Photos are here:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/RKcU6o89C1ZhwK4DA

Before The Start:  On December 16, 2023, I completed my 69^th race of the year. The Snowball 5K , starting at 9 a.m., put on at Morgan’s Wonderland, an all-inclusive theme park that caters to all patrons, including those with various disabilities. The park facilities include the original park; Inspiration Island, a water-themed park with accessibility for those with disabilities, and Morgan’s Wonderland Sports, an inclusive area of sports activities for all. As Morgan’s Wondeland Park is currently under renovation, the start and finish for this event was at the sports area, near Heroes Stadium, an athletics facility San Antonio North East Independent School District. This is a popular event that raises funds for Morgan’s Wonderland mission of assisting and giving access to the disabled.  There were 329 finishers for the 5K.  I arrived with about 40 minutes to start time, and chatted with friends, sponsors, vendors, other participants, as I wandered around getting some pre-start photos and handing out treats to dogs that there were there, as this is a dog-friendly event.

 On the Course:  Rain the day before, but on race day we had abundant sunshine, a slight wind, and a 61-degree temperature at start time. We started and finished in the sports area. Our route took us past Inspiration Island and the entrance area of the original Morgan’s Wonderland Park. We then went back toward the sports area, going past that on a road that took alongside of Heroes Stadium. After coming to an intersection, we turned left, going beneath an overpass of the Wurzbach Parkway. This road took us to a hill climb with a turn-round at the top near an exit from the Wurzbach Parkway on the side where the traffic was going south. After going down this hill, we went back under the overpass, and then turned left to go up yet another hill, this one fairly steep.  The turn-round for this one was near the Wurzbach Parkway access road for traffic going north.  After the turn-round we went back alongside the stadium, entering the parking area on the far side of it.  After going a short ways behind the stadium, we went back onto the road we had used to get to the stadium, and then made a right turn for the last ½ mile that took us back to the finish at the Sports area. I ended up being the 123^rd finisher, chip time 40:37, 4^th of 13 in my 60 to 69 age group, averaging 13:05 per mile.  I had a negative split for Mile 3, with 12:08 for that mile.

After My Finish:  First, went back to my car and got on a dry base-layer shirt.  After that I went back to the race area to partake of some post-race eats and get a few more photos of happy finishers, supporters, sponsors, characters, etc.  There were quite a few people in various costumes for this one. Morgan’s Wonderland staff also had the area decked out with various decorations, ballon figures, and so forth.  I also got to meet Gordan Hartman’s daughter, Morgan, for whom the park is named, that was very cool. Awards were given to the overall winners and the males and females who placed first in each age group, but all finishers did get a small snowball medal.  There was also a drawing for a very nice gift basket, won by a young lad.   

Epilogue: I have done this event for quite a few years. The original route was a loop around the park’s man-mad lake area and Hero Stadium and then a return to the park, finishing by doing a second lap around the lake.  The main park, however, is undergoing renovations right now, with a grand opening expected in June 2024, so this is the route currently being used. It is not a bad route at all, gives you a nice scenic tour of the whole area; however, I did notice a couple of the wheelchair entrants did to have a bit of a challenge with the steepness of the hills, especially that second hill we did.  They ones I saw all made it though, God bless them; that is some true determination and fortitude.    This event included post-race tacos and drinks from an on-site food truck, a very nice quality race shirt, a coupon for a discount price for a season ticket to the parks; and medals for the first-place age division winners and overall winners. I would definitely do this one again and recommend it to others.  Mucho thanks to all that made this one happen for us: all the many sponsors/vendors; Morgan’s Wonderland staff and all the many volunteers; the police, EMTs, and other safety/emergency people there for us; our food preparers for the post-race goodies; and anyone else involved I may not have mentioned here.  Thank you all so very very much!  Hope to see you next year out there!