Photos are here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/sXXRgnpG5Laiv698A

 Before the Start:   My 56^th race, and second 5K on Saturday, September 13 was Battle of Salado Creek 5K, after doing The Gruene 5K in the morning. Put on by local race company Scallywompus, Battle of Salado Creek was an evening event  held at Ladybird Johnson Park in San Antonio. LBJ Park is part of the San Antonio Greenway Trails system, connecting to other parks in the system, but it is also one of the smaller parks in the system, so parking was kind of crazy with participants for all these events. I actually managed to find some pretty close parking to the start area luckily, got my race bib and then got a few pre-start photos.  The park was packed with participants, supporters, vendors, and volunteers as there were several events for this one:  a ½ marathon; 10-miler; 5-miler; 5K; and a 5K competitive walk. Being the shortest event, the two 5K events were the last to get started, with a start time of 6:45 pm.  I got there with about 40 minutes to go to the 5K start time, got my bib and then got a few pre-start photos. The half-marathon and 10-miler folks had already started by the time I got there, and the 5-miler folks started at 6:30 pm after I got there, so got to see them start. My pre-start photos included volunteers, participants, supporters, vendors, and so forth. It is also a dog-friendly event, so I handed out some treats to the doggies there, with permission of their humans.  It was pretty humid and the temp was  around 73 degrees. The bugs were also out in force, so I was glad I had the forethought to put on my bug spray before coming out. We started 15 minutes after the 5-miler folks started.

On the course –  The course started with us doing a loop around the park’s traffic circle near the park pavilion and then heading down a short slope to access the main greenway paved concrete trails in the park. All courses were out-and-back.  I did my usual 8-min-run/2-min walk thing and took photos during my walk breaks. For the most part, the course was pretty flat with just a couple of up-and-down inclines, but nothing you could really call a major hill. The 5K course took us to an area near Los Patios Shoppes, which we passed by. Our turn-round point was right by the frontage road of Loop 410, which we did not have to go under, using the overpass, like the longer-race participants did. We turned around right in front of the frontage road and headed back to the finish the way we had come out. Best Races, another company of which I have done some of their events, should take a lesson from this, lol, instead of having us do double loops in the park. Anyway….even with doing a race in the early a.m., I felt pretty good overall and did okay.  I am no speed demon – my two paces are Slow and Slower – but I am very consistent so managed to keep going pretty well. I ended up with a chip time of 42:30 averaging 13:41 per mile and had a negative split for the last mile. I ended up being first in my 70-74 males age group, as I was the only one in that age group, lol. I’ll take it!

After My Finish:  I got a few photos of others finishing and some still in the finish area. After that, I went to the tent of my friend Gilbert, a very nice guy who often brings fresh fruits for participants, volunteers, etc.  He always has a chair for me to sit in, post-race and enjoy some water an a nice banana; very nice to just sit a few moments and relax; and then I was up and off again to get a few more photos. Finally, it was time to go, so I went home – which did not take long, since I only live about 6 miles from the park – got showered and changed and then just relaxed the rest of the evening, resting up, since I had another 5K to do on Sunday morning.      

Epilogue:  Scallywompus always does their events up very nicely. Their motto is “Come for the race. Stay for the party.”  They are not kidding either. There was all kinds of food goodies; beer; even margaritas, if I remember correctly; and lots more. Very unique finisher medals; nice quality race shirt; and a uniquely designed race bib.  Age group awards are these “Scallywompus drink glasses.” I got one, but ended up giving it to a young kid to take home; I have done a lot of Scallywompus events in the pass, so have several of these glasses, with just no more cabinet space for them, lol; so if I do win something, I usually end up giving the glass to a kid; a fellow vet; or a disabled person (I can relate because I was a disabled kid, and am very lucky to be where I am today).  It’s all good. Mucho thanks to all the many who made this one happen for us: All the Scallywompus folks; the many volunteers and vendors out there for us; our music man, Paul, and our MC Anthony, both doing their usual great job for us; iaap race management company doing it usual great job with the timing, results, etc. and anyone else involved I may not have mentioned here. Thank you all so much!   As for my fellow “athletes”, whatever your physical exercise passion is, may you always be successful in all your goals, and always stay safe and healthy.  Maybe I will see you at a future event sometime.