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/2019%20Race%20Reports/2019%20Race%20Number%2011%20UTSA%20Diploma%20Dash?sort=2

BEFORE MY START

My 11^th race of 2019, held on Feb 23, was The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Diploma Dash 5K.  This is also a dog-friendly event and runners with dogs can purchase a bib for $10 for their dog and then get their own awards in the Runners With Dogs category.  The event, put on by the UTSA Alumni Association, raises scholarship funds for UTSA students.  Race start time of 8 a.m.  As a UTSA employee I do this event just about every year. It is a very popular even and one of the races of the City Championship Series of races, if I remember correctly.  This event allowed a max of 2,000 participants.  When I went to packet pickup, one of the Alumni Association people told me they were pretty darn close to the max registration, with about 1,960 or so already registered.  I arrived at the race start site  - the UTSA Convocation Center, a venue for various events and the UTSA baskeball team’s home court – and wandered around getting a few start photos.

Our MC, UTSA alum April Ancira.  Her family owns several very successful car dealerships.

With April Ancira.  Very nice lady. One heck of a runner too.  I've done a few of the same races as her over the years.  I see her at the start, I see her at the finish.  She is waaay ahead of me, lol.

Our music man

Prepping the sausages

The master chef - Chief Grill Cook

I don't know why, but for some reason these things are VERY popular with the students.  The free small tomato packages handed out are gone quite quickly.

Various participants, volunteers, sponsors, etc.

Love the dog's expression, lol.  like "OK, dude, whatever... " 

In the start crowd with 1,000+ of my new best friends, lol .  Really squeezed in there.  Crowd ahead of me and crowd behind me too, with the Camp Rec building in the background.

ON THE COURSE

A loop course around the campus, starting at the Convo Center with a route that took us past some ongoing construction near the Main Building; then past one of the campus parking garages and past the College of Business Building.  After that, a couple of turns took us past the building where the UTSA police are headquartered; then a climb up a short, but fairly steep hill.  After that, we headed toward and past the West Campus area and the UTSA baseball field. We finished up by going past the traffic circle near UTSA Boulevard, and then back to the finish line with the final part of the course taking us past the Campus Rec Center. I ended up with a time of 33:35 and did not even come close to placing in a pack of that many people.  There are some speedy old guys in my age group.

Up this hill - that goes to the East campus parking area - to a turn-round point and then back down again.

Near the Bosque Building

That taller building, peeking above the smaller one, is the building I work in

Up this short, steep hill - not as step as some hills in other areas, but you could feel it a bit

After this photo above, I ran the last 1. 3 miles into the finish nonstop

AFTER MY FINISH

This event throws one really nice race party that includes sausage wraps, beer – this year it was Dos Equis – and other goodies like cherry tomatoes, some kind of rice give-away, various sodas, bottle water, lots of coffee, saw one booth offering cookies and other treats, and so forth.  With a beer and my mouth full of sausage wrap, I wandered and got some after photos.

Happy finishers, supporters, medal winners, etc.

This guy did the whole course in that outfit

Two of my favorite things, pretty ladies and beer.  Yeah, Julie Andrews, why weren't those in the song? 

lol.  Dog is like 'Dude...what the hell?  Put me down....I am a LADY!"  

My young and VERY SPEEDY friend, Andrew, finished in 18-something. 

it took me 3 tries but I finally got that doggie to look at the camera

Doggie enjoying a post-race drink from the iced water for the soft drinks.

All the award winners could request a photo with April and she kindly and with good humor obliged.  As MC, calling out the names of the winners, she offered to donate $10 to the cause for each name she mispronounce.  I think she got up to about $50 before the final name was called.

One of my co-workers, Heather, was the medal passer-outer.  Thanks Heather!

My friend here (in green shirt) - 75+ and going strong, got a medal.

EPILOGUE

This is always a quality event and takes a heck of a lot of production to get it done; so kudos to the Alumni Association workers and all their helpers and volunteers for another successful Diploma Dash.  The UTSA band and UTSA cheerleaders had a few folks out there as well, playing music and cheering on everyone. Have done this one many times in the past and certainly will continue to do it in the future.  We really got some nice weather for it too, with temp in the low 60s, pretty mild humidity, and a nice mix of sunshine and clouds.

Mucho thanks to all the people who made this event happen for we participants:  all the volunteers out there for us and the UTSA police that were at all the intersections for us; all the sponsors and vendors; and a shout-out and thank to UTSA alum April Ancira – of the local Ancira family that owns several very successful car dealerships – for being our MC for the event. Thanks to anyone else I may not have mentioned here.