Photos are here:   https://photos.app.goo.gl/r4i1PT2JjczsP12FA            

Before the Start:   After doing the e-Dragon Productions New Year’s Eve 5K at 6 pm on December 31^st, I followed this up by doing the New Year’s Day La Cruda 5K in Helotes, Texas. Put on by Scallywompus, this is a very popular annual New Year’s Day 5K, held in Old Towne Helotes, with a 10 a.m. start, so you get to sleep in a tad after any New Year’s Eve activities. However, having done this before and knowing how popular it is, I planned to arrive at race site very early, which was good planning as, ultimately, the results listing showed there were 913 finishers for this event.  Thankfully, I had picked up my race packet before race day, so did not have to stand in the long line for race-day packet pickup. I also got lucky in finding pretty good parking in the lot right next to the start/finish area, so I enjoyed getting some pre-start photos as I walked around, chatting with other participants, supporters, vendors, sponsors, etc.; getting some pre-start photos; and, as this is a dog-friendly event, handing out treats to some of the doggies there. There were quite a few of my personal running/walking friends there, and also a whole lot of people that I’d never met before. There was a slight delay in the start time – I don’t remember the reason why, something to do with the timing mat, I think. My friend, Jose of iaap, the company doing the timing, saw me and asked me to walk across the timing mat at the start/finish to help him determine if it was working, which I did for him.  Apparently, things got resolved after that.  The National Anthem was then played, with one participant holding Old Glory high-and-proud for us, and then we got started; but not right away, lol; with this number of people,  and with me making sure not to line up near the front, with my slow pace, it took a bit of time for me to just get across the start mat; not excessively long, but not really quick either, which is about what I expected with this big crowd, so no worries.    

On the course:   After exiting the start area, we made a right turn, went past the traffic circle in Olde Towne, made a right turn, and headed down this street to a turn-round, and then came back up it. Once back at the traffic circle, we made a right turn heading toward Bandera Road, but did not go that far. We did a turn-round and then went back the way we’d come down; then went past the traffic circle again. This took us past the start/finish area of the race, and down a hill on Old Bandera Road; had level ground for all of 5 minutes, lol, and then climbed up Old Bandera Road. We then made a right turn on Scenic Loop Road. This was level for about all of 5 minutes, lol, and then we went around a bend, down a fairly steep but not-too-long hill; and then had level ground for all of 2 minutes, lol, before we climbed another hill to our turn-round. We then turned round and went back down the hill, and up the one that had been a downhill on our way to the turn-round. After cresting this hill, we then had some flat terrain for a bit, until we made a right turn back onto Old Bandera Road. This meant we now did the hills in reverse of the way we had come out, so we had a downhill first, and then climbed up to get to the finish line. After cresting that last hill, we finally had a bit of flat as we turned back onto the short dirt-and-gravel part of the course we’d started on, and that took us to the finish line. Whew!  As usual, I did my run/walk thing and took photos during my walk breaks. After the turn-round on Scenic Loop Road, I pretty much ran the last part of the course non-stop. I kept looking at my timer and saw we’d already reached 2.5 miles while still on Scenic Loop Road, so I suspected that this course was a tad long. My friend, Rick, running in front of me to the finish, agreed with that.  As we finally turned into the finish, we heard our MC, Anthony, welcoming us back and confirming that yes, the course was long – 3.4 miles – and things had been adjusted accordingly for the those who placed in their age groups.  Well, I knew I had not placed in my age group at my pace, with this many participants, but I was just happy that Anthony had confirmed I was not crazy, lol, and the course was long.  I ended up with a chip-time finish of 47:54, placing 5^th out of 9 in my 70-79 males age group.     

After My Finish: Got some water and Gatorade and did a cool-down walk and then got a few photos of others coming into the finish.  After that, I wandered around chatting with participants, supporters, sponsors, etc. and getting some more after photos.  Scallywompus motto is “Come for the race. Stay for the Party.”  They are not kidding either.  There were all kinds of beverages – including adult beverages; one group had a booth just a short way before the finish with Tequiladaiquiris, lol.   There was also grilled Kiolbassa sausages – my personal favorite brand – and my friend Gilbert, as usual, had a variety of fresh fruits….and the party went on.  There was a fun dance contest – which I did not participate in, since, lol, I dance like Elaine in “Seinfeld” – and there were judges watching and the top 5 most entertaining dancers, per their judgement, won a primo bottle of vodka. Even my friend with Ainsley’s Angels got into it, dancing with his chaired companion; and a good time was had by all.

Epilogue:  I’ve done this event ever since it first started – and I remember the first one we had was pretty chilly, and it even sleeted on us for a bit – and will continue to do this one as long as I am able. I’m not sure if I’ve done them all – I had a stress fracture in my ankle one year, so don’t remember if I was healed by then to do it that year; my friend, Lisa, of Soler’s Sports that did the online registration, packet pickup management, etc. – doing her usual great job –  may be able to tell me, but no big deal.  This is one fun event I will continue to keep on my race calendar as long as I am able to run or walk.

Mucho thanks to all who made this one happen for we participants: Tony Garcia – whose birthday is also Race Day – Lisa Soler and her crew of volunteers for packet pickup, race day activities, etc:  our MC, Anthony Zamora doing his usual great job; all the many sponsors that helped make this one happen for we participants;  all the law enforcement officers out there for our safety; our first aid folks there for us; and, as the course roads were open to traffic, thanks to the patience of the resident drivers. On my way to the turn round, I was actually running by one guy driving slowly in his car and thanked him for his patience; he told me it’s okay, all good, it was pretty interesting seeing all these runners and walkers going by him in all these various costumes; very nice guy; I stopped for a moment, and he stopped too, and I shook his hand and thanked him; and then was on my way again.

I hope everyone who did this event enjoyed it, and stayed safe, and will continue to do it in the future. Yes, the course can be a tad tough in places, but it really is a fun event, with that great after-party.  Hope to see you out there at a future La Cruda, the Lord willing, and we all stay healthy and well enough to continue doing it. Whatever your passion is, may you always enjoy yourself, be successful with all your personal goals and stay safe doing it