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.” Here is yet another of my Race Reports with Photos. I am not exactly a good photographer but hey, at least all the photos are free so my ‘subjects’ can save and share their photos if they so desire. Mucho thanks to all the people I interacted with at this event for their graciousness, patience, and good humor in letting me take photos of them.  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, and conversation forums for runners and much more!

My 14^th race of 2016 done on Feb 27^th was the City Manager Step Up to Wellness 5K, a 5K for city employees, their families, and friends of city employees. Event venue was San Antonio Sea World. Quite a large turnout for this popular event, a tad over 2,000 runners and walkers.   Quite a crowded start, but where I was everyone was pretty polite and accommodating and everything went smoothly. I ended up with chip time finish of 32:15, and per my printed results slip was 414^th out of 2,047 finishers and 13^th of 42 in my age group of 60-64.

BEFORE THE START

The view from where the parking area was

Some of the pre-start participants, volunteers, supporters, etc.

Race Day Registration, packet pickup, etc.

Police Academy cadets

Firefighter Academy Cadets

My running friends Roger the Shorter and Bob the Taller

Pre-and-post race goodies...

My lovely friend Lisa - and speedy too; managed to do under 30 minutes in that mass of people.

Had a nice chat with these fine gentlemen, swapping 'war stories" with them.  Thanks for being there for us, guys!

Pre-race warm up

At the start line...ahead of me and behind me...masses of people

ON THE COURSE

We went up an incline to start, going around a small portion of Sea World’s huge parking area and then through the front gate into the park. Did a small portion of the park to start, then onto one of the service roads behind the park. Back into the park after that, and got a nice running tour through the park before we went back out one of the front gates and headed for the finish…and now that uphill incline we had started on was now a nice downhill incline to the finish.

My friend Mark running backwards while I took his photo...and still faster than me, lol, even running backwards

I wish I could learn to do that...take a nap while running

AFTER THE FINISH

After I crossed the timing mats, I went over here for a little rest. Appropriate, huh?

Then it was off and wandering around taking photos of the “happy finishers”, etc.

Yes, I actually did hand each of them a dog biscuit, lol.

Our lovely announcer, who did a great job calling in the finishers names, numbers, etc. as they came in.

Bob and City Manager Sheryl Sculley

I got a photo with 'the twins"  .  OK, they're not really twins, but everyone who sees them together thinks they are.

Had a nice chat with this speedy fellow, who was a medal finisher.

He and his lovely support team.

Hanging with some of the Street2Feet running group folks, part of a local running program

EPILOGUE

Very nicely organized event, unique course, some nice post-race goodies – but no post-race beer though, bummer - and a very happy “party-type” atmosphere. Also, if you participated in the event and you so desired, Sea World tickets for the day were available at a really good discount for participants. I’ve done this one several times in the past and will continue to do so in the future.  Always fun for me, especially as I love doing “huge” events with lots of participants.   Nice seeing lots of my friends out there.   Definitely would recommend you give this one a try.

Mucho thanks to all the city employees, volunteers, law enforcement, Sea World staff, etc. – all the people who made this one happen for we participants.   Y’all dun good for us!