Enduring the Elements

Daily miles: 34.14 | Total miles: 14,363.69

I got up at 6:20am. A hot coffee, getting ready, and a quick check on the buggy. Yesterday on the road, I noticed an issue with the left wheel. I had tried to fix it, but this morning it became clear that I would need a proper tool to solve the problem. I hoped it wouldn’t get worse before I could find a mechanic—probably not until tomorrow.

I left the house knowing the temperature had dropped by 15 degrees and that rain was forecast for the entire day. As soon as I stepped outside, I felt the first drops. The rain had already begun. I ran down through town and back onto the road that would take me all the way to the place I had booked the night before. It immediately started uphill.

The rain quickly turned into real rain, and combined with the cold headwind, it was a tough combination. At first, I thought it wouldn’t last all day. I was wrong. It turned into a very difficult day. After just five miles, I already couldn’t imagine being out there for many more hours.

At mile 8, I passed through the only town of the day. A supermarket had just opened, so I went in and bought food for the rest of the day and for the evening. It was Sunday, and I knew there likely wouldn’t be another chance. Stepping back outside into the cold, I realized I would be out there for many more hours.

By noon, the pain had intensified. I couldn’t fathom enduring another five hours. It was pouring. I hated the constant sound of the rain, the cold on my skin, and the pain it caused—especially in my fingers, my soles, and my toes. Every step hurt. I stopped looking up; the wind against my face was too harsh. Instead, I focused on my breath and on each step. Time in moments like these stretches in a strange way—one minute can feel like an eternity.

I kept thinking how cold it was, over and over again. My fingers hurt so much from pushing the buggy, and I wished I didn’t have to. The issue with the wheel didn’t worsen, though I heard some rattling. I just hoped it would hold until I could get it fixed. I tried to run at times, but the pain in my feet made it impossible. The cold had drained me completely.

When I finally arrived around 5pm, I saved my Garmin activity to upload it to Strava—and of course, an error occurred: “invalid activity.” For a moment, it felt like too much. But this is World Run Day 478, and I’ve encountered this before. I knew I could fix it if I stayed calm.

In my room, I focused on being quiet and systematic. One step at a time. I managed to repair and upload the activity, took an extremely long and hot shower, and finally felt some warmth return. Dinner was simple—salad, bread, and hummus—but perfect. I uploaded my reel and now I’m finishing this blog.

There are still a few things to sort out—hanging up wet clothes, planning tomorrow’s route, finding a bicycle repair shop in Zaragoza—but soon it will be time to sleep. And I love the thought of that.

Some days are not about flow or beauty. Some days are about enduring. And today was one of them.

Thanks for checking in. Andrea