Photos are here:    https://photos.app.goo.gl/hpWkGdQFCkaYguVU9

Before the Start:  Following the La Cruda 5K on New Year’s Day, my 2^nd race of 2026 was the Sunrise 5K on Saturday, January 3^rd at Ladybird Johnson (LBJ) Park in San Antonio.  Put on by Best Races, this is an organized, self-timed event that included a 5K and a 10K, with various start times.  The 5K was an out-and-back of 2 laps starting from the park’s trailhead to the paved trails.  The 10K folks did 4 laps, if I remember correctly, and their start time was a bit later than for the 5K participants. My selected start time was 7:30 a.m., but I arrived a tad late so, after getting my bib, I got going on the course at about 7:40 a.m. The weather was actually pretty nice, with blue skies, sunshine, a temp of 61 degrees, and some pretty low humidity.

On the course:  For a while, with my late start, I had the course all to myself and then began catching up with a few of the participants who had started right on time.  Then, on my way back to the start/finish to begin my second lap, the 10K folks started and then I had a LOT of company on the course, lol. I did my usual run/walk thing and got some photos during my walk breaks. The course was mostly flat, with a winding downhill  after we crossed the start line; then one fairly long incline at about the ½ mile point; then a fairly steep-but-short hill we went down before crossing a short bridge, heading in the direction of the Los Patios Shoppes. We did not go that far; the turn-round point was almost immediately after we crossed the bridge, with a volunteer there with water for those who wanted it. After the turn-round, we went back to the trailhead the way we had come out and then repeated the same route for our second lap. The paved greenway trails system at this park also have a lot of wooded areas along the way, so lots of shade on the course. As this is a dog-friendly event, I also stopped a couple of times to hand out a treat for any dog I saw running or walking with its human.  My second lap, I continued to do run/walk and got a few more photos, but after the turn-round, I then pretty much went non-stop back to the finish. The course was dead-on at 3.14 miles. I ended up finishing with a time of 44:57, averaging 14:19 per mile and I did negative splits, with my last mile being 13:20. 

After My Finish:  I got my finisher medal and then went back on the course for a bit, getting photos of a few others still on the course, and handed out a few more treats. Then it was back up to the trailhead and the park’s traffic circle area to chat with other participants, supporters, volunteers, etc., and get a few more after-photos. I met some really nice people, including a very nice gentleman around my age who was training a service dog, so I gave him a dog treat to give to the dog. As we chatted some of his family members doing the event began to gather, including one young lady who is doing on Sunday – the day after this event – the same Bigfoot 5K I am doing; and small world, too; she found out I grew up in Falls Church, Virginia, and she had previously lived in Reston, which is in the same area.  I had a very enjoyable time chatting with this family – although I probably talked too much, as I usually do, lol, but I think we all enjoyed it all. Super-nice family; hope to see them all again sometime. I will see some of them on Sunday January 4, as a couple of them are also doing Bigfoot 5K at McAllister Park.

Epilogue:   I know some of my running friends don’t like these “Best Races” events, as you basically pay for an event for which you time yourself; you get a small finisher medal for participating; and there are no age group awards. Even so, I quite enjoy doing these, and have made several new friends at these events. The course is pretty nice, with very few ‘challenges” so even less experienced runners can do this one without difficulty; and the other thing that makes this enjoyable is the participants themselves; really great people – on even ran in a horse costume, lol – and it’s always nice to make new friends. They also support via their programs some non-profit charities, including one for cancer research; so, as a survivor myself, I definitely appreciate that. each to his/her own.  Also, the local San Antonio area Best Races employees are very nice people; I’ve enjoyed getting to know them a bit.  Anyway, I get it, this is not everyone’s cup of tea; but I enjoy them and will continue do them on occasion.

Mucho thanks to all who were out there for us; the Best Races folks doing registration, etc., our two course marshals on the course; the Park Police law enforcement officers who were checking on us; also, as the park was till open to the public, thanks to other non-event patrons using the park for their patience with all of us; and partner sponsors of Best Races, that include several local businesses. Thank you all. Whatever your passion is, may you always enjoy it, meet all your personal goals, and stay safe and healthy.