Rolling with the Road and the Weather

Daily miles: 42.98 | Total miles: 6,959.74

My alarm rang at 5:00 a.m. Yesterday, I’d asked Garry if he could unlock the door early so I could pack the buggy and leave by 6:15 a.m., and he kindly agreed. Sure enough, the door was unlocked by 6:00 a.m. I had already made myself a coffee and eaten the leftover gingerbread from the day before. I toasted four pieces of bread, wrapped them in a paper towel, strapped on my headtorch (backwards, as always), and prepared for a long day ahead—hopefully with a little less rain than the last few days.

I knew I had over 40 miles to cover, so I wanted to head out early in case of a flat tire or anything else that might slow me down. Garry and I said our goodbyes, and off I went into the dark.

I actually enjoy running in the early morning darkness. It was dry, quiet, and peaceful—only two trucks and one car passed me until I made it back onto the highway. After a good night’s sleep, I felt clear and energized. I fully enjoyed settling into my rhythm, both mentally and physically.

I had met a few truck drivers yesterday, and today many of them honked as they passed me. It sometimes makes me jump, but mostly it brings a smile to my face—it’s their way of cheering me on.

The run felt smooth overall. There were some ups and downs, but not as much as yesterday. I ate a protein bar now and then, drank water with electrolytes, and stopped for a few bathroom breaks. Around mile 15, the sun came out. I took off my sweater and continued running with just a shirt and windbreaker. What a relief after the cold and rainy weather of the past few days.

Today, I also broke in the last new pair of shoes I brought along. I wore them for the first 20 miles, then switched to an older pair. The skies still looked grey at times, but it stayed dry. The sun peeked through, and it was pleasantly warm—perfect running conditions.

When I reached Holbrook, I made a quick stop by the Submarine structure, then headed to the store to shop. I checked into a hotel with my room upstairs, I had to change it a couple of times to get one with working Wi-Fi—which meant more stair climbing after nearly 43 miles of running. It’s kind of funny how much extra movement I still have to do even after all those miles.

Now I’m in a warm room, showered, and writing this blog. Soon I’ll prep my dinner and head to bed. Thank you for checking in—it’s been a very enjoyable day.