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.

Here is yet another of my photo reports.

Link to photos only:

https://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2019%2520Race%2520Reports/2019%2520Race%2520Number%252023%2520Margarita%25205K?sort=2

Full report below.    

BEFORE MY START

My 23d race of 2019 was the Maragita 5K on April 27^th, put on by Andiamo Race Productions at Mission County Park in San Antonio, Texas.  There was also a 10K. Weather was pretty cooperative, sunny, low humidity, and temp in the low 60s.   10K started at 7 a.m. and the 5K started at 7:30 a.m.  A little over 300 participants for this one.

Welcome to the event

The park has a couple of large pavilions, like this one

Part of the river near the park

With my speedy friend Woody who got 2nd in his age group

Various

These ladies are wearing the race shirt

Two of the iaap crew for timing, results, etc

They call themselves the Village Idiots.  Except for the dog...she's the smart one... 

 ON THE COURSE

Mission County Park is adjacent to the Mission Reach part of the San Antonio Riverwalk.  No business, tourist shops, etc. down on this part of the Riverwalk.  Instead you get some nice views of the river as go along the route.  There were a few hills on the course, and the last hill was a climb up to the finish area.  I was feeling fairly good, stupid heart problems and all, and finished with  chip time of 32:51, good enough for 3^rd in my 60  - 69 age group.

AFTER MY FINISH

As the race name says, Margarita Run and maragaritas were served up post-race, as well as a variety of fruits, Gatorade, water, and other various goodies. No beer, unfortunately, and I can’t drink liquor, so I stuck to water and Gatorade and wandered around getting some after-photos.

EPILOGUE

Nicely done event on a scenic-and-challenging course with some nice views. Nice quality tech tee race shirt, live music post-race, and finisher medals for everyone.  Only the first-place males and females in each age group got a placer medal.

Mucho thanks to everyone out there who made this one happen for we participants: our race director and her many volunteers; all the sponsors and vendors; law enforcement and EMT folks out there for us, and anyone else I may not have mentioned here.  Thank you all so much for what you do so we participants could have this event.