Roads, Choices, and a Meeting of World Runners

Daily Miles: 30.31 | Total Miles: 9,818.57

I woke up at 5:30 a.m., had my coffee, packed up, and was out the door before 7. The cool autumn air felt refreshing, and my first steps led me uphill into the early light. My route today followed Japan’s busy Route 2, a major artery full of trucks, narrow shoulders, and tunnels — not exactly ideal for pushing a buggy. I quickly realized that today would be about problem-solving and navigation more than anything else.

I found smaller side roads through Taishi, Tatsuno, and Aioi, quiet streets that wound through towns and neighborhoods, keeping me off the main road without adding too many extra miles. The scenery was pleasant — traditional houses, autumn colors, and that peaceful hum of daily life.

Later, I rejoined Route 2 for a stretch, and it turned into a challenge again — heavy traffic, no shoulder, and guardrails tight on both sides. I had to run fast and stay alert, diving off whenever a big truck came too close. Then, luckily, I found a path for cyclists and pedestrians that climbed over a wooded pass — steep, mossy, and covered in golden leaves. It was beautiful, quiet, and for a while, I wasn’t sure if I was even on the right path. But sometimes, that’s part of the fun — trusting the way forward.

The day had its share of small frustrations too. I kept switching sides of the road, trying to find the safest option, which felt a bit like standing in the slowest line at the supermarket. Each time I switched, it seemed I picked the wrong one! But that’s running life — constant little decisions, some good, some not, all part of the journey.

Arriving in Bizen, I stopped for groceries before finding my accommodation. Booking it the night before had been quite an adventure in itself — typing Japanese characters, decoding messages, and hoping it all worked. When I arrived, I had to use several codes to unlock different doors and figure out how to get the buggy up the stairs and parked safely for the night.

Just as I was settling in, I got a message from Tony Mangan — world runner, now world walker — asking if I could run to meet him. After 30 miles, the idea of running more made me laugh… but of course, I said yes. It actually felt wonderful to run freely again without the buggy. The sun was setting behind the mountains, casting warm light over the road. In the distance, I saw Tony’s silhouette, phone in hand, recording a video. When I reached him, we hugged — two world runners meeting in Japan, both chasing the horizon in our own way.

We walked back together, shared a Japanese-style dinner sitting on the floor, and are now sharing the same room — flexible travelers, kindred spirits on the road.

Thanks for checking in and following the journey.

If you’re curious, you can learn more about all the athletes who have completed a world run on the World Runners Association website.

Peace, Andrea