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!

Put on by iRun Texas, The Shamrock Shuffle 5K was my 19^th race of 2016. There was also a 1K kids run. Event was held at Wheatley Heights Stadium, a local sports and events venue with football field, track, etc. Weather was beautiful, a bit overcast but 62 degrees, low dew-point.   By the time of the 8:30 a.m. start the sun was even starting to peek out a bit. By the time we all finished, very nice and sunny and pleasant day. Just under 200 finishers for the 5K. In my age group (60-64) my chip time finish was 31:56, 6^th out of 7 people in my age group. The 5 guys ahead of me all finished under 30 minutes. There are some very speedy local runners in my age group, lol. So my strategy is to just try and outlive them all.

On to the photos! I do tend to take a LOT of photos at the events I do. So if you’d rather just see photos only without my “pithy comments” you can check out the slideshow of this event at this link:  http://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2016%20Race%20Reports/2016%20Race%2019%20Shamrock%20Shuffle%205K

BEFORE THE START

Wheatley Heights is a very nice facility, and right near the stadium are greenway trails, making this a nice base to use for races, training runs, cycling, walking, etc.

Me and my speedy pal, Bernadette

iRun Texas folks doing it for us

Co-Owner of iRun Texas, Mitch Allen (left), all-around great guy and pretty speedy runner himself those times he gets to actually do a race.   Who is his co-owner, you aks? His wife. She's the majority owner.  At least, she is if Mitch is smart. 

Mark Purnell (left) our MC.  He does a lot of events and always does a great job.  For those of you who know John Purnell, Mark is John's 'little brother"   and as you can see, Mark ages better than John.  

Some of the others before the start

Photo bombed!

I jokingly asked this guy why he didn't have a Viking helmet on with that name on his shirt

ON THE COURSE

Before the 5K got started, the kids did their event - 2 laps around the track.

We started with one lap around the stadium, then out onto the stadium access road-and-parking area which took us one of the greenway trail systems. Down this trail to a turn-around point and then back the way we came, finishing up with a return lap back around the track. Pretty much a very flat course, with only a couple of minor inclines that you can’t really call hills. Made for a very speedy course for the front-of-the-pack runners.

Getting ready to start

On the trails

AFTER THE FINISH

Tired but happy doggie after my 2nd 5K of the March 12 - 13 weekend.

Yay Beer! Shiner IPA post-race.  I may not have gotten an age group award..but I got beer!

Lots of ‘happy finishers’, volunteers, supporters, etc

This lovely lady in the middle told me to quit calling her "Ma'am" and call her by her name.  Yes ma'am.    It's my military training, it becomes ingrained in you.  Especially when you serve 20+ years.

Me and Mitch have an angle...cuz we're both a little warped...

There we are...

Overall female, my very speedy friend Liza

Liza and proud family

My new friend SHEILA - not ma'am - got a medal too

As usual, Bernadette placed too; today 1st in her age group

Other placers

EPILOGUE

As usual for iRun Texas, another really good event put on. Nice race bibs – timing chip on the bib, so no shoe chip to deal with, which I liked because with my mild arthritis in my hands and fingers, I tend as I get older to have trouble gripping small things – like those darn ties for the shoe chips; I usually have to find someone to put my shoe chip on for me, lol – although the D-tags are not bad as they are just stick-on; but those ‘regular’ square timing chips are a personal pain for me; so I was happy to see the timing bibs for this one. Well organized event and a really nice course for this one.   Over the years, I’ve done several events at Wheatley Heights. Most of the events have the course starting just outside the stadium. Personally, I like this iRun Texas course the best for this venue. Starting a little farther back on the track, the out-and-back is not as far to go on the trail and you get the nice experience of finishing inside the stadium around the track – which is very flat making for a speedier finish – if you have the energy left, of course, to pick up the pace after 3 miles – and a nice bonus is that softer track surface at the finish, well, your legs certainly appreciate that. Kudos to whomever at iRun laid out this course for us. I wish every 5K held here would use this course! Well done on this event, iRun! Course setup, timing, race goodies, etc, all good. Definitely would do this one again.

MUCHO thanks to all the volunteers, sponsors, law enforcement, EMTs, course set-up and race timing/results folks, etc! All the folks who do all the work to make this one happen for us participants.

Nice course - no wonder the times were so good.  Bit foggy for Texas.