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.

Here is yet another of my photo reports.  Full commentary report below.     

Photos Slideshow (no commentary):

https://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2019%2520Race%2520Reports/2019%2520Race%2520Number%252062%2520Boerne%2520YMCA%2520Turkey%2520Trot%25205K%252010K?sort=2

BEFORE MY START

My 62^nd race of 2019 was The Boerne YMCA Family Turkey Trot 5K.  There was also a 10K, a 1-Mile walk, and a Kids Run.  Event was held at the Town Square in Boerne, Texas, about a 30-minute drive from where I live in San Antonio.  Weather was pretty cooperative, although a bit chilly before the start, at 43 degrees or so.  Warmed up quite nicely to around 47 after the sunrise.  Nice sunshine and blue skies for us.  I arrived with about an hour to go to the 8:05 a.m 5K start – the 10K started 5 minutes before the 5K- and got a few pre-start photos.

Boerne Town Square area

Before the race crowd arrives

Company that did the race set up, timing, results, etc

This is part of the Boerne Riverwalk area, where the 1-mile walk took place

Various participants, volunteers, etc

You better, if you want that post-race Cowboy Breakfast

Volunteers got long-sleeved pink tech tees

Participants got long-sleeved green tech tees

ON THE COURSE

We started on one side of the Town Square, went about halfway around it, then through a parking lot to some adjacent streets.  From here we were on paved streets taking us through some pretty nice neighborhoods.  I soon realized we were pretty much doing the same course as last year, except this year the course was done in reverse.  That was nice because it gave us only 1 uphill on the way to the finish line, and the ‘bigger’ hill – an uphill on the way out on last year’s course – was downhill now.  Pretty flat to the finish, with one incline to go up right before we finished.  I did okay, 5^th in my age group (60 – 69), 34:52 time, and my mile 2 to mile 3 was 10:11.  I had negative splits for this course, but my left foot “popped” right before the finish line – ouch!  I thought maybe I had a stress fracture, but was able to walk around a bit post-race and, while my foot still hurt, it felt better as I moved around; can walk okay, but definitely can’t run on it; so I think maybe I have a bit of tendonitis in there – bottom of the left foot, right underneath the middle outer edge of my foot – and might have to take some time off for a bit; so much for my planned races for Thanksgiving week.

At  .74 miles in

Passed this colorful "Texas decor' house

A bit past the halfway mark now

After that, ran non-stop back to the finish.  Then after I finished, went and stood near the crest of the incline we all had to climb to get to the finish and got this photo of other people coming in, and 2 folks going out; they had finished before me, so I assumed they were going to out to run some friends in, or doing a cool-down run

After My Finish

I think this event is one of the best-kept secrets in the San Antonio area running community. It has grown – there were around 800 participants this year – but still not as well-known as some of the more popular events for this weekend in New Braunfels, San Antonio, etc.  People see YMCA in the race title and probably think low-key laid-back race with not a lot to offer.  So wrong.  The first time I did this race…just wow….and this has become one of my favorites to do every year. Post-race there was a Cowboy Breakfast served up for all who wanted it; massage tables; Arrosti onsite for those who needed injury advice, massage, etc; two different local beer brewery vendors; brisket taco wraps; one of these self-photo booth cameras; all kinds of fruits, other drinks, freebies from sponsors, and vendors;  a “Turkey” going around  start/finish area you could get a photo with;  and more; so many booths I can’t remember them all.  I went around happily munching and having my one beer, and taking photos of people I encountered, chatted with, etc.

Various

Brisket wraps, served up by these ladies

Beer!

This kid is not too sure of that non-family member, lol

This company had team members doing the event

Cowboy breakfast served up

Thanks to the officers out there for us

This is a dog friendly event

Friend Bernadette, 1st place in her age group

Friend Robert, 1st place 75+ age group

EPILOGUE

As noted, really nice event, one I will continue to do.  If I can’t run it, I will walk it. Very nice goodie bag too, chock full of stuff, and the race shirt is a very nice quality long-sleeved tech tee.  Color for participants was green and the volunteers had a pink shirt.  I wanted to buy one of those pink long-sleeved shirts for whenever I did a Breast Cancer event – very nice shirt and very colorful, one of the best pink tech tee shirts I’ve ever seen - but unfortunately after they were distributed to all the volunteers, none were left. Oh well.  I really enjoy this event and will continue to do it in the future.  Most assuredly, would recommend it.  And for those who want to ‘sleep in’ a bit and make a weekend of it, there is a really nice hotel right beside the starting area/town square. Boerne has some nice shoppes and its own Riverwalk – smaller than San Antono’s but still quite nice – you can walk or run along – so well worth a visit to Borne if you’ve never come.

Many thanks to all the people who made this one happen for we participants, including all the sponsors, vendors, volunteers, EMTs and police officers out there for us; all the drivers along the course for their great patience as they waited for us to pass; Redemption for doing the course set-up, timing, and results; and any others I may not have mentioned here.  Thanks so much for what you do so we participants can have this race.