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 report below.     

Link to photos only:

http://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2018%20race%20reports/2018%20Race%20Number%2082%20Fredericksburg%20Turkey%20Trot?sort=2

BEFORE MY START

My 82^nd race of 2018 was Fredericksburg Turkey Trot held on Nov 24 in Fredericksburg, TX, about 90 miles from San Antonio.  This was more like 'burn off the turkey', lol, since it was a couple days after Thanksgiving.  The event included a 5K, a 10K and a 1-mile fun run.  There were 77 finishers for the 5K and 251 finishers for the 5K.  This event supported MOM Center, a nonprofit women’s resource center specializing in parenting education and adoption advocacy.  I arrived with about an hour to go for the 8:30 a.m. start time for the 5K and 10K and got some pre-start photos.  Although it was a bit chilly when I first arrived, the sun came out strong and by race start time we had a temp of around 55 degrees, with most people putting aside their layers.

C'est moi!

Local race management company Athlete Guild did the timing and results for this one.  Hard at work before the start.

The official photographer

Various volunteers, participants, etc.   This was a dog-friendly event

Getting ready to start

This was the 97th race of the year for my speedy friend Bernadette

ON THE COURSE

This was a nicely designed kinda-loop course with us starting in front of a local elementary school and going out one driveway and then finishing by coming in another driveway, after routing through some pretty nice neighborhoods with a couple of mild hills thrown in; actually felt more to me like long inclines than hills. Very wide streets so people had lots of room to spread out. The course was open to traffic but where I was at any given time there were very few vehicles; and those that were there, the drivers were pretty patient about it all.  I took 2 walk breaks and then ran nonstop to the finish for the last 1.2 miles, finishing in 32:48 chip time, 4^th in my 60 – 69 age group.

Water stop volunteers....no beer...  

AFTER MY FINISH

Got some water and a banana post-finish, munched and drank and did a small recovery walk and then got some post-race photos.

The Turkeys were out-and-about on the course

Happy finishers, supporters, etc.

My friend here was 3rd in his age group in the 10K

My age group placing friend with his wife and with his son

My "long-haired hippy freak"  Don placed in his age group for his 98th race of the year

Two placers - Don, with Race 98 of the year and Bernadette with Race 97 of the year

EPILOGUE

This is a small-and-friendly event with lots of good people. I felt almost like I was having a social run with friends instead of doing a race, and that was all good. Very nicely laid out course for the 5K.  10K folks ran the 5K course up to a point, and then the 5K folks turned off, so I don’t know what the rest of the 10K course was like.  The 1-mile fun run was done on part of the 5K course and I think theirs was an out-and-back.  There were some pretty speedy kids too, especially those that came in before the others.  I couldn’t run the mile pace of some of those first-in kids, lol, I’d keel right over.  Post-race goodies were pretty much water, various fruits, and some other items.  Race shirts are pretty nice quality with a nice and simple design.  I have done this one in the past and would do it again, and certainly would recommend it to others.

Thanks to all the people that made this one happen for us, including all the volunteers, law enforcement, organizers, elementary school staff for letting us use their grounds, Athlete Guild for the timing and results, and anyone else I may not have mentioned here.  No event for we participants without you, so mucho gracias!