Barking Mad To Run
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:
https://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2019%2520Race%2520Reports/2019%2520Race%2520Number%252035%2520SA%2520Youth%2520Series%25205K?sort=2
BEFORE MY START
My 35th race of 2019 was the Run SA Youth Series 5K at Southside Lions Park East in San Antonio on June 2nd. Run SA Youth provides accessible, free and incentivized workout programs to kids from all backgrounds and neighborhoods. Packet pickup on Race Day only, with a kids run first, then a disabled participants start, and the 5K starting. I arrived with about 45 minutes to start time, got my packet and my timing chip and then got a few random pre-start photos.
<cite>Our music and sound lady</cite>
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Team Ainsley's Angels - San Antonio. This is an amazing group of people that do several races. Ainsley's Angels is a national organization and has teams in several cities. <cite></cite>
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<cite>Various photos, participants, supporters, volunteers, etc. </cite>
<cite>This is Storm, who also did the race. I can remember the dog's name, but I forgot the lady's name, lol, dog that I am. </cite>
<cite>Ainsley's Angels getting ready to start. They started about 15 minutes before the rest of us</cite>
<cite>Jose, of iaap, and Kristine of E-Dragon, for the timing, results, etc. The iaap guy behind them is holding up that tree, so it won't fall on them. </cite>
<cite>Erik Burciaga, our race director</cite>
<cite>Project Phoenix, which has quite a large running/walking group in San Antonio, and they also do volunteer community projects</cite>
<cite>I am in this pack somewhere, looking ahead as we get ready to start</cite>
<cite>And looking back..</cite>
ON THE COURSE
After the kid’s race and the chair start, the rest of us got started around 7:45 a.m. Usual Texas weather for the start of June – warm and humid, with a temp in the mid-70’s already and humidity at about 80-something percent. Yeah, you could feel it a bit…but hey, you live in Texas, you just deal with it and get it done.
The course was on the off-road paved trails of the park, with a bit of it on one of the park roads, so a surface mix of both asphalt and concrete. The route was mainly flat with a couple of small inclines, and it passed by the man-made lake in the park. It was really very humid and my legs were feeling a bit the 5K I had done the day before, so I just took it easy and took a couple of extra photo breaks. Ended up with a chip time of 35 minutes and change, which was good enough for 2nd in my age group. What also helped me place was that there were only 3 in my age group, lol. Nicely thought-out route, a tad different than the normal 5K course used in this park. This park is part of the San Antonio Greenways system of parks and connects with trails in other parks, so you can really get in a good long run, bike ride, or walk in this park. There is also lots of shade on the trails of this park, which was a blessing on a humid day.
About a half-mile into the course. This was a little parking area where we did a loop-around and headed back the way we had come
I think this guy's ex was looking for him, so he hid is identity..
On the trails that will take me to the turn-round point. The first Ainsley's Angel team heading back to the finish.
Unlike a race I did a couple of weeks ago, this bridge did not bounce when we ran across it, thank goodness.
Heading for the light, lol...the young guy in front of me is the son of my friend Ralph. We were in proximity to each other for most of the race.
Water stop volunteers...they did not have any beer.. At this point I had already made the turn-round and come back and now had just a tad over 1/2 mile to go to the finish.
Passing by the fountain in the man-made lake of the park
After that, nonstop to the finish. 35 minutes and change. 2nd in my age group. Of course, it helped that there were only three IN my age group, lol.
AFTER MY FINISH
After I finished, I got a couple of photos of some others coming into the finish, that I had been near on the course. Then I got a nice cold bottle of water and a banana, and went and sat in my nearby parked car with the A/C on full blast – Ahhhhhh! – and rehydrated and cooled down for about 10 minutes. After that, back out to get some post-race photos, enjoy some more goodies – including cold, sliced watermelon, courtesy of Project Phoenix folks, really hit the spot – and chat with friends.
Some people coming in a few minutes after I finished....
Various post-race photos
Gabby, one of the SA Youth Series organizers, with three cuties. Iced towels were handed out post-race and to finishers after they crossed the finish line; the water stop on the course also gave them out; appreciated on this humid race day.
My friend on the left placed in his age group. Nice carved 'tile' age group award.
Age group placer
With friend Alejandra
Team iaap members
The kid in the middle was overall winner - in 17-something. I told him at 17 minutes, I was just past the halfway point, lol.
With friend Erik
Race shirt, nice quality cotton tee
EPILOGUE
This is a very nice event put on and supported by Erik Burciaga, his family, and his company, E-Dragon Productions (custom printing of shirts and more and they also put on several good “Dragon’s Den” race events… (https://www.edragonpro.net ) as well as local race management company iaap (www.iaapweb.com) , which I consider one of the Top 3 race management companies in our local area. The Iniguez family does great things for the running community through this company. Nice quality race shirts, very unique ‘tile’ age group awards, nice course, and a really good cause for the community kids. Have done SA Youth Series in the past and will continue to do them in the future.
Much thanks to all the people who made this one happen for us: Our co-race director, Gabby, and all the volunteers for this one; Lana of iaap for doing the MC duties; law enforcement (in this case, park police) out there for us; all the event sponsors, including Project Phoenix team that provided some nice goodies, and Camp Gladiator which contributed the raffle prize, and anyone else I may not have mentioned here. Thank you so much for what you do so we participants can have this event.
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt