Photos are here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/PpTZTomrxrrPBgiQ6

Before My Start:  On Sunday, October 10, 2021, I participated in the Get Your Rear in Gear 5K at Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio.  This event is put on by the Colon Cancer Coalition and is held in cities across the US on various dates.  Being a survivor, I participate in this one whenever I can.  The was my second 5K of the weekend, afer having done the Battle of Hillotes 5K on Saturday, October 9; a very hilly course, and these were not baby hills either..  Event start time of 8 a.m.   Since I only live about 4 miles from Morgan’s Wonderland, I was able to sleep in a bit, arriving at race site around 7:15 a.m.  I had picked up my race packet the day before, so was able to spend my pre-race time chatting with friends and other participants; attend the opening ceremony for this one; and get a few pre-start photos.

On The Course:  About 100 finishers for this event, plus there was a Kids Run before the 5K started. After the hilly race the day before, this one was thankfully very flat, which my legs appreciated as they were still somewhat feeling all those hills done. We started inside Morgan’s Wonderland, did a loop around the man-made lake in the park and then exited the park to do a kind of out-and-back course that took us by-and-behind Heroes Stadium, an athletic event of Northeast Independent School District. Once we got back into the park, we went around the lake again to finish.  Not much scenery on this course but, as noted, it’s nice and flat.  I felt pretty good and did okay until a little past the halfway point and then my legs were shouting at me to slow the pace a bit, lol, feeling those hills from yesterday’s 5K.  I ended up with a chip time of 38:58, averaging around 12:32 per mile.  Almost 2 minutes slower than my hilly 5K on Saturday, when I was feeling good and pushed myself a bit that morning, so I guess I paid for that with this event. All good though, still managed to enjoy myself, and I did end up 2^nd in my 60-69 age group, since there were only 2 in my age group.  The other guy in my age group finished in 24 minutes, zowie!  The weather was okay, cloudy and overcast, and we got ‘spit upon’ by a few raindrops after, but that soon faded.  The cooler weather we had the last few days was gone, however, and it was pretty humid out with the temp already in the 70s at by the 8 a.m. race start time.

After My Finish: First, went and got some water and sat down for a bit and also enjoyed some breakfast tacos that were part of the many goodies available after the race.   No beer though, but that’s okay, I get it.  So, enjoyed just relaxing, rehydrating and the tacos, and chatting with friends.  Then it was off to wander around and chat with other friend and participants and get some post-race photos.  Somehow, I manage to thoroughly enjoy myself at all these events I do.

Epilogue: Very nicely done event. In spite of lack of scenery – except in the park – the course really is nicely thought out and a good one. Very nice opening ceremony with some very moving words from a colon cancer survivor, and a moment of silence for anyone with cancer and lost to cancer.  There was also a group photo taken of all the colon cancer survivors attending.  Post-race goodies were great. There was a choice of about 6 different kinds of breakfast tacos, all kinds of energy/nutrition bars, coffee, water, bananas and other fruit, and I forget what else, but a nice selection. Very nice quality race shirt and very nice age-group medals.  Nice venue too; this is one nice park to just sit and relax in, it is very peaceful.  I have done this race several times in the past and will continue to do so in the future. I would certainly recommend it to others.  Great cause, and a really nice group of organizers, volunteers, and participants.

Mucho Thanks To: All the organizers and volunteers who got everything done so we participants can do this event; Morgan’s Wonderland operators for the use of the park; the police officers there for our safety, and any medical staff that was there; our MC who did a really fine job; and to our speaker at the opening ceremonies; very moving and very wise words; iaap race company for the course set-up, timing, results, etc; and anyone else involved I may not have mentioned here.  Thank you all so very much!  See you at the next one!