Barking Mad To Run
INTRO: I am Scott aka Scottydog, runner since 1983, cancer survivor, retired Air Force, 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.
SHORT VERSION REPORT
Race #31 for me for 2013. Night-time event starting at 8:30 PM. Held at Retama Park, the local horse-racing park in San Antonio. Event supported Aerial Athletics, an acrobat/athletic organization for kids. Quite a nice turn-out, maybe 500 - 600 participants, runners and walkers, maybe a bit more. This was a fun run and the only awards given were to the first female (did not hear what her time was) and the first male, who finished in 18-something. After me having an endoscopy on Thursday and taking stuff to "clean out' my system on Friday, and then my Saturday morning 5K being cancelled, I guess the rest did me good because I ended up with a finish time for this one of 32:11 (average 10:23 per mile which is pretty speedy for a slow old dog like me.
LONG VERSION REPORT WITH PHOTOS
The goodie bag for this event included all kinds of things to wear (necklace, bracelet, etc) for the participants to 'glow" while going along the course. Also, the dark blue shirts with "Get Up and Glow 5K" on the front, seen worn by some of the participants in the photos here, are the race shirts for this event, and the letters on this tech shirt do glow when hit by light. There were also 'glow stations' along the course route, where participants could grab glow sticks and carry those during their run or walk. The course was in part of the Retama Park parking lot and along some roads adjacent to the park. Very nice route, very flat. And, thankfully, the weather cooperated with no rain. San Antonio was quite flooded out in several places during the morning hours after receiving 12 inches of rain in two days, so just about all the morning events were canceled/postponed. I guess Mother Nature decided to be nice to us for this event, the rain had cleared out by the evening hours. It was a tad humid, but we had a nice breeze and a temp of around 78 degrees. So thank you, Mother Nature!
BEFORE THE START
I got to the start/finish area about an hour before start time, got my race packet and then took some pre-start photos. Several folks were wearing items that would glow in the night, had luminous stuff on their faces, etc.
C'est moi! Your host for this report, with two lady runner friends.
Don't remember the names of these folks..but as a 'dog' myself, I remember Molly The Dog...and I did give her a treat
Our MC (green shirt) and our music-playing DJ
Sorry about the blur, snapped this in a hurry just before the start. This young lady sang the National Anthem for us beautifully just before the start.
My running friend and 'running crush' Bernadette. Who did her usual speedy finish. She does just about as many races each year as I do...and she actually RACES hers. And places in just about every one of them! Impressive.
ON THE COURSE
My camera is not the greatest 'night camera" so the folks are hard to see, but I was trying more to show all the "lighted up folks'' on the course, so hopefully that comes through. The course was from the parking lot, two loops on the adjacent road, and then finishing back in the parking lot.
I'm a dog..I PLANNED to get the fire hydrant in the photo.
AFTER THE RACE
Lots of "Happy Finishers", along with lots of post-race goodies, including various flavors of fudgesicles (mmm mmm good! And a nice treat after a humid run), and lots of 'glowing stuff around, including this....
Shades of the 70s! Mini 'disco ball" going around and around...
As for the "Happy Finishers"...sorry about some 'red eye' my camera flash is pretty bright in the dark. We kind of all look like a gathering of runners from "Dark Shadows" or the Twilight Saga, lol. Still, I think these came out fairly well for being taken in the dark with my El Cheap-O camera....
This lady's spectacles actually glowed in the dark
This ballerina would spin that necklace thingy she was holding and it would light up as it spun around
Love the tyke in the stroller, looking up, like "What the heck is going on up there?"
EPILOG
This is the 2nd annual running of this event. I also did the first one last year. I plan on continuing my 'streak' next year, as this is one fun event and one of the rare night-time events held in San Antonio each year. Well organized, good course, lots of fun folks participating, nice post-race goodie, and door prizes too! None of which I won, darn the luck. In spite of that, still had a blast!
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt
uʍop ǝpᴉsdn sǝʇᴉɹʍ ʇI
Now THAT looks fun!!
That does look like a fun run. Glad you weren't rained out.
All I have to say based upon the first photo plus many others in this race report and other race reports, scottydawg=chick magnet!
“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” - T.S. Eliot
Nice report Scotty, I have only done one night race and it was alot of fun.
Ron's PRs 5K 24:14 (12/07/2013); Half Marathon 1:53:33 (5/26/2013)
Good job, Scotty! Running at night does look like a lot of fun. Thanks for the RR!
PRs: Boston Marathon, 3:27, April 15th 2013
Cornwall Half-Marathon, 1:35, April 27th 2013
18 marathons, 18 BQs since 2010
Uffda
Good running Scotty! Look like fun.
- Andrew
Hip Redux
That one family really came prepared all lit up! Sounds like a blast. Glow sticks makes me think of 4th of July.
Great work, Scotty!
Caretaker/Overlook Hotel
Two things of note.......
#1.) Two chicks at the same time.
#2.) That looks like a friggin BLAST!! (Being a nocturnal runner & fan of glo-in-the-dark anyway)
I lied 3 things......
#3.) As I said in the other thread......NOBODY lays down the pics like Scotty......NOBODY!
Randy
Another great report, and this looks like great "fun" run to do.
Return To Racing
Now this is a "Glowing" report. Nice going Scott.
So glad the weather cooperated for this one! It looks like everybody was really enjoying the break in the rain and the chance to get outside!
Looks like vast last Scotty! And nice time for the week you had.
First Race
Hot Chocolate 5K Chicago November 4, 2012 30:17
Second Race
Penguin in the Park 5K Decatur Illinois March 23,2013 27:08
Scott
Wtg Scotty dog.
Hope y'all dry out some. That's looks fun. I need to find a time to get up to SA and run with you and your buddies.
”Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right.”
Tomas
Thanks for the RR. That looks like fun! I could never do it, of course, because I fall down in the dark.