Running Through the Wind and the Cold

Daily Miles: 41.78 | Total Miles: 8,421.35

I woke up at 6:30 am after a night that wasn’t very cold, but my body still felt off — heavy head, stuffed nose, and that “under the weather” feeling that makes everything seem just a bit harder. I knew I had a long way to go today, so I gathered all my focus and reminded myself to simply do what I came here to do: put one foot in front of the other.

The tent was dry when I packed it, which is always a win — it makes the next camp setup much easier. I made myself a cold coffee, filled all my bottles with electrolytes, and tossed my garbage in the bin before heading back onto the highway.

Running felt slow at first, but I settled into the rhythm and focused on conserving my energy. Several people had told me about lookout points coming up in the morning. I decided to visit just the first one — rationing not just my food and water, but also my energy and time. There will be other times for sightseeing, but right now the priority is covering the miles.

Not long after, a man in a car stopped and handed me an ice-cold Coke. I didn’t even catch his name — I was so absorbed in my own thoughts, in the feel of the wind, in the vast empty land around me, and in the work of just running forward.

Later, a group of cars slowed and I heard someone call my name. It was the same group I had met at the Nullarbor Roadhouse the night before. I had chosen to introduce myself and talk calmly so I wouldn’t feel too nervous sitting there by myself. That conversation turned into something like a small presentation about my run, and it felt so good to see them again. We took a photo together, they handed me muesli bars, an apple, and some delicious filled crackers — and most importantly, they lifted my spirits.

Shortly after they left, a truck pulled over. I think the driver’s name was Javali, and he, like another truck driver I met the other day (Arsh), gave me an ice-cold drink and some warm encouragement. I can’t tell you how much it means when someone actually stops a truck for me.

The miles kept coming, my jacket stayed on all day (even though I was warm), because with this cold I just can’t handle the wind against my skin. About five miles from where I hoped to camp, a cyclist named Claire stopped to chat. I appreciated the conversation but also felt the urgency of the setting sun — I still had ground to cover.

By mile 40, I still hadn’t found a good place to camp, so I kept going. About a mile and a half later, I came to a truck parking area that stretched all the way to the cliffs. Caravans were lined up along the edge, but I found a gravel patch with a bit of wind shelter closer to the road — exactly what I needed. Perfect.

I pitched my tent quickly, focused on efficiency — tent up, organize gear, quick body clean, eat dinner (cold schnitzel and chips, cookies and oranges for dessert), and drink my milk (so good after a long day!). Finally, I crawled into my sleeping bag and felt that deep wave of gratitude to just be lying down.

The wind woke me a few times during the night, but I kept falling back asleep. My head felt slightly better compared to yesterday, though at 3 am it got very cold — partly the temperature, partly my own body struggling to regulate heat with this cold.

Another good, long day on the road. The cold definitely added a challenge, but that’s part of this journey too.

Be well, friends. Thanks for coming along with me — mile after mile.