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%252033%2520American%2520Hero%252025K%2520Relay%2520and%25205K?sort=2

Full report below.    

BEFORE MY START

 My 33^rd race of 2019 was the American Hero Relay 25K, which also included a solo 5K, which is the event I did. The relay was teams of 5 runners, each doing 3.1 miles.  There were also participants that did the 25K solo.  Held on May 26 at Comanche Park in San Antonio.  They had a variety of divisions for this one, including a division for walkers, a division for wheelchairs, baby joggers, and so forth.  It seemed to me that the turnout for this one was a bit smaller than in past years, but that may be because this one was previously held at Texas A&M-San Antonio, which has lots more room than Comanche Park, so more parking there and more space for more people; but I personally thought the course is sure is better at Comanche Park; we were paved trails with lots of shade versus the open concrete roads at the university with no shade at all.  I really do not like that Texas A&M course at all, so was personally glad the race had moved to the park this year.   I arrived with about an hour or so to go to the start time and got a few photos.

Welcome to the event

Me, with some of the Beef team

With friend Louis, who did the 25K solo

Our music and sound man

Various

 ON THE COURSE

This event had an early start – 7:40 am or so – which was also nice. 5K and the solo 25k folks and the first leg folks of the relay all started together.  The solo 25K folks did 5 laps of the out-and-back course; we 5K folks, of course, just did one, as did each team member of the relay event. Pretty humid morning, with virtually no wind, and temps in the 70s already.  Course was nice and shady though and pretty flat for the most part, with just one small incline down on the way to the turn-round and up on the way back.  I think the worst thing on the course was the ‘bouncy bridge” that we crossed over twice. This thing bounced a lot when you ran over it – made me a bit dizzy, so I walked the darn thing for both crossings – and especially when several runners were on it at the same time. Other than that, pretty nicely laid out course.  I ended up with 34:14 finish time, good enough for 3^rd in my age group of “Ultra Senior Master.”  Ultra Senior Master, lol, we old guys and gals.  Other divisions were Master and Senior Master and Elite Master, which was 70+.  Funny.

Speedy 25K relay runner coming back already from the turn-round point

Guy was a blur to me, lol

The 2nd guy was pretty quick too

Relay runners carried a baton, which had their timing chip inside it

The bouncy bridge!  I had to walk across this thing, trying to run on it was making me dizzy..

These ladies walking to the turn-round point were also a blur.   I have such great camera skills.

 AFTER MY FINISH

Cool-down walk, hydrated a bit, enjoyed some of the post-race goodies, and also wandered around chatting with friends, cheering on other still on the course, and getting some photos.

Done!  Bernadette was on a relay team and did the 3rd leg

My speedy friend here was one of the first ones done

my friend, Woody, was first in our age group for the 5K

iaap crew for timing, results, etc

If you are in San Antonio for New Year's Day, come out and do this guy's La Cruda 5K.  Tony puts on a heck of a New Year's Day run.

Coming into the finish

My friend here placed in the 5K

1st for Woody, 3rd for me....don't know what happened to 2nd place guy...

Louis, 25K solo finisher

That hits the spot

"Bailey" chillin' out

I am with him...nap time post event

A little post-race party and relaxing time

EPILOGUE

I like the Comanche Park location, very participant friendly with lots of good facilities. Nice post-race goodies that include barbacoa taco wraps, various fruits and veggies and paletas (popsicles) of various flavors, which hit the spot on a warm day.  Also bottled water, Gatorade and a variety of other items offered by some of the race vendors and sponsors there.  The only thing I observed that might be a little off was the Awards ceremony; it seemed to take the folks present the awards a long time to do it – they kept going back-and-fort to results to check everything – so subsequently some of those 25K folks, both relay and individual, were waiting a long time; the 5K awards went pretty quick, comparably.  Work probably needs to be done on the awards system next year, especially as those solo 25K folks must have been really tired.  Other than that, this was a pretty good event.  I would probably do it again in the future.

Mucho thanks to all the people that made this one happen for we participants:  all the volunteers, sponsors, vendors, supporters, iaap for timing, results, course setup, etc.;  law enforcement out there for us;  and any others I  did not mention here.   Thanks for what you do so we participants could have this event.