Walking with Patience & Wise Decisions

This morning, I woke up and checked in with my body. I could feel the effects of resting, elevating my leg, and reducing the load yesterday. It had helped. I packed up, had breakfast, and set off a bit before 8 AM. As I started walking, I noticed—no pain at all. For a moment, I wondered if I should run, but no. I reminded myself of the plan. Healing takes patience, and right now, the best thing I can do is stick to it.

Walking is a different experience. It’s slower, more deliberate, and gives me time to think about exactly where to place each step. When I run, I find a rhythm and just move forward. Walking, on the other hand, makes me more aware—of every step, how the road feels under my feet, and the space around me. The route today had some good stretches with a hard shoulder, but also tricky sections where I had to navigate around pavement grooves designed to wake up drifting drivers. Sometimes that meant keeping one wheel of my buggy in the road, but after so many miles on the move, I’ve learned to adapt to whatever the day brings.

After about 12 miles, I felt a slight pain again. Not as bad as before, but just enough to remind me that healing isn’t always a straight path. It would be easy to get frustrated, but I see this as another opportunity to practice patience and trust in my decisions. I’m out here to run, to meet incredible people, to push my limits—but I’m also out here to learn. Life isn’t predictable, and this journey constantly reminds me of that. There’s comfort in routine, in knowing what’s coming next, but I’ve also found something deeply valuable in the unknown.

When I walked the Pacific Crest Trail, I had the privilege of staying with Scout and Frodo, two legendary trail angels who have hosted thousands of hikers in their home in San Diego. Before sending each hiker off on their journey, they made sure one message stuck: “It all comes down to wise decisions.” Those words have stayed with me ever since.

It reminds me of something a mentor once told me when I was learning to drive a truck. When parking or backing up, he said, never let outside factors stress you. Take as much time as you need. It’s funny how a lesson about driving a truck can apply to so many moments in life. Those two pieces of advice—make wise decisions and take your time—have become guiding principles for me. Whether I’m facing a tough road, a painful injury, or an unexpected challenge, they help me navigate.

The last few miles today were completely pain-free. It’s strange how the body works, how pain can come and go like a wave. I don’t question it too much—I just keep moving forward.

Finding a hotel tonight, though, was another kind of challenge. I checked several places, comparing prices, and was struck by how unfriendly some people were, even before I had the chance to ask for a room. Maybe it’s the area, maybe it’s their experiences, but I had the feeling that some assumed I was homeless. Even if that were true, I still believe we should treat each other with kindness and respect. But that’s a conversation for another day.

And then again—no WiFi in my room. Even with a huge sign outside promising “FREE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET!” I’ve run into this so many times now. I wish things were more straightforward. Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But here I am, sitting near the reception, posting this anyway.

I’ll be taking it easy over the next few days, adjusting as I go. No worries, no hurries. Healing comes first. Thank you for checking in, for following along, for being part of this journey. I’ll be back running soon—until then, I’m trusting the process, step by step.