Walking with the Rhythm of Athens
Daily miles: 29.32 | Total miles: 11,754.6
Today I wanted to get up early to drive back to my starting point — but honestly, I just couldn’t. My body said no. At 6:40 a.m. I finally got up, had a cold coffee, woke up my sister, and around 7:30 a.m. we left the campground and drove back to the firefighter station.
It was a beautiful morning, soft colors in the sky, calm and clear. And yet, I felt a bit off — in several ways. “Enjoy the run into Athens,” I told myself. “Enjoy the weather.”
When I stepped out of the van, Christos, a firefighter volunteer, started talking to me. He was genuinely enthusiastic about my run and curious to hear my story. That small interaction lifted my spirits, and off I went.
It became clear quite quickly that running wouldn’t be beneficial today. So I eased into walking — and allowed myself to think. How incredible it is to walk into the ancient city of Athens on foot. How meaningful it felt to be slowed down on this particular part of the journey.
As I walked, I had some important insights about timing. About being on the right path. About trusting that everything happens for a reason, even when it feels limiting in the moment. Respecting the rhythm of life — and of this run — feels essential. Not pushing against resistance, but moving with the flow.
On the official Athens Classic Marathon course, there were statues and symbols along the way, reminders of history and endurance. But the course itself is not runnable at all these days — heavy traffic everywhere, and only narrow trails through tall grass and uneven ground.
I met my sister at mile 10 before heading into downtown Athens. I couldn’t see the Acropolis, hidden somewhere beyond buildings and distance. Progress through the city was slow, careful, and deliberate. I met my sister again at mile 22 for a short, quick stop before continuing the final 7 miles.
By the time I arrived at our parking spot for the night, it was getting dark and I was tired. After finishing a few things, we headed to a nearby restaurant to meet Lootie — Marie Leautey — the fastest woman to ever run around the world.
Until now, we had only seen each other briefly, twice, always passing moments. Tonight, we finally had time for a real conversation. My sister drove us to a small taverna, where we met Lootie, ordered vegetarian Greek food, and talked and laughed for hours.
Listening to her stories from her world run meant a lot to me. Shared understanding. Shared experiences. Good food, good conversations, good laughs. It was a truly special evening.
Now I’m back in the van, writing this, and ready for sleep.
Thanks for checking in. Andrea