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%20No%2036%20American%20Heroes%205K

A couple of the photos may not have come out so well;  sorry about that – I am certainly no professional photographer with skills; but at least all the photos are free to save.

BEFORE MY START

American Heroes 5K was my 36^th race of 2017.  Held on May 28 at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.   There was also a 25K relay and some individuals did the whole 25K solo.   This event was established by Free Spirits Track Club Inc., a nonprofit organization that raise funds for scholarships for cancer survivors (and other diseases and child abuse), to recognize our American Heroes and to promote track & field meets, running and athletic events in the San Antonio area.  Start time was 7:35 a.m., so I was up early for this one, arriving at race location around 6:45, giving me a bit of time to get some random pre-start photos.

Welcome to Texas A&M-San Antonio

With my pal, Bernandette. She and I have been doing a lot of the same races for about 20 years now.

These lovely ladies were grilling up the sausages for post-race activities.

Race Day registration

Our MCs

And More..

ON THE COURSE

I will be honest and just say flat out I do not much like running races at Texas A&M University. The usual course for events here is all cement, no scenery at all along the way, includes a couple of pretty tough hills and, with absolutely no shade, on a warm or hot morning – like today was – it can be brutal, especially for those doing the longer distances.  For the 5K it was a one lap course.  For the most of the relay teams, they had 5 people and each did a lap.  For the people doing the 25K, they did 5 laps individually. I only did the 5K and felt exhausted after I was done, so I can’t imagine what it felt like for the people who chose to individually do the whole 25K.   We started at 7:35 a.m. and the temp was already near 80, with crazy high dew-point.  After I finished, later in the morning I watched some of the full 25K people out there, and by that time it was 89 degrees with a ‘feels like’ of 93 – and this was around 9 a.m. – and that sun reflecting on the cement had to make it feel even warmer for them, good grief, for 5 laps.

Even though I am not fond of running here, this is one of the very few races I choose to do at Texas A&M because, although the course may suck, the event itself is a very good one, well organized; supports causes that are personally important to me; and the participants themselves are what really makes this race – lots and lots of my friends do this one, so a lot of moral support out there.  This race has a lot of ‘spirit’ and you can see that, hear it, and even feel it at this one. So for this one I just ‘bite the bullet’ and get it done.   With this course, I ended up with a time of 36:12 – I usually do a 5K in about 32 to 34 minutues – and I was just glad to be done with no problems along the way.  This is not a kind course on a warm day.

Heading toward the finish now..

AFTER MY FINISH

I got some water, sipped that slowly, walked to my car where I had some Gatorade, sat in my car and drank that, with the a/c running, and felt much cooled down after that… ahhhhh!  Then it was back to the race area to cheer on some friends still on the course, and wander around taking photos.

Everyone got a finisher medal...

After she finished her 5K, this lady stood near one of the course turns for I don't know how long holding the flag the whole time - but a long time - inspiring every runner/walker who passed by with Old Glory

EPILOGUE

As said, very nicely organized event and at any given time where I was I did not see any mishaps, wrong turns, people falling out, etc.  It may have happened at some time, but I never saw it.  Post-race activities are very nice.  Lots of vendors, sausage wraps as one of the post-race goodies, and also popsicles which were really popular on this warm day; they went pretty quick. Also, several of the teams and vendors had coolers with various types of drinks in them – water, Gatorade, sports drinks, etc – and it didn’t matter if you were a member of the team or not, if you needed a drink, you were handed a drink.   Everyone watching out for each other – another reason this is such a quality event, a real runner/walker comradery at this one. Do I still hate the course?  Absolutely.  Would I do this one again? Absolutely.  Because the course isn’t the race for this one – the people there are the race.  And everyone I personally encountered and interacted with today was great.

MUCHO thanks to all the people who did all the hard work to make this one happen for we participants, iaap for course set-up, timing, results, etc; all the volunteers, sponsors, law enforcement, etc., out there for we runners and walkers.  Without all of you, there would be no races for us. Thank you very much!