Heat, Kindness, and Deep Peace

Daily miles 30.87 | Total miles: 10,895.41

After just about four hours of sleep, my alarm rang at 5 am. Packing, moving, and being ready by 5:45 am. Dr Shobha was already waiting with her car when I left the university hostel with all my luggage. She drove us to the gate, where Sunil picked us up — the buggy still safely in his car.

When we returned to the place where I had stopped my run yesterday, I assembled the buggy and packed all my belongings. A few Manipal runners were already there, one of them with two children, ready to run with us. That felt special. I was given another nice shirt, and off we went.

It was still dark, but the sun was rising in the distance. The humidity was already high, and we were sweating from the very first steps. We started together and then, one by one, runners peeled off until only Sunil, Shobha, and I remained. Later, another runner joined us, and I very much enjoyed the company.

Along the way, we met Andrea from Italy, a cyclist travelling the world. In the morning, we stopped for breakfast — something I normally never do. I had idly with chutneys. Mmmh. When Sunil and Shobha finished their run after about 20 miles, we went for lunch together. I joined them for a while and then ran on.

There was one more moment today that marked a first. About 10,870 miles into my world run, it finally happened — my first official fall. Sunil asked me to push the buggy for a bit, so I handed it over, watched how it rolled for him, and stepped off the paved road onto the gravel, red-earth side path. I remember thinking that I hadn’t run on such a surface without the buggy for quite some time — and then it already happened. I tripped over a rock and went down. Instinct kicked in, and thankfully I still have the technique to roll over my shoulder. I got dirty, but I wasn’t hurt. Lucky me. I’ve taken plenty of falls in my life, but with the buggy as my third leg, I’ve been remarkably stable so far. Well, I’m not getting any younger, huh? And will I ever again move as safely without the buggy? We’ll find out. The most important thing is that I was truly lucky — only my left palm got a little scraped. No need to feel sorry for me. It’s part of the journey. There has to be that one unlucky step somewhere along the way.

The heat today was intense. And, I enjoyed it.

Something else happened that stayed with me. I stopped for a cold drink — here they call it a “cooling drink.” I was completely overheated and dripping with sweat when I walked into a small supermarket. A woman was sitting behind the counter. I asked her about drinks, took a few ice-cold bottles straight from the fridge — perfect. I also bought laundry soap, chips, and biscuits.

When I went to pay, she asked me if I had money. She would have given it to me if I had said no. Wow. I found that absolutely incredible. I wish people at home would treat guests with the same thoughtfulness and hospitality. Of course, I told her I would pay. What a beautiful gesture.

I ran on. It was hot. When I reached the town before the hotel, I stopped again for more ice-cold drinks. I hydrated really well throughout the day — it was necessary.

When I arrived at the hotel, the man simply said, “Come, come,” and showed me my room. I’m very happy here. I had dinner across the road. I was the only guest, the food was excellent, and the staff were very friendly. In the distance, I could hear the ocean. Trucks passed by on the coastal road. It all blended into a harmonious atmosphere.

I feel so much at peace here in India. Everywhere I greet, smiles and warm responses come back to me.

Thank you, India.

Thanks for checking in. I really need some sleep. What a day.

Thank you, Manipal Runners.

Dream Big Too, my friends. Andrea