Photos are here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/J72a4XwmM4zbkGEx9
Before the start: My 56th 5K of 2026 was the Breast Cancer Awarness 5K held on October 10 at JBSA Randolph Air Force Base. First off, right up front, I want to apologize that I have only 25 photos to display. I actually took 60 photos for this event, but when I got home and began to do my race report, only 25 would come up to show; I think my old-time Canon push-button camera may be on its last legs; thankfully, I have several more of these for future events. Meanwhile, I am working with a local camera company and Best Buy (where I bought the camera) to see if this can be resolved. If so, I will then post the rest of the photos to my album; so until this gets resolved, if I took a photo of you at this event and you don’t see it on my album, that is why. Put on by the Base Welcome Center, this event was to help people become more aware of breast cancer and things to do that could help the cause; help survivors and their families, and help to hopefully one day fine a cure. There were several various local companies who helped sponsor the event and also had various types of give-aways, information, and so forth. As this event was held on a military installation, military-associated sponsors who wanted to bring a non-military associated person to the event had to go the day before the event to the Welcome Center to get a pass to sign in the non-military associated person on the day of the 5K. Start time was 8:30 a.m. Prior to the start I wandered around the start/finish area getting some photos and chatting with other participants; sponsors, etc. Our weather was nice and sunny, with not a cloud in the sky. The start/finish area was located near a very nice park just down from the entrance gate of the base and near the base financial center, and I could also see from this area the Base Exhange (BX) across the street. There was also a building near the race site that had a small pavilion and a building that had indoor restrooms, which was nice, and a fairly large parking lot.
On the course: This was not chip-timed event; instead, there was a volunteer at the finish line with a timing watch who called our finish times out as we crossed the finish line. The National Anthem was played and then we got started. The temperaturs start time was 72 degrees, with humidity at about 78 percent, and the course, which was out-and-back, had virtually no shade at all for the most part; sunny and clear blue skies. As usual, I did my 8-min-run/2-min-walk thing – can’t run nonstop anymore due to spinal arthritis, which I knew would come one day as I was a March of Dimes baby, born with dislocated hips, and all my docs told me this is a degenerative disease and when I got older, I’d experience my arthritis at a higher level, and that did happen when I was in my late 40s, so began a run/walk method; too hard on my back to run non-stop anymore. I took photos during my walk breaks, and then would continue running when my Garmin beeped at me to begin running again. The course was very flat – not a hill in sight. Since this event did not post results, I am not sure how many participants there were, but wow, there was a really nice turn-out for this one that included both runners, walkers, and yes, even a few dogs as this was a dog-friendly event, and I soon made a lot of doggie friends, lol, as I carry dog-treats with me when I do my run/walks. On the way to the turn-round, I was pretty near several other runners and walkers who were going around the same pace as I was, so on the way to the turn-round I got a few photos of other participants. Once I made the turn-round – especially at my slow pace, lol – the crowd had thinned out quite a bit. That changed when I got to a point where the 5K walkers were heading for the turn-round, and that was quite a crowd, so I got a few photos of them too. When I hit Mile 2, as usual for me, I try to run the last mile non-stop. I ended up with a time of 44:43, averaging 14:43 per mile. Mile 1: 14:59. Mile 2: 15:11. Mile 3: 14:07.
After My Finish: I stood a short way up from the finish line so as not to impede anyone and got a few photos of some others finishing. Finisher medals were handed out too, very nice medal. After that, I wandered around the area, chatting othe participants and their supporters and family members, and also chatting with the vendors/sponsors there who had some nice give-away freebie stuff, things like scarves, various types of drinks and snacks, and so forth. I took a photo of one family, all of whom had done the event, so they all had medals, except for the youngest one who was in a stroller; so I gave my medal to the little one, so everyone in the family would have one. I do so many races over a year, I’m running out of space, lol; so I usually throw my finisher medals in a bag and then when I get enough of them I take them to THE MAC (Multi-Assistance Center) of Morgan’s Wonderland and give the medals to the kids there who are being treated for their disabilities – which I can relate to.
Epilogue: This is a really nicely done event, one of the most enjoyable I’ve ever done. Super nice people everywhere; a very nicely though-out course that is so flat, just about anyone can do this, e.g. able-bodied people; disabled people; wheelchair people, etc. I will defefitely do this one again and would certainly recommend it to others. Mucho thanks to all who made this one happen for we particpants, e.g., The Welcome Center Staff; all the many volunteers; the base law enforcement folks there for our safety; any organization who may have helped sponsor the event, and all others whom I may not have mentioned here; thank you all! Hope to see you again next year; I’d definitely put this one on my race calendar again.
Whatever your passion is, may you always enjoy it and may you have much success at it and always stay safe doing it! If you are a fellow race participant and see me at an event, give me a shout-out. I’d be happy to get a photo with you.
