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.”
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.
Link to photos only:
BEFORE MY START
My 59th race of 2018 was the Churchill High School Cross-Country 5K held on August 19th at Walker Ranch Park in San Antonio. This event supports funding of the high school’s cross-country running team, hence the name. Start time of 8 a.m. so, since this park is about only 5 miles from where I live, I got to sleep in a bit on this Sunday race morning. Arrived with about an hour to go to start time, got my race packet and got some pre-start photos.
Me and friend Albert
Various volunteers, supporters, participants, etc.
Two lovely ladies making me look good
The Senior Citizen Club, lol.
ON THE COURSE
Course was on the paved concrete and asphalt trails of Walker Ranch Park. This park used to a very small “dead-end” park with very few routes in it. Since the park was renovated to be part of San Antonio’s “greenway system’ of parks and trails, it now connects with Hardberger Park, another local park, so one can get in really nice long run, walk, or bike ride from Walker Ranch Park. Our route was an out-and-back, mostly flat with a couple of smaller hills – nothing compared to the thills I had on Saturday at my Pearsall Park race, but even so, after Pearsall the day before, I could feel these smaller hills in my legs a bit, all right. Nice course though, with lots of shade trees along the way. This course was “open’ so we did encounter other runners, walkers and cyclists during our race, all of whom were pretty darn polite and patient about it all, giving us warning as they came up to pass by. Probably also helped that this was a fairly smaller event – maybe about 150 or so participants registered – and we were pretty much spread out along the trails. The course was a tad long – about 3.3. – which one of the race organizers had told me when I picked up my packet. So I got both worlds in my races this weekend, lol, a short course on Saturday and then a longer one on Sunday that made up for it. I ended up with a 36:02 time for the 3.3 miles – man, those hills from yesterday, lol – and ended up 2nd in my 60 – 64 age group. Happy with that.
About a half mile into the course
Made the turn-round, heading back to the finish now
After that, nonstop running back to the finish, including climbing a couple of small inclines/hills on the way back. After the hilly race on Saturday, I swear my legs were like little kids on a long car trip… ” Are we there yet? Are we there yet? ” Are we there yet? Are we there yet?” Are we there yet? Are we there yet? ” Are we there yet? Are we there yet?”. lol
AFTER MY FINISH
Pretty darn humid by the time I finished, so actually went and sat in my car in the a/c for about 10 minutes cooling off, drinking some water, and eating a banana. Felt mucho refreshed after that and went to take some after photos.
Bernadette as usual placed. Her 70th race of the year.
I was surprised to place as slow as I was moving, lol.
Senior Citizens and their medals.. 
This is one speedy kid. He passed me at the start, always was ahead of me, and was heading back to the finish long before I even made the turn-round point, lol. Way to go, young man! Congrats! Must be in the genes. His ‘big sister” got a medal too.
Race Director and her speedy son, a member of the high school running team.
Way to go, young lady. Placed in her very first 5K ever. These two are wearing the race shirt. I don’t see how they could run in it. As much as I sweat, that cotton shirt would have weighed a ton by the time I finished, lol.
With the Race Director.. Super nice lady.
EPILOGUE
A nice little event at a nice locale for a good cause, supporting our up-and-coming younger runners. Nicely designed quality race-tee – cotton, which I will wear, but can’t run in it as much as I sweat when I run, lol – pretty nice goody bag stuff and race bibs with the timing chip already on them, which is nice, saves the hassle of having to get a timing chip on race morning. Post-race goodies included iced-down water and Gatorade, breakfast tacos and various fruits, etc. No beer though, bummer 😉 – and joking of course; didn’t expect any beer, lol, it is an event that supports a high school and is held in a public park. I believe someone told me this one has been growing in numbers – which is good for the cause – but if it gets too much bigger, the locale might have to change. That could be good or bad, depending on the chosen locale. Either way, this is a nicely organized, well-done event with a good course. Definitely will do this one again in the future and would recommend it to others.
Mucho thanks to all the volunteers, law enforcement/park police, Athlete Guild for the timing and results, Churchill High folks that were out there for us and anyone else I may not have mentioned here who was out there so we participants could do this event.
Scottydog Reports 