Walking into the Wind

Daily miles: 31.8 | Total miles: 11,174.68

I got up at 6:20 a.m. At 7:30, I stepped outside into an ice-cold, pitch-dark morning. I switched on my headlamp and started running, the beam lighting the road ahead.

Only a few steps in, the first dog started barking. Then another. And another. For quite a while, it continued. Many were on leashes or behind fences, but some came right out onto the road. I whistled, held out my hand, and slowed to a walk when they came close.

It was bitterly cold, and the headwind felt painful on my face. I leaned into it and walked the hills. The wind was exhausting, draining, and already in the morning I felt like sitting down and crying. But I kept going.

The climb and the wind continued, relentless. Every step felt heavy. I met my sister at mile 16, and it was hard to leave the warmth of the van after a short break. I really had to talk myself back out—pep talks, a bit of muscle kissing, some chest hitting—whatever it took to move again.

I carried on, but the ice-cold wind made everything difficult. Some cars slowed down, asking if I wanted a ride. One family stopped, all of them visibly excited to meet me. For a brief moment, I forgot the cold. Then the road opened up again, and reality returned.

The last part of the run wasn’t really running anymore. I was grateful that I could walk and keep moving forward at all. The wind was painful, unrelenting. Step by step, into the resistance.

After a long struggle, I finally reached İpsala—and the van. Snacks, dinner, and now sleep. The cold has taken everything out of me today.

Thanks for checking in. Andrea