Savage Seven – Day 5

Runner’s Log: Loopsylvania, Loops 16 – 20.

Frank, who celebrated his 800th marathon at Monday’s event, took a moment this morning to acknowledge Lauree (I think that’s how she spells it — there’s two “E”s I know). Lauree/Loree was celebrating her 50th marathon days before her 50th birthday on January 5th. She also was running her first five day event, having previously challenged herself to run a double. Frank talked about how the Savage Seven is a no-frills event that caters to runners looking for challenges and pushing the limits of what they can do. They know they don’t have all the amenities that big races might offer but they also know they offer a personal experience and that people here are erally out for a personal achievement beyond the norm. And that really struck a chord with me. Because we’re all nuts and crazy and pursuing our own individual goals, but it is in an incredibly supportive environment. That’s the purity and the appeal of running I think.

Today was a much chillier morning — it was high 40s at the start and topped out at 55 degrees when I finished. Tomorrow is supposedly going to be even colder before roaring back into the 80s for the final day. One never knows what the weather will bring which is why for training I go out in rain, sleet, snow, heat, and cold. I don’t love running in any of those per se, but the reason one trains in those kinds of conditions is because, not to get all Forrest Gumpy, but it’s like a box of chocolates and you never know what you’re going to get. So you gotta be prepared, Scout.

I layered up with my Road to 50 jacket.  I figured I could shed it during one of the loops and easily recover it since it’s personalized with my name and Roadie Number (69, dude!). But it was so windy and chilly that I never doffed the jacket and ran the whole time with it zipped up. Only in the last loop did I feel like my core was approaching anything that might be described as marginally tepid.

I felt better than yesterday, albeit not 100%. I suppose one has to assume there will be some lingering aftereffects when an alien bursts from one’s stomach. In any case, I kept a fairly consistent pace, albeit slower than my best cadenced runs this series. Crossing the finish line, I posted a 3:27:19. The nice folks at the finish said my hair looked great which might be the nicest thing anyone can say to somebody as they finish. I’m as vain as they come and it was nice to know I was having an ok hair day. Ironically, I felt like it was very flat and funky; during one of the later loops my mind was forever voyaging as it does when the miles grow longer and longer, and I was debating swapping out my shampoo because I thought it was messing with my mane’s flow. People have often asked what I think about on long runs; apparently, sometimes (well, ok, A LOT of the time) I think about my hair. Told ya I was vain.

Today’s ribbon: Blue.

Twenty-five loops down. Ten loops to go. The coldest day and the hottest day are both yet to come.