Running Through the Heat

This morning, I tried to get an early start, but as usual, packing and preparing took longer than expected. Today was particularly time-consuming because I had to prepare several Gatorade water mixes, knowing the day would be scorching hot—a forecasted 36 degrees Celsius. Organizing everything and ensuring it was in its rightful place always takes time, but it’s worth it to stay efficient on the road.

I left the fire station around 6:15 a.m. It was a shorter route back to Highway 7 than from previous stops, and even in the early morning air, I could feel it was going to be a hot day. Thankfully, running felt much better than the day before, and I made good, relatively easy progress. I managed to run continuously until mile 15 without stopping, which is still rather rare for me on my worldrun. Sometimes, when I find a good rhythm, I don’t want to interrupt it, especially not in uphill sections or a lack of shade.

Just before reaching a tree where I planned to take my first break, a couple pulled over, stepped out of their car, and started asking questions, almost like an impromptu interview. I answered as best as I could and then finally enjoyed a quiet moment under the tree.

The momentum was strong, so I pressed on. Along the way, I encountered several people. One man gave me sweet breads—more than I could carry, despite his insistence! Julio stopped and offered me and my buggy a lift, but I explained my run around the world. He ended up filming a video and sharing it on Instagram. It’s funny to think that Nestor, the firefighter I met yesterday, had apparently done the same!

Other roadside encounters included a truck driver who handed me money, another who offered a bottle of ice-cold carbonated water, and someone who gifted me a piece of sweet confectionary. Despite the blazing heat during the last 13 miles, I truly enjoyed the challenge—it was a chance to experience what running in extreme heat feels like, something I’ve always been curious about.

When I finally arrived in Diego de Alvear, I was immediately greeted by a young man with another ice-cold bottle of water—always a blessing. I asked him about a place to camp, and he suggested I speak with the local police officer, Lucas.

Arriving at Lucas’s house, I first encountered his neighbors, who were trying (unsuccessfully) to start an old car. They were very kind and pointed me in the right direction. After some knocking, Lucas eventually came out and directed me to a park where I could set up my tent. The village doesn’t have public toilets or Wi-Fi, but I was too exhausted to care.

I had run 37 miles, and all I wanted was to lie down. However, the conversations kept coming. Everyone was curious about my journey, and although I did my best to explain my project, I began to feel a bit irritated after a while—it’s hard to focus when you’re utterly drained.

After setting up my tent, I headed to the supermarket to stock up on water and food for tomorrow’s run. I also managed to recharge my watch and phone, which was a small but much-needed victory. On my way back, I met Charlie and Silvia, who joined me for dinner at the picnic table near my tent. Charlie turned out to be the local radio host, and they even made a short video about my run.

As the day ended, all I wanted was sleep. Unfortunately, my tent was pitched under a bright streetlamp, and I wasn’t sure if it would be turned off during the night. Thankfully, I had my trusty eye mask from a past flight, so I put it on, hoping it would help.

Despite the challenges, I’m grateful for the kindness of strangers and the progress I made today. Tomorrow is another day. See you then!