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, as always 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 photos only:      http://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2017%20Race%20Reports/2017%20Race%20No%2020%20Alamo%20Krispy%20Kreme%20Donut%20Dash%205K

A couple of the photos came out a bit blurry, sorry about that, I am definitely no professional photographer, lol, but at least the photos are free.

BEFORE MY START

My 20th race of 2017 was the Alamo Krispy Kreme Donut Dash held on March 19^th.  There was also the lead race the Alamo 13.1 half marathon, and there was a 10K.  The half also had a 2-person relay.   This is a very popular local event so lots of participants. Picked up my packet the day before.  Very nice tech tee race shirt, modeled here by my lovely wife.

Start and finish was in front of The Alamo in San Antonio.  Weather was overcast, temp was already 65 degrees at 6 a.m., and it was pretty humid.  I arrived onsite with plenty of time to go before the 5K and 10K started, and with about a half hour to go before the half started.  Wandered around and took some pre-start photos; my darn old-fashioned camera really does not like the dark, even with its flash, so a couple of the photos are really blurry, so my apologies to those people.  Good thing I just take these for fun and don’t get paid for it!

Green bibs doing the 5K, red bibs the 10K, brown bibs with blue numbers, the half

First person I encountered upon arrival was my friend, Arturo - who I know works for Men In Black, but he won't admit it - who did the half marathon.

And more....

THIS guy walked the half with these crutches...

My camera being temperamental - along with my lousy skill, lol - really blurred this photo. This lady is actually really quite lovely.  My apologies to her.

He ran the half in this gear and carrying the flag...and finished in an hour and something, sheesh!

ON THE COURSE

The half was supposed to start first and then the 5K and 10K folks would start at 7:45.  There was some delay with the half, so that delayed all starts for a bit.  The half folks finally got going, with the start in front of The Alamo.  They did a loop-around on their course and passed The Alamo a second time.  I got a few photos of some of the half folks coming past we 10K and 5K folks as we waited for our start., and was keeping an eye out for some of my fellow Team RWB members.

…and then it was our turn, 5K/10K.  We started the same way the half folks did but did not do second running past The Alamo.  We turned to the right and headed toward East San Antonio, going past The Alamo Dome stadium.  At this point, 10K, 5K, and some of the half participants were all comingled in one big running group of people.  We climbed a short hill, and the 5K/10K folks turned left while the half folk continued on – with more hill to go for them.  5K/10K proceeded onto the historic Hays Street Bridge, then a route around some of downtown San Antonio, then we 5K folks split off from the 10K folks.  We went onto the San Antonio Riverwalk for a short stint there, then back up to the streets to head back to The Alamo, where we finished. Later in the morning, I heard from the 10K and half participants that they too ran on the Riverwalk part of the course and then back to The Alamo.

5Kers...first ones to do the Riverwalk part of the course

AFTER MY FINISH

Since we 5K folks finished before everyone else, we had first shot at the goodies.  There was beer - my first stop, lol, and I enjoyed my post-race one beer; I usually drive myself to my races, so always try to be sensible about the post-race beer.  Krispy Kreme folks passed out a Krispy Kreme “server” hat with two donuts in it – one chocolate, one glazed and yes, I had my two; and there was also some kid of fruit cup given out and even baked potatoes with cheese.

Several sponsor/vendors were providing product souvenirs, and there was also a company there giving post-race massages, very nice.  I wandered around taking some after-photos…and even more after the half people started coming in…some of those runners are dang speedy…I think their half times are quicker than my 10K time, lol.   All the participants from each race also got a finisher medal.

Found the beer, served up by lovely ladies

Oh yeah....

and donuts....

And baked potatoes with cheese....

and there was actually some "health' food....  

This lovely lady is with KENS-5 local news and did short interview with me.  Had my medal on but, lol, it kept bumping into my chest as it swung as I walked around, so I hung it behind me.

One of the speedy half marathon finishers

This couple did the 10K, if I remember correctly, and pushed the stroller the whole way.  They each got a medal but the little one did not. I told them, 'well, she participated too', so I gave the little one mine, so each member of their family that was on the course would have one.  The little one in the stroller seemed quite happy with her new 'toy', lol.

Massages for everyone!

The Spartan finished..still wearing all his gear

My friend here did the half

Another friend...she actually fell and had slightly bloody knees..but still finished the half.

My friend Jim here was 3rd in his age group for the half.  The young lady was first in hers.

After doing 2Ks this weekend before this one, I pretty much just decided to ‘goof’ a little on this one, and stopped a couple more times than I usually do to take a few extra photos.  I ended up with a finish time of 35-something, and did not even think about maybe getting an award with that time, so I just kept wandering around taking photos and missed the 5K awards.  Apparently, though, the 5K was the smallest group of participants…there were only 7 in my age group and a friend of mine came along and told me I had finished 3^rd and had to go to the awards area to get my award.   So I did; and got a photo of the awards announcer – super nice guy

– and also got a certificate and a souvenir glass.

EPILOGUE

Super event, definitely a keeper on the race calendar, do it whenever you can if you are in the San Antonio area when it is being put on.  This was my first time doing this event and I would do this event again. I really enjoyed the 5K and from what others were telling me, they enjoyed their races too; the only problem I heard about was a friend telling me there was some delay in the shuttles getting the half relay folks out to their point on the course to wait for their team members to come along; so I guess that was maybe why all the races were delayed a bit.  Other than that, I got the impression from the people I interacted with that they seemed to be pretty satisfied with it.

MUCHO thanks also to all folks that made this one possible for we participants; the sponsors, the volunteers, the law enforcement/security folks out there for us, RPP timing for doing the results, etc, city govt/employees of San Antonio and The Alamo for the use of this great venue, all the surrounding course hotels and businesses for letting us invade their space for a few hours, et al – everyone who had an involvement with this event.  THANK YOU.

Hope you enjoyed the report and photos!

Scotty Dog,  thanks for you kind words about Alamo 13.1 and Doughnut Dash 3.1/6/2.

We REALLY appreciate the amazing San Antonio running community.

Sincerely,

Your friendly "Awards Announcer" Guy!

David