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.

Below is yet another of my photo reports.

Link to photos only:

https://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2019%2520Race%2520Reports/2019%2520Race%2520Number%252041%2520SA%2520Summer%2520Series%25205K?sort=2

Full report below.    

BEFORE MY START

My 41^st race of 2019 was SA San Antonio Summer Series 5K on June 23 at Wheatley Heights, a sports/event complex in San Antonio.  The Summer Series 5K benefits Run SA Youth, a program, a customized running program to encourage community youth to live active lifestyles.  The program  provides free and incentivized programs to children of all backgrounds and neighborhoods, with  of free weekly meetups and then a series of low-cost entry fee 3 – 4 races in the summer.  Race start time of 7:30 a.m. – which is nice in Texas summer, wish all Race Directors that have summer races would do an early start – with packet pickup held for about an hour before start time. After I got my packet, I got a few pre-start photos.

With friends Miguel and Roy before the start

Project Phoenix tents and their folks prepping the goodies they provided for post-race

Ainsley's Angels local group.  They were volunteers today

Various others....

My speedy friend JIm

Three old guys....me, Jim, and Albert

Getting ready to start

 ON THE COURSE

This was a nicely laid-out course that did not do the usual start that is done at this park on the sports complex track and then going out to  some off-road trails.  Instead we went out the back gate behind the stadium bleachers, then through the parking lot, onto an adjacent road and then into nearby Martin Luther King Park, where we did an out-and-back on its paved off-road running trails. After coming out of the park we did a small loop that took us back to the Wheatley Heights parking area and then finished up the way we had started out.  Weather was pretty humid and temps already heading to the 80s, but we had lots of dark clouds above, threatening rain but it never happened.  Right before I made the final little trek in the parking lot to the finish line, I saw a police officer on a 4-wheeler coming down a trail to me left, and jokingly stuck out a hitchhiker thumb.  He laughed and called out “Can’t give you ride, but if you run fast enough I can give you a speeding ticket.”   Lol.  It was warm but not ‘stifling’. The course was a tad short, but I don’t think anyone really minded.  I ended up with 33 minutes and change, and was 4^th in my age group.  The first guy in my age group (60 +) did a very speedy 22 minutes., jeez, one speedy senior citizen for sure.

On the trails in Martin Luther King Park

1-miile mark and course water station.  Speedy guy on the left is already heading to the finish.

Thanks, Ainsley's Angels!

Jim heading to the finish

Now I am finally heading to the finish

Loved seeing this kid out there.  Was in his and his Dad's proximity for most of the first 2 miles of the race before I finally took off nonstop running for the finish.  His Dad was right there with him all the way, giving him good coaching, being very patient and encouraging, and the little runner made it all the way in good order.

After that last photo, nonstop to the finish.  My speedy friends Albert and Jim were already done by the time i got back. 

 AFTER MY FINISH

Sipped a nice cold bottle of water and got a couple of photos of people finishing after me.  Then got some goodies – local community group Project Phoenix  provided food plates that had some type of rice, brisket, and other stuff; and there was also a wide variety of fruits and also cold watermelon slices, nice – and wandered around eating and getting some after photos.

Kristine checking the times and doing results as people are coming in

The lovely little lady that handed us our iced-watered down towels as we crossed the finish line.  Thank you, sweetie!

Oops, no time for another photo, she had to go hand another towel to a finishing runner

Bernadette with 3 goof-balls, lol

With co-race Director Erik (Kristine was the other co-director)

Gabby is THE BOSS of this event and the race series

The put these ladies in custody so they could not escape food duty   

Thanks, Project Phoenix folks!

Thanks for the music,  Sound Wizard....

Thanks, Ainsley's Angels!

Age group awards waiting to be handed out

Happy finishers, etc....

3rd place for Bernadette

3rd place for Jim in our age group.  Our friend Albert was 2nd.

EPILOGUE

The Summer Series 5K is done very well – I think this is their 3^rd year, but I may be mistaken in that – and usually has fairly nice turn-outs for their events.  You also have lots of options, you can register for all the series races at a discounted price or you can just register for them individually and the price is still very low-cost. The races are held in some of the most popular local parks, so some nice running or walking, whatever your choice is, on some nicely done paved trails and park roads.    Nicely done and unique age group awards.  No free race shirts, but a series shirt can be bought for $10 with the proceeds helping to support this good cause.  I’ve done these events in the past and hopefully will continue to do them in the future if enough support can be found to continue holding this series.  It really is a good program and hopefully the organizers can find a major sponsor or two that will help them continue on for many years.

Mucho thanks to all the people and the organizations that make this one happen for we participants, including e-dragon tees/e-dragon productions and the Burciaga family; Project Phoenix for lots of post-race goodies; all the volunteers and law enforcement folks out there for us; and, of course – and thanks to Ainsley’s Anges for doing the water stop - and, all the sponsors that support this good cause.  Also thanks to anyone I missed or did not mention here. Thank you all so much!