Week 291, race 1 of 2, November 1: Not “all” saints — just Saint Sebastian: Patron of runners, archers, and anyone who keeps moving through the pain (Weston Bluffs Trail 5K)

Came up to Weston for a relatively last-minute race and costume choice — “last-minute” meaning two or three weeks instead of a full year, naturally. This All Saints’ Day look was a full collaboration with Sage, my ChatGPT second brain, inspired by St. Sebastian — the patron saint of athletes and, by extension, runners. Legend says he survived a hail of arrows and kept the faith, which feels like a fitting metaphor for endurance in more ways than one.

Only a small handful of run friends today, but exactly the right handful — including the one person guaranteed to recognize the costume instantly. (She lists “Catholic runner” right in her bio.) A touch chilly — it is November, after all — but the layering and gloves handled it. The Weston Bluffs course lived up to its “trail” billing: a blend of torn-up roads, cracked pavement, and honest-to-goodness gravel, all perfectly uneven in its own kind of holiness.

Pieces/Parts: All DIY – halo made from iridescent organza ribbon stretched over an embroidery hoop, held together with 4 cheap headbands; halos made from 25¢ of craft foam and spray-painted gold in a hurry

By the Numbers: 274 unique costumes in 288 races, 190 solo runs, and 8 group runs = 486 costumed runs

Playlist (Spotify)

Playlist (Apple Music)

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