Photos are here:     https://photos.app.goo.gl/6Ghfs99q4c3a4qTm9

Before the start:  My 20^th race of 2024 was the Get Your Rear in Gear 5K held on Sunday, April 7^th at Morgan’s Wonderland Sports in San Antonio, Texas, with a start time of 8 a.m.  This is one of my ‘streak’ races; I’ve done this event every year since it first started.   The event raises funds for the Colon Cancer Coalition, with the money staying local in San Antonio to “to help remove barriers to screening for under and uninsured people, educate the public about early detection and screening, reduce financial burdens for patients, and fund research to help fight and end colon cancer. “ I got my packet on race morning; as a survivor, my packet included 2 shirts, the race shirt and a ‘survivor’ shirt, both of very nice quality. After getting my packet, I enjoyed wandering around an ongoing expo, chatting with vendors, sponsors, volunteers, and other participants, including many friends there, some of whom were also survivors, and also getting some pre-start photos and handing out treats to any dogs there; there were a couple. There was a total of 222 finishers for this event for the 5K.  There was also kid’s run that started a bit before the 5K; and an untimed Memory Park walk that started at the same time as the 5K.

On the course:  The start was held in front of the pavilion at Morgan’s Sports. Right before we started, dark clouds started rolling in, and the wind started blowing like crazy, so I thought we might get rained on, but it passed over pretty quickly and never did rain.  Temp was about 64 degrees with gray skies, and fairly humid, but not too bad at all. My kind of weather, I like it 60s and above. Our route took us up to Morgan’s Wonderland Park, passing by the Morgan’s Wonderland splash pad and Toyota Field, the stadium of San Antono’s professional soccer team.  We then entered Morgan’s Wonderland Park, doing a loop around the man-made lake in the park, which was very cool; have not been here since the park re-opened after having some renovations done. On completing the loop, we exited the park, did short jaunt through the front parking lot and then headed back the way we had come out from the start, passing by Toyota field once more. We then made a turn that took us past Heroes Stadium, an athletics and event 11.000-seat stadium of the San Antonio North East Independent School District. The route took us on the road in front of the stadium, then to the side of it, and then onto a road that accesses the Wurzbach Parkway, where we did a short jaunt to a turn-round point. We then went back the way we had come, once again passing Heroes Stadium.  We then entered the stadium parking lot, going past the stadium’ main entrance and then back onto the road by the stadium, turning right and heading toward the turn-around Wurzbach parkway access road once more. However, at the intersection, we then made a right turn  onto a road going behind Heroes Stadium. This road led us back to an entrance road to Morgan’s Sports, where we then went to the finish line.  It was a well-thought-out enjoyable course and after finishing, I thanked the folks at iaap for NOT taking us all the way up that Wurzbach Parkway access road, because that is quite hill to a climb, lol, to get to the parkway.  I ended up with a chip time of 39:22, 2^nd in my 70-99 males age group.  There were only two of us in my age group.  Richard, the other guy in my age group, finished in 38:22, 53 seconds ahead of me, lol. Guess I should not have stopped for that last photo, lol.  All good, though, this was a very enjoyable route, that allowed participants to see each other several times on the course and shout out encouragement to each other.

 After my finish:  Lisa, Director of the Thrivewell Foundation, which accepts the donations for this event, was at the finish, cheering in all the finishers, handing out water to them as they came in, and gave me a big hug after I finished.  She knows me from all the years I’ve done this event – even used my photo as part of the announcement for the opening of registration, which is pretty flattering – so I stood with her, helping to pass out water, and chatted with her for a while. After that, went wandering around post-race chatting with friends, other participants, sponsors, etc., as I got some post-race photos, including ones of a couple of friends who placed in their age groups. I also got to stand on the podium with Richard – they gave age group awards to the first 2 finishers in each age group, but we had to wait a while, lol, since they started with all the younger people first.  Note to race directors:  please start with we older folks first; we need to get home to get our nap.  😉

Epilogue: This is a very nicely done event, with sponsors giving out all kinds of items; the race expo, with the tables inside the enclosed pavilion building, was packed full of tables with information about what each of them did, and lots of give-aways from some of them. Edibles available included coffee – which I personally don’t like at all, lol; can’t even stand the smell of the stuff – breakfast tacos, various fruits, and more. Mucho thanks to the event presenting sponsors, Gastroenterology Clinic of San Antonio, P.A., and Texas Colon & Rectal Specialists. Thanks also to the Thrivewell Foundation; race management company iaap for doing the course set-up, timing, and results; the people at Morgan’s for use of their facilities; the professional photographer at the event; all the many race day volunteers; and all the other sponsors/donors who had tables, booths, etc., at the event; and anyone else involved I may not have mentioned here.  Thank you all for this great event.  I also want to thank all the people on the course that gave me shout-outs, that really does help.  The Lord willing, and the creek don’t rise, lol, see you next year at this one; got to keep my streak going!