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

Held at 9 PM on July 25, 2015, this was the inaugural event of the Urban Legend 5K put on by Athlete Guild and Soler Sports, two very good local running companies.  Venue was at the Victory Sports complex and the route took everyone along the area where there are legends of San Antonio ghosts such as  the Donkey Lady, Slenderman, etc.  (link: https://www.athleteguild.com/running/san-antonio-tx/2015-urban-legend-5k ).  Around 200 or so finishers.   I ended up being first in my age group (60+) with a chip time of 33:26.  Nice after-party after the finish.

LONG VERSION WITH PHOTOS

Before the Start

Your host for this report

9 PM start, so I arrived at the sports complex about 8:15 and began wandering around taking some pre-start photos

Athlete Guild Timing and Results folks

Music Men

Caught these folks with the sun setting in their faces

Some members of Get Fit SATX

For those who wanted it, shaved ice, juice, and other drinks

These ladies present a nice view of then nice Urban Legend 5K tech tee shirt that participants got

On the Course

The course was interesting.  We started from the complex, went out to the road, turned left went across the railroad tracks - where a school bus full of 'ghost kids" moaned and wailed at us as we passed by.  Down the road from the school bus to a turn around point - and along the way this "Donkey" person jumped out from the brush and scared the heck out of a few people, lol.  Then onto a road that took us up to the gate of Mission Espada, one of the 17th century old Spanish missions in San Antonio - and who threw in these hills on the course here?  - and to and from the Mission area we passed the Wailing Woman - well, I didn't see her, but I could certainly here her, as there was a speaker - or WAS it a speaker? with a "voice' wailing and calling for someone (I think it was her children she was calling for; I'm not really familiar with all the local legends of this area), and then back over the tracks - and the children were still moaning and wailing - and back into the sports complex to finish.

My camera is not a great night-time camera - ok, it's actually pretty bad - so these are not great on-course photos..but you can kinda get the idea....it was dark!

I took this right as people with headlamps were coming at me.  Can't see the people, but I thought the photo was pretty cool, all these 'weird bright light shapes" coming right at me....perfect for a 'spooky' run, lol.

They look a little more normal under the street light. 

These were on the Espada Mission road

After the Finish

Got some water, walked around a bit, cooled down, began taking some post-race photos.  Again, quality not great on these...but at least there was more light here in the finish area, so you can actually see people.

Sausage wraps and the lovely ladies who served them

yeah, post-race sausage wrap and beer!

They pushed this double stroller in the dark...and still finished ahead of me, lol.

Post-race Gatorade Ladies

The one of them by themselves turned out not so hot....although you can still kinda see them..

And then the one with me with them turned out better...must be my magic powers...  

Glowwwwwing.....

Not glowing..well, the lights anyway.  The young ladies are most certainly glowing.

Part of the after-party on-goings

Random bib drawing for door prizes, with this lovely lady volunteer overseeing it.  I won nada...but that nice smile of hers was a good reward

The lady in the middle was one of the ghosts on the course......or WAS she?

Nice age group medals...the Urban Legend logo - same as the t-shirt - put into a nice square frame

EPILOG

Lived her for over 20 years and never been down to this part of town or even heard of these ghost stories. So it was really a pleasure to do this event and learn all about these urban legends.   Very interesting and entertaining course, and a really great party afterwards, music, beer, food, photo-booth, door prizes, etc.  Our local runners who didn't do this one missed out!  Hope this one grows and "stays the course" (no pun intended ) because it certainly is one of the most "unique" local runs.  Definitely will keep this one on my race calendar for next year and would definitely recommend this one to my fellow runners.   Mucho thanks to all the sponsors, law enforcement, volunteers, Athlete Guild, Soler Sports (where packet pickup was too), etc., all the people who made this one happen for we participants.  Hope to see you all next year...and who knows...I might have a ghost of a chance to win a door prize next year.

I took this right as people with headlamps were coming at me.  Can't see the people, but I thought the photo was pretty cool, all these 'weird bright light shapes" coming right at me....perfect for a 'spooky' run, lol.

 

 

That is cool!

It got dark pretty quick for a 9:00 PM start. We must be hurdling towards fall rather swiftly.