Wednesday night zoo run

Tonight I ran beforehand - then marshaled

then ran behind everyone for the course.  then enjoyed a cold beverage

the posed with my fotog, Ceci (and Jim's dog, Juno - Jim's in the back with Gargamel and Jazz, wishing he had his little dog back).

and the #1 and #3 dog finishers

thanks to Ceci for the pics!

Final Zoo Run 2010

Holy cow.  It's the end of Zoo Run for 2010.  Which means that it is Autumn.  I wish my a/c knew that, because it was HOT out there tonight. 

Most of you know that I love zoo run.  It was created by Steve Smith some 30+ years ago - a simple concept:  a bunch of runners meet in the park for a 2 mile race (speed work for some, the longest manageable distance they have made it for others).  And you write your finish time down in the book afterward.  No permit.  No permission.  No real plan, other than to run a 2 mile flour-marked course, finish, give out ribbons, and enjoy a frosty beverage with fellow runners - all for a buck, with remaining monies (after ribbon and gatorade expenses paid) donated to the zoo.  It was the original flashmob - before texting and iphones and even being able to communicate from your car.

Well, tonight was the close of the zoo run season, and it featured some of my favorite parts.  There were the folks in the park that randomly joined in, folks that I haven't seen in a long time, the 70+ year old runners still getting it done, the Kenyan (Solomon) 'taking it easy' at 11:00/2 miles to pace a very good high school runner, and many, many people with whom I really enjoy running and conversing. 

Afterward, there were 3-deep ribbons (as always), thanks to all the volunteers (since that's all this is - a bunch of runners showing up to put on a bit of a race every week all Summer for other runners), a donation of over $1k to the zoo from the entry fees, and a big BBQ. 

It always makes me a bit sad when zoo run ends - suddenly, I have no 'obligation' on Wednesday nights, and I miss seeing folks on a weekly basis.  But, it will continue in its 30somethingish year next year - beginning in April.

Here are some pics from tonight, courtesy of R.U.N.

A funny thing happened at Zoo Run

Zoo Run turned into an NCAA cross country meet!

As you know, Zoo Run is a 30ish year tradition of informal 2-mile races through Brackenridge Park that occurs Wednesday nights from April through October.  Well, the 'race director' of Zoo Run this last decade, Joan Bobrukiewiez, retired from DOD (Navy) Civil Service yesterday, and today was her first day of retirement.  For this, we were planning on burning some hotdogs and having a little shindig after the run.  So, we were already planning for a special night.

Then, Sally #1 (I'm Sally #2) started getting calls from local college CC coaches that they were bringing their teams to Zoo Run.  And lo and behold, we had many colleges' women's and men's cross country teams out there tonight. 

I got there early to run my 5 miles in the blazing hot sun and humidity BEFORE the rain cooled us off, and my panting, weary body was passed by many a 20ish y/o easily clipping by at a much faster (warm up) pace.  Winning time for the 2 mile race (on a wind-y, narrow, and rained-on course) was about 9:46. 

It was even kind of official - here's the announcement in today's paper:

Yep, that first note says that the Trinity University CC opener was in Brackenridge Park - at Zoo Run.  Apparently, in order to have 'early' workouts under NCAA rules, they must first have a meet.  And this was a meet.  The course is measured, marked, and marshaled.  Time is kept and recorded (this time, by the coaches).  And there were winners.  And it was really neat to see that much talent running out there.

And then, we chowed on hot dogs.  Ironically, some folks (most likely accidentally) ate all of the Smartdog veggie dogs!  The funniest things always happen at Zoo Run.

In memory of Dr. Maria Yeung

This past Wednesday, the zoo run was run in memory of Dr. Maria Yeung.

Registration table - Sam, Me (Sally #2), Joan, Sally #1, and the Yeung brothers.

Dr. Maria E. Yeung was a faculty member Department of Pediatric Dentistry from 1987-1999 and an avid runner. On August 19, 1999, she was hit by a car and killed while on her morning run. So, her non-runner brothers decided to celebrate her life with a 2-mile zoo run with San Antonio runners.

After a little warm up, we wait for the start (Me, Adrian, George, and Jim)

On your mark...

Accepting my first place ribbon (okay, okay, there were only 2 of us in the age group that night)

Thanks to Moses Yeung for the pics

Wednesday night zoo runs

It is unofficially Summer - Wednesday night zoo runs began last week. My speed work has been slack, and it shows - I added an extra minute to my 2-mile time. So, I'll be working on cutting that down again tomorrow.

