Reflections in the Rain
Daily miles: 30.12 | Total miles: 9941.71
I got up at 5:30am, and by 7am I stepped out of the hotel into a grey, rainy, and cool morning. Maybe it was fitting — an omen, perhaps — for the day ahead, as I would visit Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park later on. I looked up into the sky, wondering how long and how hard it would rain. At least it was Sunday, with fewer cars and people on the road.
I started to run, finding my rhythm, though my legs still felt yesterday’s long climb. My thoughts were heavy — drawn to the unimaginable horror that unfolded 80 years ago, on August 6, 1945, when the first nuclear bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.
As I ran through the hills, mist and fog hung low, painting a mystical panorama. The autumn colors glowed softly through the grey. The sidewalks appeared and disappeared, so I often had to switch sides — always alert, adapting quickly to stay safe. Within a mile, I was completely soaked. I just kept moving to stay warm.
After about nine miles, I stopped briefly to eat, hydrate, and take a quick break before focusing on reaching Hiroshima. When I finally arrived, I passed a lively market and decided to walk through it. The air was full of chatter and color — a beautiful contrast to the morning’s quiet. I stopped at a bakery stand and bought some sweet bread for later. A few young men noticed my buggy and seemed curious. Though we couldn’t communicate much — they didn’t speak English, and I don’t speak Japanese — I showed them my world run map, and their faces lit up. We took a few photos together, and one of them, Koji, even ran after me for another picture. Such a joyful exchange.
Two miles before the Peace Memorial Park, I stopped for a coffee — a chance to warm up, dry off a bit, and refuel. It stayed dry after that.
As I approached the park, my thoughts turned again to that tragic day — imagining the fear, the chaos, the loss. It’s impossible to truly comprehend. I felt deeply grateful to be able to run freely through this city, to move under my own power, when so many people once couldn’t even walk to safety. Running through cities always reminds me how connected and mobile we truly are — step by step, bridge by bridge.
When I reached the Peace Memorial Park, I first stood before the A-Bomb Dome. It’s difficult to take in — haunting, powerful, and humbling. I walked slowly through the park among visitors from all over the world. I stopped to look at the Peace Flame, then sat on a bench for a while before passing the museum and leaving the park. To remember — and to feel that sadness — felt important.
I’ve always been a strong proponent of disarmament — not just nuclear, but all forms: landmines, weapons of mass destruction, and anything designed to harm human beings.
As I left downtown Hiroshima, the rain stopped, and the sun began to break through. The warmth on my skin felt like a quiet blessing after a day of reflection. I still had ten miles to run — crossing rivers and finally reaching the sea again. The view was beautiful, the air clear, and I was glad to see my hotel appear in the distance.
I stopped for groceries, then reached the hotel around 4:30pm. Check-in was fully automated. I parked the buggy in the kitchen (hoping it’s still there tomorrow!) and carried my gear up eight flights of stairs. My room has a small balcony. A shower, a meal, and now, time to rest.
See you tomorrow, Andrea