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.  Full report below.     

Link to photos only:http://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2018%20Race%20Reports/2018%20Race%20Number%2060%20AFJROTC%20Rattler%205K?sort=2

BEFORE MY START

My 60^th race of 2018 was the Air Force Jr ROTC Rattler 5K held at San Marcos, Texas on August 25^th.  This event supported the school’s JR ROTC detachment.  Rattlers is the team name of the school.  Race start time of 8 a.m.  San Marcos is about 40 miles from San Antonio so not a far drive.  Arrived with a little over an hour to go to start time and got some pre-start photos.

A bit of a view from the school grounds of some of the hill country behind the school.

Start/Finish area

Various Participants, etc..

Cheerleaders making me and Ralph look good

ON THE COURSE

Start-and-finish on the school grounds. Have done this event before so knew what to expect:  some hills.  We started flat on the school grounds, then onto a public road for a while; then a downhill, then to a turn-around point and back the way we came.  We passed by the street we had come out on and went the ‘back way’ to the school.  This route had a few challenging hills, especially one long one right before we made the turn back onto the school grounds to go to the finish.  Since this was a fairly small-in-numbers event, maybe a couple of hundred people, my age group was 60-99 and I finished in 34:19 chip time, 8^th in my age group, good enough for dead last in it, lol.  Even my speedy friend, Don, finished 6^th.  The first 3 guys in our age group all finished in the 20s, good grief.  I was quite happy with my results since I’ve been dealing with this heart issue and have been slowing down a bit, 35+ in my last few races;  34-and-change is closer to what I usually do for a 5K, so hopefully my body is finally “adjusting” to this heart medication I have to take.

This was our first hill, a downhill. We came out of the school and then shortly after that came down this hill

People on the left - of which I was one - heading to a turn-round point on this road.  Speedy people on the right heading to the hills that will take them to the finish

Our first hill on the way back to the finish

Next hill on the way to the finish. Looking behind me here.

Looking ahead.  Right around that bend was another looong hill, the last one we climbed before turning into the school grounds.

After that, nonstop to the finish.  I managed to run that last long hill without stopping.

AFTER MY FINISH

Already 80 – 81 degrees by the time I finished – 78 at the start – so I went and sat in my car, running the A/C for about 10 minutes and rehydrating and having a banana.  Felt mucho refreshed after that and so it was off to get some post-race photos of the happy finishers, supporters, volunteers, et al.

With the riders

With our Race Director

First place in each age group got a carved 'rattler' as their award

EPILOGUE

This is a very nicely organized event with a really nice goodie bag crammed with various stuff and a nice quality and nicely designed cotton-tee race shirt.  The course is challenging in places, but a good one, with wide roads and very little traffic.  We all had plenty of maneuvering room.  There was a slight bit of confusion in the medal handouts, but I think that got resolved pretty quickly.  Any race can have a glitch once in a while.  I like this event – especially being retired Air Force, lol – and will certainly do it again and would recommend it to others. Just ONCE though, I’d sure like Major – the race director – to do this course in reverse to see how that goes.  C’mon, just once, Major!  😉

Mucho thanks to all the volunteers, - especially all the JR AFROTC volunteers, law enforcement, Athlete Guild for the timing and results, San Marcos High cheer leaders and others being out there for us, and those motorcycle club members, some who were veterans, that were out there for us too;  and anyone else I may not have mentioned here who was there so we participants could do this event. Thank you!

What do people do with the AG awards? I'm not sure I'd want to look at a rattlesnake prize.

I am not exactly sure since I rarely get one, lol.   One guy was happy though...he has several 'pet snakes' at home.