Running Between Raindrops and Kindness

Daily Miles: 36.85 | Total Miles: 6,863.14

I got up at 6am, made a hot coffee, packed my things, and took a quick glance out the window. The sky looked heavy, the forecast predicted rain, and the air was cool—but thankfully not as cold as the morning before. I pulled on my layers: shirt, sweater, and rain jacket. I’d rather sweat a little than spend hours in the cold with no shelter or place to change. So I got ready for whatever the road would bring.

By 7am I was outside, jogging my way uphill back to the highway. After about 3 miles, I was back on track, heading toward Jugiong. The rain stayed light or absent most of the day, even though the clouds kept looking like they were just about to break open. I got lucky. My feet were wet from puddles, my shirt damp from sweat under the rain jacket, but still—no real downpour. I kept moving, grateful.

Today I had a long stretch to cover, so I ran through without stopping except for the essentials—fueling, drinking, peeing. There was one café around mile 20, but I decided not to stop. I didn’t want to risk getting too comfortable and then having to head back out into the cold. I was happy to keep running in mostly dry weather.

It wasn’t until about 3.5 miles before reaching Jugiong that the rain returned. It was steady, but not heavy, and by then I was mostly running downhill. I let the buggy roll and tried to match its rhythm. It felt good. Smooth. A sense of freedom in that final stretch.

As I took the turn into Jugiong, with just a mile to go, I passed a house and waved, as I usually do. A woman at the window waved back—then came straight out the door, jumped down a little rock wall and greeted me. Her name was Helen, and she lifted my spirits with her smile and kind words. The first real conversation I had all day after 35+ miles of solo running.

A little further on, I met Silvia. Turns out she works at the motel I had booked for the night. I had already called Mark and Jenny, the owners, the night before to make sure there was a room available. When I arrived, the key was in the door and the room was already heated—such a thoughtful gesture.

There’s no grocery store in Jugiong, something I didn’t realize until last night. Jenny kindly offered to prepare something for me. I still walked the extra mile into town and got a salad wrap and muffin for breakfast. Later, Jenny sent me a message saying she had put together a box of food—orange juice, cookies, bread, and a can of beans. It’ll be just enough to get me to the next town tomorrow. These moments of kindness from strangers really mean a lot on this long road.

Now I’m finishing up my posts, feeling tired in the best way. That mix of fresh air and warmth afterward always gets me ready for deep sleep. Today, I was lucky. Tomorrow? Maybe more rain. Maybe something else. I never really know. But that’s part of the journey—rolling with the unexpected.

Thanks for being here. Your support keeps me going.