Photos are here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/kamGuNcBP5DT4Ndp7

Before the Start:  My 39^th race of 2025 was Race 3 of the e-Dragon Productions Summer Series 5K held on Sunday, June 29^th. This is a series of 5 races that raises funds for a scholarship for a deserving local student. This was my 2^nd race of the weekend after completing the day before the Big Red and Barbacoa 5k at Comanche Park in San Antonio. This Summer Series 5K event was held at Lady Bird Johnson Park, which is about 5 miles from where I live, so a nice, short drive. Start time was at 7 a.m., with packet pickup from 6 to 7 a.m. I arrived at the park around 6:10 am, and there were very few people there, so I thought maybe I had gone to the wrong park; but then I saw some of the packet pickup volunteers there, and they told me the equipment truck was running a tad late; ok, then, whew, I’m in the right place after all, lol. The truck did arrive just a few minutes after that, and packet pickup began after the registration sheets and race bibs were unloaded. Got my packet pretty quickly and as I was getting myself together, one of my friends came along and told me the darn park port-potty had not toilet paper.  This seems to be a trend with this park, with only one porta-potty near the park trails. Quite frankly, I don’t understand why San Antonio Parks & Recreation won’t just build a darn restroom near the trails, since they are used quite a bit.  The nearest indoor restrooms in this park are up near the soccer fields, which is a bit of a walk.  Thankfully, I keep rolls in my vehicle, just in case, so that came in handy; I took a few of them and put them into the porta-potty for my fellow runners to use as needed. After that, I enjoyed chatting with fellow participants, volunteers, etc., and getting a few pre-start photos.

On the course:  There was a kid’s race first, and then the colors were presented, and The National Anthem was played.  The 5K started right on time, so kudos to the volunteers and e-dragon staff for getting everything set up to keep on schedule. At start time, the temp was 78 degrees, with 87% humidity.   The course, as usual for races held at this park, is an out-and-back. We began by doing a loop around the park’s traffic circle, going past the dog-parks and the park pavilion on our left. We then proceeded down a short hill and made a left turn onto the park’s paved greenway trails, heading in the direction that would take us past the Los Patios Shoppes, which is where our turn-round point was. I did my usual run/walk thing, taking photos during my walk breaks. I made the turn-round in good order and then started back for the finish, when I had a wardrobe malfunction as the tie-string on my running shorts came loose; so, before continuing on, I had to stop and take care of that issue so my fellow participants would not see the moon coming out early, lol. After that, I went non-stop to the finish, running for a bit with a very nice young lady.  I managed to almost catch up to a couple of friends I’d been chasing since the start; my amazing and Texas-famous friend Mary Kaplan – she has completed a race in EVERY Texas county – that’s 250 counties –  and my friend  and fellow vet Ralph.  I never did catch them, but did manage to keep them in sight all the way to my finish. I ended up with a chip time of 41:02, averaging 13:13 per mile, and had a negative spilt for mile 3. My result gave me 2^nd in my 70-99 males age group as, lol, there were only 2 in my age group. My speedy friend Jim was first with a speedy chip time of 27 minutes flat.

After My Finish: I got a couple of photos of others coming in and then went and found some cold water, and just sat for a bit, relaxing and drinking my water. Also, a nice touch by e-Dragon is that they have these iced-down small towels, so got one of those too and put that on the back of my neck….very refreshing. After that, I got a couple more photos and then went to sit with my friend, Gilbert, one of the vendors/sponsors who, if he is at a race I am doing, always has for me after I finish, a chair and a banana. I just relaxed for a while chatting with him, enjoying that banana and some Gatorade he gave me. After that, I was up and going around again getting some post-race photos of the finishers; their friends/family members; some of the vendors; and also handing out more doggie treats. After the awards ceremony, we began to leave the race venue and head home.  After I got home and got a nice hot shower, my wife and I then went to have a nice lunch at Applebee’s in celebration of our Meet Day.” June 29^th is the 41s anniversary of the day we met in Hawaii – and eventually got married there too. Within 10 minutes of talking with her, I just knew she was the one for me. It took me a little longer, lol, to convince her of that, and we’ve been together ever since.

Epilogue:  This is a nice series of a total of five 5Ks put on by e-Dragon, culminating after the final race of the series with a local student being awarded a scholarship.  You can sign up for all 5 – I signed up for 4 of them – or each one individually.  Age group award for the placers at each event is a very nice e-Dragon medal that has a code on the back that can be used to get a discount when you register for a future e-dragon event. I would definitely recommend this series to others. The series gives you a good look at several local-area parks of the San Antonio Greenway Trails system, with the races being done on the off-road concreate trails of the parks. The only thing I’d personally change is to make the start time 8 a.m. instead of 7 a.m.  I’m an old dog, lol, I need my sleep!   Mucho thanks to all who have have helped make these races possible for we participants, e.g. e-Dragon Productions (Erik and Kristine and their family members); all the many volunteers; the vendors/sponsors; iaap for timing and results; all law enforcement  and EMT folks who were out there for our safety, and anyone else involved I may not have mentioned here. Thank you all! Next up for me is the Let Freedom Run 5K in Schertz, Texas, July 4^th,  which goes along the Schertz 4^th of July parade route, so you have all these people cheering you on as you pass by, very nice.  Nice little after-party too. Whatever your exercise passion is, may you all be successful with your personal goals and always stay safe.