13,000 Miles and Still Moving Forward
Daily miles: 27.77 | Total miles: 13,004.05
I slept well, but I still felt very tired. Yesterday I finished my work and went straight to bed, falling asleep almost instantly. This morning, however, I still needed to find a place to stay for tonight. The combination of fatigue and limited options made it a bit of a challenge—but nothing that couldn’t be solved.
Around 8 a.m., after several phone calls, messages, and finally making a decision, I knew I had a place to run to. The sky was overcast and the air cool. I was excited because today I would pass the milestone of 13,000 miles. I also knew I needed to organize a few things and get to bed early, so a relatively short day felt right.
The run began uphill. The grey scenery matched my inner tiredness, but after a while my feet kept turning, my breathing settled into rhythm, and the morning slowly began to feel good.
Then, in the distance, I saw another runner approaching. Of course, I had to stop him.
Mislav stopped—and that made me happy. He is training for a 100 km race next weekend. For a moment, I felt a little jealous, but then I smiled. There will be a life after this world run. Our short conversation gave me wings all the way to the next climb. People sometimes ask if Red Bull gives me wings—well, maybe a short sugar boost—but fellow runners give me something much stronger and longer lasting.
After about six miles, I arrived in Senj. It looked beautiful running into town. Since it was a celebratory day, I treated myself to a coffee and sat for a few quiet minutes among the locals. The harbor was calm, and as always, there was so much to observe while simply being present.
Shortly afterward, I crossed the 45th parallel north, approximately halfway between the Equator and the North Pole. That made me smile because the same parallel runs through Oregon, where I was first introduced to that concept many years ago. Funny how places reconnect through memory.
The road continued as a typical coastal route—rolling hills, wind, narrow stretches, and endless views. Moments pass quickly out here, and I try to savor them before they disappear.
About ten miles before my destination, I stopped at a grocery store and met Jadranka. She asked, “Sprechen Sie Deutsch?” and instantly we connected. I am always amazed at how quickly warmth and genuine support can arise between people who have never met before. These encounters nourish my heart and soul. I try, whenever possible, to create the openness that allows such moments to happen. In many ways, that’s why I feel we are here.
Thank you, Jadranka and Mislav—you both made this milestone day even more special.
13,000 miles.
Not always graceful. Not always great. But always moving—running, walking, sometimes crawling—forward.
When I arrived at the apartment, I had to pull the buggy up to the first floor. The Wi-Fi was too weak, so after a while I bought some mobile data to finish my work. I cooked penne with tomato sauce for dinner and prepared for tomorrow.
Just a little more than 100 days to go.
Thank you for your support. Andrea