Photos are here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/kxqp9Wc4AJbaUoBF7
Before the start: My 42nd race of 2024 was the Dragon Den Texas Summer Series, Race 3, held at Lady Bird Johnson Park in San Antonio on June 30th, starting at 7 a.m. The Summer Series races helps provide a scholarship for a youth athlete. There were 127 finisher for this event. I had registered early so arrived at the park fairly early, just after 6 a.m., and got my packet, and then got a few pre-race photos.
On the course: Out-and- back course, starting and finishing on the park’s traffic circle near the park pavilion, dog park, and trailhead. There was a kid’s race before the main event. After that, we all got going, doing a loop around the traffic circle and then going down to the park’s paved trail. We headed in the direction of Los Patios Shoppes, near the Loop-410 frontage road in that area. I did my usual 8-minute run/2 minute walk thing, but too a lot more walk breaks than I usually do, as my piriformis muscle was acting up – a literal pain in the butt – and end up doing this kind of shuffling run/walk pace, looking like Tim Conway’s old-man character, lol, in the Carol Burnett Show. Around Mile 1 my left leg went numb for about a minute or two, which was kind of scary, so I ended up mostly walking the rest of the race, with a bit of running here-and-there. Never been a DNF in any event I started, and my stubborn self was not about to start that now. I ended up with a chip time of 51:23, which is about 8 minutes longer than it normally takes me to do a 5K, and amazingly finished 3rd in my 70-99 males age group.
After my finish: I got a couple of after photos, but did not stick around for the awards. Because I have an AFIB, I am at risk for stroke, so my medical folks had told me if I had any numbness, voice slurring (other than drinking 😉), etc., then get to the ER to verify it was not a stroke. Thus, I carefully drove home – I live only 10 minutes from the park – and then had my wife take me to the BAMC ER. BAMC folks have always taken very good care of me and today was no exception. They did a thorough exam and verified no stroke, it’s a piriformis issue. They gave me instructions of no running until it heals up – usually about 2 – 4 weeks – although I can do some walking, so that’s something, and no hills for a while, so I will probably have to give up a couple of races I signed up for already. I also got referred to Physical Therapy for some exercises they would show me that will help heal and help keep it healthy in the future.
Epilogue: Well, not good news that I may miss some races, but I was happy to be able to finish this one. As my wife knows, I have little patience when I can’t run – I become a big whiner about it, lol – but I will try and behave myself. Will just take it one day at a time and see how things go, and I know I will eventually be back out there running and doing races. It could have been a lot worse, so am thankful that it was not; may do some race volunteering while this is going on. Meanwhile, much thanks to all that made this one happen for us: E-Dragon, via Erik and his family; Erik for doing the MC duties as well; iaap doing their usual great job of course setup, timing, and results; all the race day volunteers there for us; our bike lead guy; the official photographers out there; thanks to other park users for their patience with us; and anyone else involved I may not have mentioned; thank you all!
Scottydog Reports 