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.

This was my 56th race of 2015 and my 3rd race of the November 7 - 8 weekend, after doing the Wurst 5-Miler on Saturday morning and Day of the Dead 5K on Saturday evening. This event was organized by Roy Orozco, a Team Leader of  our Team RWB San Antonio, a chapter organization of national veteran's organization Team RWB (www.teamrwb.org).  This 5K honored Roy's friend John Trotter who lost his life in Iraq in 2004 and contributions could be made to a scholarship established in John's name, and it also honored other fallen who were known by the participants.   Event was held on the campus of Texas A&M-San Antonio, with several Team RWB San Antonio members participating.  After doing two races this weekend already, my legs were a tad sore, but I managed to eke out a 33:34 finish time and pushed myself a bit the last mile for a strong finish.

BEFORE THE START

The reason we ran or walked:  the fallen.  People sent in photos to Roy and he had them posted on this 'wall.'   The black-and-white photo of the nurse (bottom left) is the one I sent.  I was stationed in the Philippines at that time and met her briefly for all of about 5 minutes and she did me a favor that may even have saved my life..and she never knew it.  I have never forgotten her and when I went to DC, I went to the Vietnam Wall in her honor.  Capt. Mary Klinker, US Air Force nurse, killed April 4, 1975 in the C-5 Saigon "Baby Lift" aircraft crash.   There is a story behind every one of these people and we should never forget them.

The race shirt in honor of Sgt. Trotter

Texas A&M and Old Glory

Old Glory and Team RWB Flags

Bagpiper on site for us

Yours Truly, with the piper

Two Old Geezers at the event, me and friend John...yeah, we both have mustaches..to hide all those nose-hairs we get as we grow older

Volunteers preparing post-race goodies for us:  breakfast tacos, etc.

Some of the participants, supporters, volunteers, etc.

The lady on the right also did the Day of the Dead 5k with me the night before this event

Street2Feet represented...another great organization

National Anthem was sung and then the piper played Amazing Grace

Then TAPS was played in honor of the lost...and then we lined up and were off.

ON THE COURSE

Mainly a lot of cement roads and the usual course on the campus is you go up this road - and I mean UP - you make a turn-around and come back down it on the other side - and then another bit of uphill - and then you turn right, get to the end of that, turn left, and come back the other side of the road to the finish...kind of like making a cross, only with a run.    It was pretty windy at times, but at least the sun was out - nice after all the rain we've had in the last couple of weeks -  and the temp was in the 50s, and the final road of the course was sweetly flat flat flat, nice on the legs.

More later on the flag carrier and his companion, whom I chased most of the course

Finished with the hills, thank goodness!  Roy cheering everyone on at this turn

Looking behind me, the way I just came

And ahead of me...I just can't seem to catch that flag bearer.

They've already made the final turn and are heading to the finish and I'm still going to the final turn

After that last photo, I tucked the camera away and ran steadily for the last 1.2 miles into the finish.  I sloooowly began decreasing the distance between me and the flag bearer.  I kept telling myself not to push yet, not yet not yet...and then it was "Okay NOW!" I picked up the pace and right before the finish did catch the flag bearer and passed him; his companion, my friend Rosa, picked up her pace too and ran in with me. Clock time of 33:34, with a nice strong finish.

AFTER THE FINISH

After I finished, I went back on the course to look for the two friends who had also done the Dia De Los Muertos the night before like I had, to run in with them.   As I went back out I got a few photos of other finishing.  This one guy with the flag and with flags went out continuously to run people in so they were accompanied by the flag to the finish.  I don't know how may trips they made, but they were very busy people.  And very motivating.  No team member left behind!

One of my co-runners from Day of the Dead 5K. I ran into the finish here with her.  We were in the same proximity for most of this 5K.

"Happy Finshers" supporters, etc.

My other Day of the Dead 5K companion, whom I also went back out for and ran into the finish with.  I don't have a toothache...my mouth is full of breakfast taco, lol.

EPILOG

I am not found of running on Texas A&M-San Antonio campus.  Lots of cement and not a whole lot of scenery either - "hey, there's a bush!  hey, there's another bush!"   as the campus is still relatively new and still in its growing years.  So if you pay attention to the course, it's rather boring.  But this event was a very special one - especially to we local veterans - and also Roy,an all-around Great Guy who has done so much for our local team, so I bit the bullet on my dislike of this course to be there for him and for my team members; and it turned out it was not so bad after all; and the reason for that is because when it comes down to it, it's not really the course, it's the PEOPLE that make an event, and my Team RWB has some GREAT people.  So off I went and I interacted with all these great folks along the way and took photos, and just kept my sense of humor intact about the course - as much as possible, I'd rather laugh at myself and my situation than bitch or cry about it -  and thoroughly enjoyed myself ....because of these people, my wonderful team-mates.   If Roy makes this an annual thing, I would definitely do this one again.  And I hope it grows too, if this one is continued and that even more veterans participate; it is a great event for a great cause. Never forget the fallen, and especially those that touched your lives personally.

MUCHO thanks to all the people that did the hard work to make this one happen for we participant; to the law enforcement folks out there for us; to Texas A&M-San Antonio for the generous use of their campus and the facilities - especially nice to have INDOOR bathrooms instead of a portapotty - and condolences to the Trotter family - the loss of a child, as I know, is a terrible thing; you never really get over it you just mainly only learn to live with it;  John made the ultimate sacrifice for love of country, but his family also made a sacrifice, so good thoughts and prayers for them;  and thanks to them too for donating some liquid pleasure - which is always appreciated by we military folks - and also which I emphasize,  was NOT indulged in on campus grounds.

End of Report.  Fall out and carry on!  And stay safe!

Congratulations on your triple race weekend.  A good cause and good people do make it worthwhile.  And besides, you wanted to run another race anyway, right?