Photos are here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/yv6wwtdUAtrJ6xWHA

Before the Start:  My 79^th race of 2025 was the Santa Hustle 5K held at SeaWorld San Antonio on December 14^th. This was my 2^nd race of the weekend after doing the Arthritis Foundation Jingle Bell 5K on Saturday.  In addition to the 5K, there was also a 10K and a Kids Run.   The start time for the 10K was 9 a.m., with the 5K following at 9:30 a.m., so I got to sleep in a bit for this one. The weather also changed for this one from the fairly nice day I had for my Saturday 5K. The temperature dropped into the 50s, with a ‘feels like” temp of 42 because of a pretty stiff wind blowing between 13 to 15 mph. I much prefer temps in the 60s and 70s, so for this event I made sure to wear a warm base layer under my top running shirt and felt quite fine.  I arrived at SeaWorld with just over an hour to go for the 5K start time, gave a couple of plush dolls to one of the volunteers to give to the cause, as proceeds from this event supported Toys For Tots and The Reindeer Brigade. After that, I wandered around chatting with participants, volunteers, supporters, etc., and getting a few pre-start photos.

On the course:  The 10K started first, exactly on time. There was a big timer on the bar of the start/finish line, and we could all see the time on it. All the events started exactly on time, with our Race Direct giving a “count-down” for the last 10 seconds for each event, and then we were off.  The course was a big loop that pretty much gave us a tour of the entire park.  The wind, still blowing pretty good, was  tough in the open areas, but whenever we were going along the inner parts of the park where we passed by several buildings, exhibits, and other structures, those made a pretty nice wind-break.   I think the most difficult part of the course was a very open area where we climbed a fairly long uphill, with part of the roller coaster ride on our left, and the wind blowing right into our faces. That hill was tough, lol, but after that the majority of the course was pretty flat. I did my usual thing of run-8-minutes/walk-2-minutes – can’t run a whole race distance non-stop anymore due to spinal arthritis I have now – and took some on-course photos during my walk breaks. My friend, Peggy, also did this one – and also the same one I did on Saturday. She is a very strong walker, and usually passes me during my walk breaks, and then I catch back up to her after my walk break is over. I jokingly tell her, since I am a runner and she is a walker, my goal is to finish before she does; which is tough because she is one very quick and strong walker.  However, I’ve been ‘practicing’ on my training runs of doing my last 1.5 miles with non-stop running, so for the last couple of same events we’ve done I have managed – just barely, lol – to finish ahead of her. My chip time was 42:10, which put me 2^nd in my males 70-99 age group.

After My Finish:  A volunteer handed me my finisher medal and then I  stood a short way behind the finish line so as not to impede others coming in and got a few photos of other finishing, including my friend Peggy who, like yesterday’s 5K was not all that far behind me. After that, I went back out onto the course a short distance from the finish area to get a photo of some flamingoes in their enclosure that we had passed by just before getting to the finish line. As I was doing that, two other friends came walking along on their way to the finish. I did not know they’d signed up for this one, so I got a photo of them, and then they took a photo of me in front of the Flamingo enclosure. Then it was back to the finish area – making sure not to go over the timing mat again, and to stay out of the way of others finishing – and chatted with other participants, supporters, and volunteers and got a few more photos. Peggy and I also went back to where the packet pickup area had been and watched the awards ceremony.  Awards were only given to the Overall Top 3 male and female finishers for the 10K and 5K. I’ve got no heartburn with this…means more funding can be sent for the supported cause.   too.

Epilogue:  This is a really nicely done event that gives you lots of views of the park. I would definitely do this one again and recommend it to others.  I heard from other participants that the previous course was just around the huge parking lot at the park, so I’m glad they changed it.  We did actually go out of the park gates – where the tickets are sold – very briefly to go down a short part of the course that took us down to another entry gate that took us back into the park for more views of the park along our way. This is a really nice course that gives you a close-up look of just about everything at the park, and there were also a few water stations along the way, as well as course marshal volunteers making sure we were going on the correct route.  I jokingly asked one of the water station volunteers “What, no beer?” and then, ironically lol, went past one of the vendor stores in the park that does sell beer.  Of course, it was not open because the park was closed to the public while this event was going on. 

Mucho thanks to all who made this one happen for us participants, e.g., park leadership and staff members that made this one happen for we participants; Brooksee, the event organizer, if I remember correctly – I think our MC was with this company, and Laurel Timing, also if I remember correctly, who did the timing and results.  Also, mucho-thanks to all the many volunteers out there on the course for us, making sure we were on track.  We participants were at least moving; these folks had to stand in that wind until the very last participant passed by. Additional thanks to all the other volunteers there for us who were doing race-day registration, packet pickup, handing out finisher medals, and more. Events like this could not happen for we participants without you.  May all of you reach whatever personal goals you have and stay safe and healthy while doing it. Maybe I will see you – or you will see me, lol – at a future event; if so, give me a shout-out and we’ll get a photo together.