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 is here: 

https://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2019%2520Race%2520Reports/2019%2520Race%2520Number%252057%2520Masquerade%25205K?sort=2 

BEFORE MY START

My 57^th race of 2019 was the Masquerade 5K, held on Aug 26^th in San Antonio at the Mariott Hill Country Resort and Spa.  There was also a half marathon and a 10K.  Event start time was 7:30 a.m.  The weather was pretty nice – around 48 degrees at start time – since a ‘cold’ front had moved into San Antonio area for a few days.  A bit chilly for we South Texans since during the week we had been in the 80s on Wednesday, so several participants wearing long sleeves, jackets, etc.  Starting stage was nice with indoor facilities, coffee, water fountains and indoor restrooms.  I live pretty close to the resort so was able to sleep in a bit, and got there with about 45 minutes to the start time, and got a few photos.

Drum players

My friends who did the half

Various others

ON THE COURSE

The course was supposed to be all on the golf course trails for the 5K – and pretty hilly – but because we had a major storm on Thursday night and then rain on Friday morning, there was still some standing water in places along the golfcart trails.  So the course was changed up a bit where we started on the golf course trails, went by the resort swimming pool and lazy river, and then diverted out onto the local roads near the resort.  We finished up by coming back onto the resort grounds, finishing going up the only hill on the course, as we wound around some golf-cart trails that took us back to our start/finish area. My garmin showed 3.2 miles and I ended up finishing in 38:13, averaging about 11:46 per mile, and first in my age group of 60 – 69.  So you know it was a pretty small 5K when I end up first in my age group.

Heading up the only 5K hill as we go back to that building in the distance where the start/finish was

Mile 7!  I think we 5k folks went too far..   

After I finished, got a photo of this young lady coming in...I had run with her a bit on the course

After My Finish

A nice finisher medal for all finishers.  Post-race there was also some food provided that included a small cup of various fruits, and a few cookies, and there was also fresh-off-the grill pancakes.  Water and coffee were the drinks – no post-race beer, darn the luck.  😉  After eating and doing my cool-down walk, I went around and got a few photos of the happy finishers, volunteers, etc.

Our timer and results guy from Athlete Guild race management company

Thanks, volunteers

The official photographer

Our MC calling in all the runners and walkers as they finished

All the age group medals waiting for the winners

The Half was the main event

Happy finishers, volunteers, etc

It was pretty sunny outside, but a chill wind made it feel pretty cool

A table-full of post race food

Thank you food volunteer

The finisher medal

On my way back to my car, some resort scenery

EPILOGUE

This is a nicely done event with a nice quality long-sleeved race shirt, nice finisher medals, and a nice post-race spread.  There was a costume contest also, so several people were in costume, and before the start there was a drum group playing and moving around the pre-start inside area, making this feel kind of like an early mardi gras event.   All nicely done.  Good event that I would do again and would recommend to others.

Thanks to all the folks who made this event happen for we participants: the resort and its staff for the hospitality; all the volunteers that had to be out there way early and out there the day before for packet pickup; all the sponsors that helped make this one happen; the law enforcement officers out there on the roads for us; and the patience of the hotel guests and the golfers out there early, as we runners and walkers invaded their space for a while.

That is a fancy venue. Congrats on the AG win!