The next race in San Marcos is the Bobcat Prowl 5K out at the Country Estates subdivision next Saturday, April 29. This location has become a popular spot for putting on a race. For runners it has numerous things making it an appealing race. It is a very easy out and back course to follow and a scenic course with a chance to see some wildlife during the run. The Bobcat Prowl 5K is a well-organized race and the awards are unique with a 3-inch medal of a bobcat painting by Bob Pankey. This makes the award a one of a kind that can’t be duplicated. Runners can register online with Athletes Guild or wait until the day of the race and sign up at the race headquarters. Since the proceeds go for university scholarships, it is a good benefit to support. For local and area runners it is a popular race to run.
Since there are no real landmarks for the signs indicating the miles, it requires an early check to make sure the small mile marks on the pavement are still visible. This doesn’t seem important but I was a victim of not having marks in the course one time when I was the lead bike in a race. As I approached what I thought should be the turnaround point, the aid station volunteers just gave me a shrugged shoulder when I asked if this was the turnaround point. There were no signs of any kind indicating that this was the point runners needed to head back to the finish. After I passed the aid station hoping to see some indication of a turnaround point it wasn’t until I was out of range when the aid station volunteers told the runners they needed to turn there. I finally turned around when I realized I had gone too far and on my return the volunteers had put out a sign indicating that their aid station was the turning point. That is one reason I want to double check that there is some mark telling volunteers to put out that sign with the arrows telling runners to turn around and head back.
Looking back at some of the various race courses that have been used in San Marcos there are a few that are very easy to keep runners staying on the course. Country Estates is one of the easiest to host a run with little chance of runners making a wrong turn. The hardest part is putting the mile markers down in the correct location. Another race that is easy to monitor is the out and back course starting at the Toyota Car Dealership. There is only one turn before the turnaround point and the rest is just a matter of following the lead runner.
