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!

My 26th race of 2016 was the San Antonio Roadrunners Fiesta Fandango 2.6 Mile Fun Run/Walk.  This run is held at night and starts arouund 6:20 PM right before the start of the Fiesta Flambeau Parade, the largest night-time parade in the US.  Participants run the parade round in front of THOUSANDS of cheering spectators already in place waiting for the parade to start.   There is also a costume contest so lots of participants run this one in costume.  Which can get pretty warm for them as, for example, the temp at the start of this year's parade was 80 degrees. Luckily we had a pretty low humidity and dew-point this year so that was helpful.   I ended up finishing in 26:56, averaging about 10:22 or so a mile, which I did not think was too bad as I am still nursing a sore adductor, piriformis, and hamstring.    I wanted to get this event in and now I am really going to behave myself and take some time off and let things heal up, just do some walking and other x-training for the month of May.

I am going from my running 'with a bang' though; because for this event I took about 150 photos, sheesh!  I never realize just how many photos I take until I get home and get them up on my  computer and get the count.  So this will be a pretty long report.  However, if you don't want to go through all the photos below and my commentary, you can get a slide show here of just the photos:  http://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2016%20Race%20Reports/2016%20Race%2026%20Fiesta%20Fandango

So here is the scenario.  For this event, participants park at the San Antonio Zoo/Japanese Sunken Gardens area, - the staging area, where there was race day packet pickup and the costume contest;  then buses take us over to the start area in downtown San Antonio on Broadway and Grayson. There is an after-party at a local park near the finish, and then buses bring participants back to the parking area.

Staging Area

On the way up to the start area. 

One nice thing about this event, as a participant we get a closeup look at some of the floats and parade participants.

I work at UTSA and saw these UTSA "Spirit of San Antonio" band members in the prep areas.

And some of the parade floats

Some of the parade participants

Thanks for your service, Vietnam Vets!

International

Future Air Force - JR ROTC Air Force

And horse carriages

At the start area

Me and my friend Sandra, one of my personal heroes.

Umm, guys...don't jinx the Spurs...

That''s better...

Getting ready to go....ahead of me and behind me...

On the Course

Down Broadway we go...as you can see from that one lady in red crossing the street...we often had to watch out for spectators crossing in front of us.

On Alamo Street in front of The Alamo

Down Commerce Street, the 'main drag' of downtown San Antonio

After I finished, I walked back up the course taking photos of folks still on the course finishing up on Santa Rosa Street and coming down Commerce

I passed by this place - the hospital where I donate to the kids with cancer  any medals I may get at a race

And the course went by this strange 'slanted' tall building...even if the photo was straight, this building still gives the optical illusion of being slanted when you look at it.

After the Finish

She hooked me...

Ooops..I cut off my friend Bill's head....but since he IS a lawyer, so that might be okay....

There we go.

And then Chris cracked me up...

One day I will get a photo of my friend Arturo actually smiling

Yeah, beer!

CAUTION!  These guys are crazy, lol.

Two sisters

Brak Pak

One little Spurs fan

I'd throw my hat into the ring too...but I hate wearing hats, so that's out.  

Ooops...got this a little fuzzy of my friends Juan and Sandra.  But they are still beautiful.

OK that's a little better...Sandra can always photo-shop me out, lol.

EPILOG

ABSOLUTELY one of the funnest -events of the year on the San Antonio race calendar.  yeah FUNNEST!  Loosen up grammar nobs, it's a party!    If you are a runner/walker and are ever in San Antonio during April for Fiesta San Antonio, definitely do this one.   Costumes, a very flat 2.6 mile route and a nice little after party.  It can sometimes be a bit warm, since this is an evening run; I remember one year we did this it was 94 degrees.  Then when you are ready to go, you get a ride back to your vehicle from one of the nice air-conditioned charter buses.  Or you can make your own transportation arrangements and stay and watch the rest of the parade - and closeup too.   It's alllllllll  GOOD! 

Mucho thanks to the San Antonio Roadrunners for this event, all their volunteers and sponsors, all the law enforcement and EMTs out there for us, to the Fiesta San Antonio Commission for allowing this event to be part of the Fiesta  San Antonio party, to all the folks who make this one happen for we participants!

That looks like a lot of fun. I think Fiesta and the Dia de los Muertos races are the best ones you describe. I love all the costumes and the fact that people are just out to have a good time while running and walking.

That looks like a lot of fun. I think Fiesta and the Dia de los Muertos races are the best ones you describe. I love all the costumes and the fact that people are just out to have a good time while running and walking.

You should come down sometime Ginny for Fiesta!  You'd have a blast!