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

Here is yet another of my photo reports.  Full report below. 

Link to a slideshow of just the photos: http://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2016%20Race%20Reports/2016%20Race%2050%20Flower%20Power%205K

BEFORE THE START

The Flower Power 5K was my 50th race of 2016, held on Oct 1 at Missions County Park Pavilions in San Antonio.  A fundraiser event for the local Institute for Women's Health.  5K start time of 9:30 a.m.  276 finishers.  There was also a Kid's Run.   With the late start time I got to sleep in a bit for a change, arriving at the race venue with about an hour to go until start time and began wandering around taking some pre-start photos.

Some of the iRun Texas crew who did the timing, results, course setup, etc.; and me with them

Scoped out  'my ride' if I needed it on the course later. 

Some of the volunteers

Our music folks

Also met Jesus....who is running for President

With some of my fellow Team Red White Blue (Team RWB) folks

Me and Bailey, whom I've met at other events.  A real sweetheart

Various participants, supporters, etc

ON THE COURSE

A later start time than most races, but thankfully the weather cooperated as a cool front had moved in....67 degrees at start time, low humidity and dewpoint, a mix of sun and cloud-cover.  It actually felt quite pleasant out there for we Texans who were dealing with 80+ degree temps for our races the last weekend.  Course was paved trails right along the Mission Reach part of the San Antonio Riverwalk, so nice views of the river.  This is one of the 'quiet' parts of the Riverwalk, no businesses, hotels, or tourists down this way....yet.  Makes for a very nice run, walk, or cycling experience...and there were even some kayakers in the water.  Course was an out-and-back with a few short hills along the way.  What Race Directors like to euphemistically call, lol, a 'gently rolling course."  Yeah...the RDs are not running the race, right?       I've done this course before at other events and it actually is a pretty nice course, with lots of room for everyone to move around on it.   I ended up with a 35:05 chip time, 4th in my age group.

Now, as Jackie Gleason used to say (yeah, I'm aging myself, lol)..."and awaaaay we go...."

My first walk break, I was across this bridge and on a hill look down at others crossing over and also on the way to the bridge

On my side of the river at that time

I've made the turn-around and am now heading back.  On the left, just over that lady's head, you can see Tower of the Americas, which is in downtown San Antonio

I am standing on the bridge getting ready to head back to the 'finish' side of the river

That green roof on the left is where the finish line is near

Volunteers.  Go UTSA Roadrunners!  UTSA is the university I work for.

From the 'finish' side of the river, looking across where I just was a while ago

Heading to the finish

AFTER THE FINISH

Did my post-run stretches, and then off to find goodies and take photos.

Yeah, I'm heading here....

Yay, sausages!  And thanks, volunteers!

Oh yeah...the mother lode....

Finishers etal.....

Me and friend Karen, who speedily walked the course

Hey, you...just take the photo!        This photo cracked me up...

Me with RD Mitch

OK, my wife is not here to give me directions...hope I don't break this thing...

When Karen and I do the same race....my job is to crack her up....  

Grooovy, baby!  :   Very nice lady I've encountered at other races.

First female overall.  Congrats, Bertha!

Just before I left, nice sit-down, relax, and chat with all these good folks for a while.

EPILOGUE

Very nicely organized  - as usual for events they do - by the superb local race management/running store company iRun Texas, who did the course setup, timing, results, etc.  Nice post-race goodies of beer and sausages, finisher medals for everyone - I gave mine to a little lad in a stroller since he was the only one in his family without one - and lots of vendors/sponsors there were giving away freebies.  Also, nice cold water being handed to you RIGHT as you finish, so you don't have to go looking for it, a very nice touch, wish ALL races I do would do this.  Good course, nice weather (thanks Mother Nature!), lots of fun, nice quality tech tee race shirts.  Definitely would do this one again.   Mucho thanks to all the folks who made this one happen for us: iRun, volunteers, law enforcement folks, sponsors, vendors, etc.

I hope Jesus won. If not, he was not the real Jesus.