Flat Tire, Strong Legs, and Simple Shelter

Daily miles: 31.99 | Total miles: 7,796.7

Today started with an unexpected challenge: a flat tire on my buggy. At 6am I was ready to hit the road, but instead I found myself with tools in hand, dismantling the wheel, tire, and tube. I even tried the classic water bath test to locate the puncture, but no luck. In the end, I put everything back together, pumped it up, and hoped for the best. Thankfully, the tube held all day—though tomorrow morning may bring another round of pumping.

Once I finally set off at 7:30am, the running itself felt good. The morning air was calm, my legs were strong—maybe thanks to last night’s mountain of noodles—and the reduced wind made a huge difference. I ran straight through to mile 17 before stopping briefly to drink, eat, and stretch. With my rain jacket hood up, the sounds of traffic and wind faded a little, letting me enjoy the rhythm of the run.

Crystal Brook was my destination, but finding a place to stay turned into another adventure. One hotel was closed, and the caravan park had no space, so I took the only option left. After a quick grocery stop, I checked in, which finally gave me a roof over my head. The Wi-Fi is almost unusable, but tonight it doesn’t matter. I even bumped into a couple doing their own long-distance hike and enjoyed chatting with them before finally settling in.

Dinner was simple—Chinese noodles and chickpeas with salad—and now I’m ready to rest while the rain falls outside. A day of small struggles, steady running, and the reminder that even the simplest shelter can feel like luxury.

See you tomorrow, Andrea