Photos are here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ShsPeHL51Q6uiToZ6
Before The Start: My 56th race of 2022 was Trails Fur Tails 5K, held on Sunday, November 6. This was my 2nd race of the weekend after doing the Battle of Leon Creek 5K the day before. Trails Fur Tails was held at McAllister Park, starting at 9 a.m. With the time change for the year, I got nice little sleep-in on Sunday morning, as the McAllister Park race location is only a 15-minute drive from where I live. This event supports Alamo Area Partners for Animal Welfare (AAPAW), which supports funding for animal rescue groups and veterinary costs in the San Antonio area. This was a fairly smaller event with 54 finishers. I arrived a bit past 8 a.m., got my race packet, and then got a few pre-start photos.
On The Course: Start and finish line was near the youth baseball field, just up from the lower soccer field in the park. The course was on a paved park road and off-road paved park trails. Our route took us from the baseball field onto the park road and then onto an off-road trail that took us past the Police Substation near the park. After passing by the substation, the trail continued on a trail that took us near Becken Pavilion in the Park. We turned right onto another trail – with Becken Pavilion behind us – which took us back to the park road. Back at the road, we then proceeded to the finish via the same way we had come out from the start. I ended up with a chip time of 44:22; 25th overall, 3rd in my 60 – 99 males age group, and 11th male overall. I felt pretty good overall, but my legs for this 5K were feeling that Scallywompus race the day before, lol. I still placed, as there were only 3 in my age group, and the awards went 3-deep for each age group; nice for a smaller event.
After My Finish: I got a few photos after my finish of some of the happy finishers – a couple of them a bit blurry with my great camera skill, so apologies to those folks – and enjoyed some post-race treats – NOT dog biscuits by the way, lol; although AAPAW did have several types of dog treats available and some of them actually did look like they’d be pretty tasty.
Epilogue: Although a smaller event, this one is nicely done. Very well organized; nicely laid out course; nice quality race shirt; some nice post-race treats – including lots of coffee, which my coffee fanatic friend Woody would have loved – and a nicely designed age-group medal for the award winners. Also, of course, a dog-friendly event. I would definitely do this one again and would recommend it to others. It is really a great cause too, so I hope this one grows more in the future. Nice, also, that is done on Sunday, so not competing with the other umpteen races that were held the day before this one. Y’all come on out next year and do this one! Mucho Gusto thanks to AAPAW and all the people that made this one happen for we participants; Race Director; all the volunteers and race sponsors; park police out there for our safety; Athlete Guild race management company for the course setup, timing, results; and personally from me, all the dogs out there, I love meeting the dogs, lol. Personal thanks to a lady I met on the course who ran with me a bit; she is originally from England and I lived in England for 4 years, so we had a nice chat. Also thanks to my friend Albert for running with me – until Mile 2 when he left me in the dust, lol; and to my friend Eli – 2nd overall finisher – who came back onto the course to pace me in. My apologies if I missed any others involved; thanks to all of you!
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