Listening Early, Moving Steady

Daily miles: 31.31 | Total miles: 14,479.23

I got up after a not-so-perfect night of sleep. Cold coffee, getting ready, and then I stepped outside. Pretty quickly, I realized—and decided—that this would be a slower day. More walking than running.

There was a bit of pain here and there, nothing major, but enough to remind me to listen early. To not push through unnecessarily. On days like this, it’s not about forcing progress, but about allowing it. Taking care right from the beginning, so small things don’t turn into bigger ones.

The weather was nice, the road long.

At mile 7, I passed a small town and met José Ángel and David, two bomberos—forest firefighters of the region. We started talking, and they invited me for a coffee. I gladly accepted. It was a simple, warm moment, and I really enjoyed the conversation. Encounters like these always stay with me.

Afterwards, I continued on. The road was quite busy, but for the most part it had a decent shoulder to walk on. Wide open spaces stretched out around me—rolling hills, steady ups and downs, and a lot of time to think. Slowing down changes something. The rhythm shifts, and with it, the way thoughts move.

There wasn’t much between that small town and Soria—just the road, the landscape, and the quiet repetition of steps. Mile after mile, gradually moving forward.

The last stretch into the city brought a steep uphill. After hours of solitude, it felt almost refreshing to step back into movement, into people, into a different kind of energy. Observing city life again, even briefly, has its own kind of beauty.

I picked up some groceries and then made my way to the Hotel Viena. Carola, an Argentinian woman, welcomed me, and I got a room on the second floor.

Dinner, a shower, a bit of planning for tomorrow.

And now, it’s time to rest.

Good night.

Thanks for checking in, Andrea