Photos are here:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/LBM5AYbEMhxnYQ9F6

Before The Start:   On December 25^th, 2023, Christmas Day, I completed my 71^st race of the year.  The actual 5K was held on Dec 24^th, but I passed on that as heavy rain was threatening – poured and there was lightning on my drive to the race site – so I got my packet and went home, planning to do this one virtually, per my doctor’s instructions. I found out later from friends who did this event that it actually cleared up by start time so I probably would have been fine, but it’s okay, it is what it is.  My chosen site to do this event virtually was Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland, which is quite near to Pearsall Park where the live event was held.  I did my usual run/walk thing and took my camera with me to get a few photos.  I got started just after 11 a.m.  There was “abundant sunshine”, as the news weather reporters would say, and bright blue skies.  It was pretty chilly though with a temp of 43 degrees at the start and the wind blowing about 10 – 15 mph, making the “feel like temp” being around 39 degrees. 

 On the Course:   I started and finished at the Chapparal Fitness Center on the training side of the base. Mile 1 took me to one of the pedestrian overpasses used to get over a traffic road on the base.  I did not go over this first overpass, crossing the road via the public crosswalk and then going past the chapel on the training side of the base, which brought me out to a building that is one of the main buildings for trainee processing, if I remember correctly, and also where parents, family members, etc. can meet their basic training graduating family member. There is a huge stadium behind this building which is also used for graduation functions and so forth. From the front of this building, I then crossed over the bridge that goes from the training side to the ”permanent party” side of the base. This bridge was my uphill and downhill #1 for this course, as it is quite a climb, up for the first part, down on the other side.  I was also running straight into the wind. It was blowing pretty darn good too, as I could see from the flags that line each side of the bridge; they were standing almost straight out.  After getting across the bridge, I then made my way to the static display area.  This is where several historical aircraft, previously used by the military, are on display, with a plaque in front, explaining when it was used and for what purpose.  There were also some small pavilions that honored Military Training Instructors, K-9 dogs and their handlers, and so forth.  There is also a nearby parade ground were graduations used to be held  – this parade field is actually where I graduated from Air Force Basic Training many many MANY years ago, lol. I made my way through here, stopping along the way to get some photos of the planes and some of their plaques.  The aircraft display has quite a variety, including the SR-71, the B-52  – both of which were located at bases where I was assigned – the P51 of the Tuskogee Airmen, the Lockheed, and many more. After working my way around this field, I then headed to my next pedestrian overpass – Uphill 2 and Downhill 2 – that took me over Military Highway and back to the training side of the base.  I then proceeded back to the Chapparal Gym, actually ending up with a total of 4 miles instead of 3.1, but I noted my 3.1 time on my watch so I could report that as my 5K time – 42:30.  My total time was 55:22 for 4 miles and I had a negative split for Mile 3 – Mile 4.

After My Finish:  Nice to have access to the gym after my run. I was able to take a nice, hot, hot, HOT shower – felt great after being in that darn wind – and then change into some dry clothes. After that, drove home and relaxed a bit, eating some lunch and watching the idiot Kansas City Chiefs entirely blow their game against the L.A. Raiders.  I wonder if State Farm insures Patrick Mahomes for that.  😉

Epilogue:  A very nice outing at one of my favorite running locations. Lackland is always a great place to run and also a very safe place to run too, as it is a secured base.  Being retired military, I love having this option of being able to run on the local bases and San Antonio has quite a few of them.    The other nice thing is if you ever need a restroom on a run, the bases usually always have at least one building open with a restroom in it somewhere, but if you are not close to any of those, the bases also have a lot of porta-potties all over the place, especially on the training sides of the bases.  No need to carry water either, as there are also several water fountains around too.  5K done, so now I can wear my race shirt, a very nice quality shirt from e-Dragon.  There was also a very nice finisher medal in the race packet too. Mucho thanks to the Burciaga family and all their volunteers for giving us some really good quality events.  I also want to thank the trainees out there that I encountered as they were making their way to places they had to go. The times I did intersect with them, I had my own  personal cheer squads for a while, lol, as they called out encouragement as I passed by and also wished me Happy Holiday, Merry Christmas, and so forth.  Very nice, and good luck to them all with their training. Erik knows of what I speak, I believe he went through Air Force basic training too, if I remember correctly.