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%2046%20Zero%20Prostate%20Cancer%205K

BEFORE THE START

Zero Prostate Cancer 5K was my 46th race of 2016.  There was also a 10K and a kid's run.  Event raised money for prostate cancer research, etc.  Race venue was the very nice Missions County Park in San Antonio, with pavilions, restrooms, water fountains and part of the Mission Reach Riverwalk paved trails quite near the park.  Pretty nice turn-out for this popular event.  When I picked my packet up the RD told me there were about 900 registered.  I don't know if they all showed up, but the park pavilion and surrounding area was quite a busy little place before-and-after the races.

Start time for the 10K, 8:20 a.m., start time for the 5K: 8:25 a.m.  I admit finding this a bit puzzling cuz my first thought was the speedy 5K people at the front were probably going to run right into the back-of-the-pack 10K people.  I thought it might have been better if maybe the 10K folks had started at 8 and then we 5K folks started around 8:20.  Anyway, it seemed to all work out, I didn't hear any complaints about congestion, etc., when I was wandering around and chatting to people after the finish.

I got there with about an hour to start time for me and wandered around getting photos of volunteers, participants, supporters, etc.  Folks wearing the red "Zero" shirts are wearing the race shirt that participants got.  I think there was a blue one too but I may be mistaken.  I got red...very nice tech tee shirt, I like it.

My lovely friend Carolyn, who did the 10K....so I could not get any motivation on the course from her by chasing her Great Legs, since I was doing the 5K. 

She makes an old man like me look good, though!

iaapweb.com timing and results guys....

My prostate cancer survivor friend, Bill, who did the 10K.

My bud, Roy and his son

Roy carried The Flag for the whole 5K course, with his son accompanying him.

Coffee and donuts for those who needed to load up.

Some of my running pals at the "Scallywompus" tent, promoting upcoming Scallywompus events, which are also really good events - <cite>www.scallywompus.com</cite>

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Our inimitable and indomitable MC, Mark Purnell, who always does a great job.

My favorite volunteers - the BEER guys.   My first stop after I finished.  

Running for people in their hearts and minds..

When I first saw the backs of their shirts, I thought the were prostate QUEENS, lol....and maybe they are, with the care they give

..but on closer inspection, realized it was probably the name of a facility

10K folks are on the road.  5K folks getting ready to start

ON THE COURSE

Out and back course. Started at the park pavilion, out onto paved roads to a turn-around point under a bridge near the Mission Reach Riverwalk Trail and then back the way we had come.  I was feeling pretty good and ended up with a finish time of 34:16, 7th in my 60 - 69 age group.  The top 3 guys in my age group all finished in the 20's, sheesh.

Turn-around point volunteers and water stop volunteers

I'm now heading back to the park

I tried to get this guy, heading to the turn-round point, to come to my side and give me a ride back.  No go.

After that last photo, I hoofed it nonstop for the last 1.2 miles to the finish. Haven't done that in a while.  Leg I injured in March definitely feeling better!

AFTER THE FINISH

Oh yeah......there was also water, sausages/hot dogs, beans, etc., and a food truck was there too.  The blue towel I have was in an iced wading pool at the finish and volunteers handed them out to all finishers, which was nice, cuz it was very humid out there, with the temp already near 80.

Me with the lovely Race Director, Jody.

Me, 10K Bill - who finished first in his age group - and the 72 year old gentleman I ran a bit with on the 5K course.

The gentleman finished 2nd in his age group..

Bill and his number 1 supporter.  She sure makes Bill look good doesn't she? 

Bill and I encountered the San Antonio Spurs Coyote....

...and Coyote's protection detail, lol

My friend, Robert, enjoying a cold one after his under-an-hour  finish in the 10K

Carolyn and friend Sara

Carolyn was 2nd in her age group

Yeah, I know how to make myself look good.. 

Madison was the only doggie there.  When she found out I had biscuits, I was her best friend, lol.

This pavilion was the place to cool off, post-race.  Shade, cool floors, huge ceiling fans....

EPILOGUE

Love this event and have done it in the past.  This year though it was more 'personal' for me as my PSA is a bit high so my doc is having me do some tests.   It's all good, as retired military I have great health care with quite regular checkups and the medical staff that takes care of me is very good.  Hopefully this will be nothing but, if not, it will be at least caught very early, which is key, as I know from personal experience.  We men can be kinda stupid about things like this, when it comes to prostate, colon, etc.,  and often wait too long to get checked.  So don't be stupid....get screened regularly!   Yeah, I'm talking to YOU over there!  

Nice race venue, nice course - just start a little earlier with that darn humidity, lol - but probably doesn't matter....this is Texas summer, it's humid most of the day around - nice post-race goodies, nice tech tees, etc.  Definitely a keeper on the race calendar.  Mucho thanks to all the folks that made this one happen for we participants, all you volunteers, law enforcement, sponsors, vendors, MC, iaapweb.com course set-up and timing folks, etc.   Thanks for being out there for us!

OK, I can go take a nap now, since my report is done...and my idiot Redskins lost to the Cowboys today, so no more football I want to watch to day until the Green Bay game (go Packers!)...I have a feeling my Redskins might end up in the basement this season in our division........well, at least the majority of my college teams are doing well.