Here is the article the San Antonio Express News ran (hee) on us:

Web Posted: 08/07/2007 2:00 CDT
Athletes keep a tradition in Brackenridge Park

For years, the rhythm of runners' pounding feet has echoed along tree-lined paths at Brackenridge Park. They start outside the Parks and Recreation building at 950 E. Hildebrand — stretching, rubbing muscles, waiting for the signal to run.
Gilbert Hernandez gripped the handles of a three-wheeled baby stroller at that spot on a recent Wednesday, crouched and ready to run with 60 other participants. His wife, Peggy, her sister, Martie, and their three children braced themselves beside him.
"Runners!" shouted volunteer Sally Rios from the steps of the building. "Set, go!"
The family disappeared into the scattering crowd. Hernandez, 39, pushing the stroller beside his waddling 2-year-old daughter, fell to the back of the pack.
The Hernandezes have returned to the park after a three-year hiatus. The sisters ran with their father until he died. Now they're introducing the youngsters to a special society in which running rules and it's not a crime to draft on the speed of the person in front of you.
"We're a family," Rios said. "We support each other and cry with each other when we have problems."
The Wednesday Night Zoo Run is a staple in San Antonio for people from all walks of life. Professionals, amateurs, high school track teams, old and young run the 2-mile course. Regulars who have moved out of town stop in while visiting relatives for a reminiscence run. The unofficial and unorganized race continues until daylight-saving time ends.
Steve Smith, a local race organizer and former running columnist for the San Antonio Express-News, started the race in 1984 to promote fitness and running.
"The idea was to have fun," said Smith, 60. " It was better to have something in the middle of the week and not feel like they had to perform at a high level unless they wanted."
Family obligations forced Smith to move on, but fellow runners wouldn't let the race die. Volunteers haven't changed what Smith started.
The entry fee remains a $1 donation, with contributions going to the San Antonio Zoo.
Runners provide homemade dishes and beverages at the sign-up picnic table after each race. Participants sign up at 6:30 p.m.
First-, second- and third-place winners in four age categories receive a ribbon.
Challenges, besides finishing the route, abound for some runners. Some are recovering from illnesses; others have physical conditions they don't let limit their athletic pursuits.
Patrick Hernandez, 42, a deaf runner, focuses on his surroundings as he winds his way through the course. His biggest challenge was talking to his comrades. Since meeting Michael Shofner, 49, a runner who interprets for him, communicating isn't a problem.
The park's recent $7.5 million renovation included reworking trails that runners welcomed after years of dodging traffic on the roads.
Four course marshals fan out along the route before the race. They welcome runners with clapping hands and shouts of "Good job, good job!"
A marshal waits at the finish line, yelling times as racers dash by.
At the halfway mark a week earlier, Joan Bobrukiewiez, 57, pointed half a dozen runners to the last leg of the course.
"George, this is the corner you've been looking for!" she yelled to a man. "This is your corner, you're done!"
"Thank you, Joan," the huffing man said, turning toward the finish line.
Then came Julia Wilkerson, 74, a trim woman the regulars call the "matriarch of the racing community."
"She's the Energizer Bunny," Bobrukiewiez said. "She doesn't quit."
Wilkerson started running at 50 to lose weight. Six months later, she ran her first marathon.
Dave DeWall, 62, has run in the park since 1985. He and his cronies ran 5K races on weekends to increase their speed for the midweek run.
The last stragglers appeared.
"I got a cold drop of water here," DeWall said, smiling at an approaching runner. "You can swallow it or I can throw it in your face."
The runner chose the latter. DeWall splashed it in his face as he circled the last bend.

The first Wednesday of November

This day always makes me a little sad. More so in years like 2000 and 2004. The reason for my sadness, even in the midst of political relief, is that Summer is over, and I know this because zoo run is over for the year. This wonderful, unofficial, meet in the park for a 2-mile race during daylight savings time and a beer afterward has been held for almost 30 years in San Antonio. And I'm always a little sad when I don't have zoo run on Wednesday night.


Maybe I'll just do a victory lap around the neighborhood - for change. Here's a lovely pic from the final 2008 zoo run last Wednesday - with fellow runners Carl and Jerry - Gwen the pitoodle was on the other end of that leash - but was more interested in cheesy poofs than ugly race pics.

Thanks to Carolyn for the pic!