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.

Held Nov 15, 2015.  This was my 59th event of 2015 and my second of the weekend after doing the Country Run 5K on Nov 14.  Held on River Road in New Braunfels, this was a free event for all members of the San Antonio RoadRunners (SARR), the largest running club in San Antonio.  There was a 20-miler, a 12-miler, and a 5K.  Most of the participants did the longer runs, as lots of them are registered for the upcoming San Antonio Rock n Roll Half and Full marathons on December 6th.  You never know what kind of weather you're going to get around here in November - last year for this one, it was a bit chilly - but this year it was pretty nice, all things considered; cloudy and overcast with a temp of about 59 - 60 degrees, but no cold wind, thank goodness. So pretty nice running weather for those that like it cooler - I'd have preferred about 70 degrees myself, lol; I hate being cold.   I did the 5K - so got first crack at the post-run beer.    Everyone started all together.  Everyone except me, that is, as I was in the porta-potty when the 'gun' went off - and said - ironically and fittingly in the porta-potty, lol - "Oh crap."    After I got out, everyone was already across the start bridge.  Oh well, it's chip-timed anyway, so no big deal.  Off I went.  I ended up with a gun time of 39-something, and a chip time of 35:31.  I also ended up going longer than 5K distance, but more on that later in the report below.

BEFORE THE START

Parking area for us was near a campground area by the river

The event started and finished at one of the Rockin' R River Rides locations, and thanks to them for allowing us the use of one of their sites early on a Sunday morning.

Some nice river views around the Rockin' R

Some of the participants, volunteers, etc.

MC and all-round great guy, Bob

The "landing' and area where some of the volunteers were busy doing race-day registration and also preparing post-race goodies

3 old dogs twice over..

..and a beautiful lady to make the old dogs look good...

Our club's official photographer, Tom.  His photos are much better than mine, lol.

Scotty and Scott, owner of AthleteGuild, a very good local area running company that did the timing and results for this event.

National Anthem being done

ON THE COURSE

All the distances were out-and-back.   River Road provides nice scenic courses, with the river and the river canyon walls on our left going out and on our right coming back.  Near the start/finish, we also go over a wide cement bridge that crosses the river.   The 5K folks, of course, turned around first as we had the shortest distance.  However, I ran right over the chalk mark for the turn-around point and kept going a bit - duhhh.  When I got to a point a bit farther down where a volunteer was, he knew me and said "Scotty, aren't you doing the 5K? You're past the turn-around point."   Not too far past though, thank goodness, so I ended up just doing an extra  2-tenths of a mile, so 3.3 miles instead of 3.1, no big deal.

Umm, yeah, I had a lonely start, lol

...but a nice view from the bridge....

Caught up to these lovely ladies who were walking the course

And then caught up to these folks...guess I was not as far behind as I thought...

Nice views of the river on our left going out...

5K first guy already heading to the finish

I've made the turn-around now - well, came BACK to the turn-around, lol - and as I headed back to the finish, encountered Tom on the course taking those great photos of his...

Folks doing the longer distances heading away from me

River is now on my right

Something caught on this tree near the river, probably damage from the recent flooding the area had from heavy rains in the last few weeks

My route ahead of me

A few people still heading in the other direction, toward their turn-round points

Some of the first water-stop volunteers

After that, it was non-stop running back to the finish. I think I passed 3 people along the way.  Plenty of room now as the 5K, I believe, had the least amount of participants of the 3 distances done for this event.

AFTER THE FINISH

Cold water, cold drinks were in iced tubs for us at the finish, and there was also 'frito pies" for those wanting that (too spicy for my 'delicate' digestive system ) and also some cold beer.....oh yeah....

Some of the "happy finishers', volunteers, supporters, etc.  I did get a few of the 12-mile folks in some of the photos; some of those folks were darn speedy...their 12-mile time is about my 10K time, lol.  I don't think I got any of the 20-miler folks, I think they were still on the course at the time I left the location.

My two-legged friend, Joe, and 4-legged friend Yeti.  Both of them are way speedier than me, lol.

This was the first lady finisher for the 5K

Enjoying those post-race fritos pies

The food volunteers.  Thanks so much!

My buds Eric and Christine and their little one.  The little is a kid after my own heart..he was eyeing my beer quite a lot, lol.

Two lovely ladies, great sense of humor, enjoyed chatting with them post-race

Another Scott, making 3 of us named Scott there; good thing nobody needed to shout out at us, it might have gotten confusing.

The long and the short of it....my two tall friends and short mutt me

My very speedy friend Jim did the 12-mile distance.  He is in my age group, so when we both do the same 5k, I know there will be no medal for me, lol.   One of his steps is about 3 of mine.

As I was heading back to my car, I got a few photos of some other 12-mile folks coming into the finish

EPILOGUE

This is a nice event held each year for the SARR members at a nice location - although you do have to be a bit careful at times, keep an eye out for traffic, as the road is still open and narrow in places. The majority of drivers are pretty courteous and cautious and patient with we runners and walkers at this event and participants are very helpful about calling out to others "Car back!" and so forth;  but there's sometimes the odd-on idiot driver to watch out for who is annoyed we're using his/her road, and sometimes comes kinda close.  Other than those morons, everything else is pretty nice about this event.  Lots of good people out there, nice scenery, nice post-race goodies, various distances to choose from, option to buy a pretty nice club jacket/shirt (I already have one, so this year I got one for my wife).  Mucho thanks to our club officers and all their volunteers who made this one happen for we participants.