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.

Below is yet another of my photo reports.

Link to photos only:

https://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2019%2520Race%2520Reports/2019%2520Race%2520Number%252039%2520Fathers%2520Day%25205K%2520and%252010K?sort=2

Full report below.    

BEFORE MY START

 My 39^th race of 2019 was the Purnell Racing Flag Day 10K/5K held on June 16, Father’s Day 2019, at Bluebonnet Palace, a dance, music, and entertainment venue in Selma, Texas.  This race is part of Purnell Racing (https://www.purnellracing.com/)  Grand Prix Race Series, a series of races where you get points for each race done and for age group placing, and so forth.  This was my 2^nd race of the weekend after doing Carrabba’s 5K the day before.  This was a fairly small event with 19 finishers, so it felt more like a nice fun run with friends rather than a race, which was all right with me.  No age group awards, but everyone got finisher medals. Race start time of 8 a.m.  I arrived with about 45 minutes to go to start time, got my race packet, and then got a few pre-start photos.  The weather was kind of crazy, very dark skies, with a bit of a wind blowing, but it felt okay and it never did rain on us; in the 70s when we started – hey, it’s South Texas in June, so to be expected – but really did not feel bad at all out there.

Waiting for the start

With my speedy friend who did the 10K

Friend Ric, right ,will be doing Peachtree 10K on 4th of July

Group of veterans, members of Team RWB (Red White Blue)

My friend Karen volunteered for this one.  Thanks!

Karen is my sister from another mister. 

With Race Director John Purnell, also a veteran, amazing guy, who does a lot for our running community.   Quite the darn speedy runner too when he was a runner.

Here's the long and the short of it...

He ran the 10K, his son was a course volunteer.

Had my flash on for the one above...duhhhh... I will let Ric decide which one he likes best.

MC Mark Purnell and George

 ON THE COURSE

Out-and-back from Bluebonnet Palace., one loop for the 5K, two loops for the 10K.  A couple of wide flat roads took us out from the start and into an industrial park area we did a loop through, coming back to the road we came out on to head back to the finish.  Not the most scenic route, lol, but very functional with wide roads and just about no traffic at all.  There were a couple of climbs through the industrial area, but then it was flat flat flat all the way to the finish.  For speedy runners – of which I am not one, lol – this is actually a pretty good course to shoot for a 5K PR.  I felt pretty good and even managed to pass a couple of people on the way to the finish.  I also caught up to my friend Ric near the finish and passed him – first time I ever finished ahead of him in a 5K, and then I realized he was doing the 10K, lol… duhhhhh…   I  ended up with 33 minutes and change.

I was in proximity of this lady until about mile 2

This guy was also doing the 5K.  He caught up to me at my first walk break and I never caught him again.

Thanks, water volunteer

Thank you, officer!

Mile 1 and heading up one of the course hills...more like a long incline than a hill...

Heading to Mile 2.  Our nice views of industrial buildings and offices, lol.

Heading to the finish.  This guy was on his 2nd loop for the 10K

Guys coming toward me were 10K folks on their 2nd loop.  A couple of the guys ahead of me were 10K folks finishing up their first loop.

Done!  And got a photo of our timers after I crossed the line.

 AFTER MY FINISH

After a bit of a cool-down walk, enjoyed chatting with friends and getting a few more photos of people already finished and some others coming in.

With the 5K guy that was ahead of me.

His speedy daughter did the 5K too.  I think she finished under 29 minutes.

5K runner coming in

Clowning with friend Jill, who also did the 5K

This guy was first 10K finisher in 47 minutes and something.

10K finisher

My friend Woody finishing up his 10K

Happy finishers and supporters

10K runner bringing it in with the flag.

EPILOGUE

For a small race, very nicely done after-party.  Cold beverages and a choice of grilled brisket tacos or sausage tacos…or both! Very enjoyable.  Nice relaxing post-race, talking and laughing with friends and enjoying the goodies.  Also, as said before, finisher medals for everyone.

Bluebonnet Palace is also a nice venue for an event, as it has really good facilities and plenty of parking for everyone – even for a more crowded event than the one we had.   The course, as said, has very wide roads so can accommodate a lot of runners and walkers.  Sometimes I don’t understand why more race directors – especially those that have large events -  insist on using smaller parks for their events rather than finding someplace like this that can accommodate a whole lot of people.  Maybe it has something to do with the calendar; Bluebonnet Palace is a popular venue and has several various types of events here over the year.  Anyway, certainly enjoyed myself at this one and would do it again, and recommend it to others.

Mucho thanks to John Purnell and his volunteers out there for us and to Mark Purnell for being our MC, and to the guys that did the grilling for us.  Thanks also to the police officers out there for us at the intersections we had to traverse and, of course, to Bluebonnet Palace for use of the venue, and anyone else I may not have mentioned here, if I missed you, apologies. 

Too bad there were so few runners, but I imagine the weather scared some people off.

Too bad there were so few runners, but I imagine the weather scared some people off.

They lost out, it actually felt pretty nice out there, and we had a nice small party afterwards.

Yep, I was wondering if you were over 2000.