Photos are here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/nXmnuZfpFW29kGv49
Before The Start: On Sunday, November 5th, 2023, I completed my 62nd race of the year and my second of the Nov 4 – Nov 5 weekend. Trails Fur Tails 5K, held in McAllister Park, is an event that supports Alamo Area Partners for Animal Welfare (AAPAW) which provides support and veterinary funding for rescue groups in and around the San Antonio area. Race start time of 9 a.m. Packet pickup was on race day morning. This was a fairly smaller event with 69 finishers. I live pretty close to McAllister Park so, along with the time change of moving the clocks back the night before, I got to sleep in a bit. I arrived with about an hour or so until start time, got my packet, and got a few pre-start photos.
On the Course: The course started just a bit past the park’s lower soccer fields and a bit down from a nearby youth baseball field. We went straight past the baseball field and continued onto the road straight ahead of. This was a flat road that took us in the direction of Becken Pavilion and the park entrance at Jones Maltsberger Road. Prior to getting to Becken Pavilion, we made a left turn onto an off-road paved trail that took us past a police sub-station adjacent to the park. We rounded a couple of curves on the trail and then proceeded down a trail that took intersected with another trail just down from Becken Pavilion. We turned right onto this trail, leaving Becken Pavilion behind us and went onto a trail that took us back to the road we had started on. After crossing over this road, we were then on winding trail that eventually took us to a trail intersection, where we made a right turn and then came out back onto our starting road, just down from the baseball and soccer fields. After making a left turn, we then proceeded back to the finish. After having pushed myself a bit during my Saturday 5K, I took it fairly easy for this one, making photo stops and also stopped to hand out treats to any dogs I met along the way. This pretty much killed my finish time, lol – 45:14 chip time today vs my 41 minutes and change for my Saturday 5K – but it was all good, I enjoyed myself.
After My Finish: Awards were given to the overall winners and the overall placers in each age group, so I knew I would not be getting anything, especially as my age group was 60 – 99 males – but during a drawing, I did win a very nice gift basket full of good things, including a pet store gift certificate, some various dog treats and dog toys – which my cats actually enjoy now, lol – and more. Very nice. I did my usual post-race thing of chatting with other participants and getting a few photos of the happy finishers and their accompanying supporters/friends and, of course, some of the dogs in attendance.
Epilogue: As noted, this is a fairly small event, but a very well organized one and a fun one. Very nicely thought-out course, with flat roads and trails, lots of shade, and lots of deer along the way too; this park is chock-full of deer who are very used to people. Mucho thanks to AAPAW for putting on this event, and also thanks to Athlete Guild that did the course setup, timing, and result, and to all the people and organizations who sponsored this event. There was also a food truck on site as well. Very nice quality race shirt too. I would definitely do this one again and would recommend it to others.
Scottydog Reports 