckily, only near the bottom part of her foot and not her tibia, so no surgery needed; but she will now be in this splint for at least a month, maybe a tad longer.  Poor Scoopie.   It's only been a day but she's already adapted to it and getting around like crazy..she's just 'getting on with it', not letting it get in her way.  We humans can learn something from that, I think.

BEFORE THE START

This was a fairly small event so when I arrived with about 40 minutes to go to start time, got my timing chip fairly quickly and then took some photos pre-start.

Woodlawn Lake is a scenic little lake park in San Antonio.  I'm going to try and convince the local Fire Department to cremate me here after I'm gone...like a Viking funeral, lol.   Stick me in a small boat, put my running shoes by my side - since I have no sword - and at my feet put "Spuds" - my stuffed Budweiser dog, modeled after that dog that used to be in the Bud commercials many years ago - then have an FD boat tow me out and set me alight,  with them present, of course, to make sure I'm the only thing that gets lighted, lol - while my human buds are ashore having a nice party with beer, food, etc., while watching the human fireworks....wouldn't that be cool?  Helluva way to go! 

Artwork across from the park entrance

Sun coming up over the lake...

Part of the lake and shoreline

Lots of ducks and geese and enjoy the park

This food truck was there for folks wanting coffee pre-start...and goodies post-race

Jose and Minnie of iaapweb.com, a very good local race company that did timing, course set-up, etc, for this event.

Some volunteers, participants, etc

Some of the folks from "Street 2 Feet" a very good volunteer/ministry organization in San Antonio that does a lot for the community, for the homeless, etc.  They also have a running program.

They invited me into one of their photos...

Getting ready to start

ON THE COURSE

This course was 2 loops, starting in the parking lot, then around the paved trails, a small loop through the parking lot, then back on the paved trails to do it again.  I am not a fan of going in circles - which is why I hate running on tracks - but the Woodlawn Park paved trails go for over a mile around the lake and are not just an oval like a track, they weave and bend and curve and also give some really nice views of the lake; so much better than a track - especially mentally..and I need all the mental help I can get.

2nd loop....

AFTER THE FINISH

Breakfast tacos, various types of drinks - no beer, though - packets of free beef jerky given away, there was also a raffle (I won nada, darn the luck) and some nice medals for the age group winners.

The day before this 5K, this guy did a marathon on Saturday...sheesh.

On the way home, I stopped and got a photo of what our view was during the 5K as we ran across this bridge...

EPILOGUE

Thanks to all people - race organizers, sponsors, volunteers, law enforcement, medical, sponsors, etc. - who made this one happen for we participants.  This is only the 2nd year for this event being done.  A very nice event for a very good cause, so hope this one grows in the future.  If you're looking for a 5K PR, this might be it...the course is just about totally flat - just a small incline at one point along the course - the trails are well paved and smooth, and you can zoom right along, if so inclined. I would definitely do this one again and recommend it to my fellow runners.