Photos are here:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/9JCS7rDHbNp24xve9

Before the start:   My 27^th race of 2024 was Run For The Hills 5K on May 4^th, held in Bulverde, Texas. There was also a 10K and a Kids Run. This event is a fundraiser for the Bulverde Spring Branch Activity Center, which provides various types of support to its local senior citizens to “help them keep healthy, active, and self-sufficient”.  Race start time of 8:30 a.m., so I got to sleep in a tad more, as I live only about a 25-minute drive from Bulverde.  Timing and results were done by Split Second Productions of iRun Texas, a San Antonio-based local race management and running store company. For a smaller event, it had a nice turn-out with 257 participants for the 5K and 10K. I had picked up my race packet the day before – and had a very nice chat with the packet pickup volunteer and also another lady at the Activity Center, who I think was the Race Director.  When I arrived at the Center on race day I chatted with friends and other participants and got a few pre-start photos and also handed out doggie treats, as this is a do-friendly event.   The weather was gray/over-cast and it was a bit humid, with a 73 degree temp, but it could have been a lot worse, considering rain was moving in-and-out of the area; thankfully we only got lightly sprinkled on and that did not last long at all. The colors were nicely presented by a young Jr. ROTC group of 4 – I think they were Coast Guard, but not sure about that – and then we all got lined up for the start of the 10K and 5K.  

On the course:    The course for both 10K and 5K were out-and-back on open roads to traffic. We were instructed to stay on the right side of the road, per the request of local law enforcement. This meant at times, that we did have some traffic coming up behind us, but it all worked out as the drivers we encountered – at least where I was at any given time – were pretty polite and cautious about it all, and participants were good about giving the “CAR BACK!” call very loudly when a vehicle came along. We started at the activity center, went to a stop sign, made a right turn onto Bulverde Road, and then a left turn onto Old Bulverde Road, if I remember correctly.  This took us past a park on that road, and then down to another part of Bulverde Road, so I guess Bulverde Road makes some kind of loop in this area, since we’d been on Bulverde Road behind us, lol. Once on this part of Bulverde Road, both the 5K and 10K participants went to their respective turn-round points and then went back to the finish in reverse of the way we had come out.  For the most part, the course was pretty flat, although the road camber was pretty slanted, so I tried keep to the most level parts of the road I could find. I did my usual 8-min-run/2-min-walk thing, taking some photos during my walk breaks. I ended up with a time of 40:04, averaging 12:54 per mile, and had negative splits too.  I was first finisher in my males 70-79 age group.

 After my finish:  I did a short cool-down walk as I sipped some post-race water, and then got a few photos of others coming into the finish. I then got my medal. There was no award ceremony.  The males got into one line and the females in another line and then volunteers looked up your results and handed you your placer medal. I am just guessing there was no awards ceremony due to some kind of time constraints; maybe the organizers had to be packed up and out of there by a certain time; whatever the reason, nobody seemed to mind.  Also, post-race, I chatted with several participants, volunteers, sponsors, supporters, etc., and got some post-event photos.

Epilogue:   It’s been a few years since the last time I did this event and that was when the start and finish was at the local park we passed by on this year’s course. I liked this year’s course better because the old one had us go farther out on Bulverde Road and there were a couple of major hills on that course, lol. I think this one is more participant-friendly. This event was nicely done by the organizers, with some really nice post-race goodies, including a pancake breakfast – which I passed on since I am one of the rare people that actually don’t like pancakes, lol. There was plenty of other stuff though, provided by the sponsors and vendors, so I made out. The race shirt is very nicely designed good-quality cotton tee with the race name on front and the sponsors listed on the back. I also scored a hat, given to me by one of the sponsor companies, Carmen Health, for ‘motivating’ people out there. Awww, that was so nice. What especially made this race for me, personally, is the goodie bag included this really nice, waterproof ID/card holder that has a closure attachment. This was perfect timing for me as I’ve had my old one for years and it is starting to fall to pieces.  I’ve put so much masking tape and more on that thing to hold it together, it’s turned into the Frankenstein of ID holders, lol. The one in this goody bag was a bit more slender and fits perfectly into the side pocket of my running shorts, even better than the old one, nice.  Since I have a pacemaker, I am required to carry a pacemaker card just in case, so any medical folks will know what kind it is, etc., if I have some type or medical emergency. I forgot to ask the race folks where I can get more of these as backups. Mucho thanks to all the ones who made this happen for we participants, e.g., all the sponsors, the Activities Center staff, the many volunteers, i-Run/Split Second Timing, the Color Guard presenters, the law enforcement and medical folks out there for our safety, and all the drivers on the course that were so patient with us for invading their vehicle space for a while; and any others involved I may not have mentioned here. Thank you all so much!  I will definitely be doing this one again – and a lot sooner, lol, than the last time I did this event way back when. Hope everyone stays safe, happy, and healthy. Happy running to all my fellow runners!