Barking Mad To Run
INTRO
I am Scott aka Scottydog aka Scotty Dogg, runner since 1983, cancer survivor, retired Air Force, employee of University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), friend of dogs, fun-runner, and all-around 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. 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, hence my nickname “Scottydog.” Here is yet another of my Race Reports With Photos, and my thanks to all the people I interacted with for their graciousness and good humor in letting me take photos of them.
SHORT VERSION REPORT
This was my 37th race of 2015. Held on August 8, 2015 at University of Incarnate Word (UIW). .Loteria 5K - Mexican Bingo - is a very popular annual event put on by iaapweb.com, a great San Antonio-based running company, and several of the participants run/walk in costume as characters from the Loteria cards. Start time of 8 a.m. - VERY humid, especially in Texas summer, and temp was already close to 80 when we started....note to Texas Race Directors: earlier start for races in Texas summer please! Even a half-hour earlier would've been nice... . Due to some construction along the normal course used for this event, the course had to be changed a bit, so it was more trail running than the usual course. The beginning trails were pretty narrow, so not a lot of room for passing, etc,; it was pretty slow going for the first mile for the middle-and-back of the pack people like me; I really thought I would end up with a 40 minute finish time today, but I made up a bit of time when we hit the pavement again and ended up with a time of 37:42.
LONG VERSION REPORT WITH PHOTOS
Ok, I REALLY like this race! So much so, I think I got a bit carried away, because I took over 100 photos! So hope you have the patience to enjoy! If not and you want to avoid my long-winded verbiage, you can go here for just a slide show of the photos. I promise I will not be offended. Slideshow: http://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2015%20Race%20Reports/2015%20Race%2037%20Loteria%205K?sort=2
Picked my packet and shirt up on the Thursday evening before the race. The bib and the shirt...there were several various colored shirts with various Loteria card characters on the front of each. The character I got was "El Diablito"...I think the folks at iaapweb.com know me too well, lol.
Very unique running bib, with all the characters..
Yours truly, 'hosting' this report. For this event, I wore one of my favorite shirts, "El Perro", which I got at a previous Loteria 5K a few years ago. It certainly is appropriate for me, lol. As said, I think those iaapweb folks know me too well now ...
Before the Start
UIW is not a far drive from where I live, so I got to sleep in a bit. Arrived at race site a little after 7 a.m. and since I had already gotten my bib and timing chip and shirt, I did not have to pick anything up here, so began taking some pre-start photos.
A couple of my friends who do the BISH Foundation 5K in November after the holiday season has started. This also is a great event for a great cause, which I try to do whenever I can. Great after-party too, beer, food, music; and Santa Suits to everyone who runs or walks, so the course is chock-full of Santas out there. If you can do it, definitely give the Santa Antonio 5K a try, you won't regret it.
The start-and-finish line
Cut-outs set up for people to stick their faces in and get photos
Race Day Registration and packet pickup volunteers
UIW church steeple in our background
UIW stadium - home of the UIW Cardinals
Participants, supporters, et al, pre-start
My 'old guy' friends, Jim and Bob....both of them speedy, and both of them in MY age group, darn the luck...
Yay Team RWB (Red White Blue), a veteran's group of which I am also a member
My friend, Anthony, has a knack for being near lovely ladies.
Cici, my friend - and one of my 'running crushes" - and our lovely Race Director for this event
Our Music Man
Our MC, who did his usual great job
Getting ready to start....I was just about at the back of this pack, which made for some slow going on that first mile of trails
On the Course
Slow going on these trails, but what the heck. These were actually some pretty nice trails I'd never been on before. Definitely going to come back here and do a less crowded training run and explore these trails some more.
Yes, those two ladies with the 'cards - one shown here - ran all the way wearing those things
Back on pavement
My good friend Sally Rios coming toward me....we played leapfrog for most of the way, passing each other back and forth.
Course volunteer
Water stop..in front of the university pool building, how appropriate for a 'water' stop...
Through the 'tunnel' by the stadium
These are a little blurry cuz I tried to take these 'on the run' as we were now heading back to the finish, with maybe a little over a half-mile to go, but you can kind of get the idea...this was the second trail that we were on, which we did an out-and-back on...a little roomier than that first trail. Sally, in that red/pink singlet, is ahead of me again...
After the Finish
My first stop after I finished
My friends Gene and Loyce....Gene was an award winner in his age group
Yes, she ran the whole way in this...wings and all
She ran/walked the whole way in this outfit...which was quite warm for her on a humid day like today!
My friend Jim and his friend, enjoying some post-race popsicles that were also available...
I ran behind that lady on the left on the first narrow trails we did...she actually had a pretty good pace. I thought with her wearing that card I'd probably pass her when we got back out on the road part; but nope...she finished in 36-something, with me about almost a minute behind her.
My friend Sally (right) with friend
Some of the costume contest folks....
My friend John, the cluck... great guy with a great sense of humor
My 'street2feet friend Lana - and another of my 'running crushes' - with friends
The lady here was a course volunteer and loudly cheering and encouraging everyone on while she was out there...much appreciated!
Bart and friend; Bart does the Scallywompus event races - also great events. Love his events too, he also throws a great after party. I will definitely be doing the Alamo Beer 5K on Aug 23.
Adrian, Darlene (BISH Foundation) and Mitch, co-owner of iRun Texas, a great running store in San Antonio and also puts on some great races...one thing about San Antonio, we sure don't lack for a selection of quality running events!
My friend, Bob, with friends. Bob is amazing, and a world traveler., he runs, he walks, he hikes, he climbs mountains..makes me get tired just reading about all he does! . .I believe he just got back from Peru recently.
Me and my pal, Bernadette, with whom I probably do the most same races in a year
Two more course volunteers who were out there for us, vociferously cheering us on. Thanks Julie and guy-whose-name-I-can-never-remember-so-I-owe-you-a-beer-for-that..
My friend, Ronnie (right) with friend....Ronnie is perpetually 35 forever; in all the time I've known her, she just never seems to age...
EPILOG
What can I say? One of the most fun races of the year, I try to do this every year when I can. RD Ceci and her iaapweb.com family always do such a great job with this one. Lots of fun costumes, costume contest, great post-race goodies, and really great people showing up to do this one. Definitely a keeper on the race calendar! Much thanks to UIW for the venue, to all the law enforcement folks out there for us, and to all the sponsors, volunteers, etc. who all made it happen for we participants.
Next up for me: Dragon Den 5K on August 15.
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt
Great race shirts, bibs and costumes. This looks like a fun one.
I love the shirt! What a fun theme for a race. Congrats on #37/2015!
Some of the costumes made me laugh out loud. How did the woman in the slinky blue dress run in that thing?
Fun!
I found myself wondering where was Bernadette. lol
There is no way I could run 3.1 miles attached to a poster board. That junk must've been hard!
Little known fact; I once won a costume party dressed as the devil.
I like that shirt!