Photos are here:   https://photos.app.goo.gl/kBbc7dsvZByKFzvt6 

Before the Start:    My 73^rd race of 2025 was Battle of Leon Creek, held on Saturday, November 15^th on the Leon Creek paved Greenway trails. Put on by Scallywompus, this event had a 21K; 20 miler; 10 miler and a 5K, with staggered starts for each, with the 5K and competitive walkers starting last. The start and finish area was in an apartment complex across from the part of the campus University of Texas at San Antonio and ‘next door’ to a Mormon Church. Per results posted by  top-notch race management company iaap, who did the timing and results, there was a total of 791 participants spread out over these races, with the largest number – 280 – doing the 5K; so this was a very busy and pretty crowded apartment complex on race day with all the participants, vendor booths, volunteers, and so forth. I arrived with about an hour to go to my 5K start time, got my packet and the wandered here-and-there chatting with friends, other participants, vendors, supporters, etc., and handing out some dog-treats to the dogs there – this is a dog-friendly event – and also got a few pre-start photos.

On the course:  The 5K and competitive walkers had a 9 a.m. start; we were the last event to get going. The start and finish line was on the grounds of the apartment complex. After crossing the start line, we we went up asphalt pavement towards UTSA Boulevard, and then went onto a concrete access ramp that took us down to the Leon Creek paved concrete greenway trails, making a left turn onto the trails, heading in the direction of the local 1604 highway. The course for the most part was pretty flat, with only couple of up/down inclines; nothing you could really call a hill. I did my usual run/walk thing and took some on-course photos during my walk breaks. Because of a medical procedure I had the day before this 5K, I took a few extra walk breaks than I normally do, per my doctor’s instructions, just taking it nice and easy and getting a few more on-course photos than I usually take.  Overall, I felt pretty good and my running segments went pretty well.  On the way to the 5K turn-round, I saw some of the 10K folks – who pretty much went out and back the same way we  did, except, of course their turn-round was farther out. Some of those lead runners were really moving too, wow.   I also saw the lead 5K guy coming, and got a photo of him, and then the lead lady running came speeding along too. The course took us down a bit of a winding incline that took us to the 5K turn-round, and then we went back to the finish the way we had come out. My talented runner friend Rick, who usually finishes ahead of me waw walking the course  due to an issue he had also, but even so, he still finished quite a bit ahead of me, lol, as he is one speedy walker as well as runner.  I ended up with a finish time of 46:18, which was good enough for 3^rd in my 70-74 males age group as, lol there were only 3 in our age group.

After My Finish:  I stood near the finish line and go a few photos of others coming in.  After that, I got some water and enjoyed a banana and then wandered around chatting with vendors, supporters, volunteers, participants, etc., and got some more photos, as well as continuing to hand out treats to the doggies there. A few of the dogs there, belonging to some of my running friends, are now starting to recognize me, lol, at the races and start heading toward me as soon as they see me, knowing I have treats for them, lol.   This was a very enjoyable event, one I have done in the past and will continue do to in the future. 

Epilogue:  The Scallywompus motto is “Come for the race. Stay for the Party.”  They are not kidding either, they throw one heck of a party. Post-race there was Kiolbassa sausage; Alamo beer, and more; and also lots of give-away items from the sponsors/vendors of this event. All finishers got a huge and very nice finisher medal, which is huge.   The age-group awards where these very nicely designed Scallywompus drinking glasses; I’ve gotten a few of those at past events, but this glass is my all-time favorite from all the events I’ve done; I’ve donated some of my past glasses to children’s homes, and other non-profits, but the one from this event is a keeper. Mucho thanks to all who made this one happen for us, e.g., all the many volunteers for race day packet pickup, on-course marshals and water station volunteers, etc.; our MC and my friend, Anthony Zamora, doing his usual great job for us, as well as friend Tony Garcia, another of the organizers who, I suspect, was one of the chief organizers; the law enforcement officers out there for our safety – parking was at a UTSA parking lot, so we had to cross over UTSA Boulevard to get to the race site;  the bike lead volunteers for these events; Pushbutton Photography for their professional photos; iaap for the timing and results; and anyone else involved I may not have mentioned here.  Thank you all!