Rest, Recovery, and Reflections in Conway

After a night of intense tornado storms sweeping across Arkansas and neighboring states—complete with thunder, lightning, and torrential rainfall—I decided to extend my stay in the comfort of my cozy hotel room for another day. The morning still carried the echoes of the storm, with lingering thunder, flashes of lightning, and a forecast that promised continuous rain throughout the day.

These storms didn’t take me by surprise; they had been forecasted for days, and I had already anticipated needing a rest stop somewhere between Thursday and Saturday. The timing seemed right, not just for safety but also for giving my body and mind a well-deserved break. My leg is feeling much better, but if I’m being completely honest, it’s not quite at 100%. If it were, I’d feel agile, confident, and ready to maneuver at speed when needed. But given that it’s not fully recovered, I chose to prioritize healing over pushing forward.

Running light and loose is what I love. When I’m anxious about the weather and focused on an injury, I tend to tense up—a recipe for further setbacks. It seems like everything is aligning now; the weather has forced a pause, allowing proper healing to take place. I’ll have to see what the next few days bring, but I’m already looking forward to getting back into my rhythm. That said, I feel quite relaxed about my current state and the temporary slowdown.

I probably could have been more productive today, but I wasn’t. And you know what? That’s fine. I did manage to organize a few things that needed attention, but for the most part, I just took it easy—elevating my leg, giving my body time to recover, and enjoying some rare downtime. Interestingly, the heavy rain that was predicted throughout the day didn’t end up being as relentless as expected. The weather here is unpredictable, to say the least, and I have immense respect for its power. I won’t take any unnecessary risks.

While resting, my thoughts kept drifting to the people I’ve seen along my route—those living in fragile, weather-worn homes. Running through Arkansas, I’ve witnessed communities where houses are barely holding together, places where a storm like last night’s could mean devastation. It’s hard to think about the reality that many are at the mercy of extreme weather, with nowhere truly safe to go. I feel incredibly privileged to have the resources to secure a safe place for myself while others might not have that same opportunity.

Another day to reflect, another day to ponder life’s big questions. But most of all, another day to be grateful. Thank you for following along, for sticking with me through thick and thin.

Let’s see what tomorrow brings.