Embracing Kindness on the Road to Gainesville

I woke up on the sailboat to a serene, almost mystical scene—the door open, the lake still cloaked in darkness. The water lay completely still, reflecting the calm of the early morning hours. Despite sleeping on a boat, I hadn’t felt it rock at all during the night, and I woke up well-rested and ready for another day of running.

I packed my things, got dressed, and made myself a cold instant coffee—just as good as a hot machine coffee in my book. As I sipped it, I took in the beauty of the morning, the tranquility of Santa Fe Lake, and the way the soft light slowly unveiled the surroundings.

Chief soon greeted me with his ever-present kindness, and at 7 AM, we left Melrose. To make things easier, we loaded the buggy into the truck while keeping my backpacks separate for quick unloading. Chief, always thinking ahead, had prepared a snack bag for me—his thoughtfulness never ceases to amaze me.

During our drive to Interlachen, I soaked up Chief’s company. He told me that his friend Nelson might be able to host me for the night, either in his house or garden. I was touched by his consideration—he had already arranged everything before I even had the chance to think about where I’d sleep. When we reached my stopping point from the day before, we exchanged a hug and a heartfelt goodbye. Thank you, Chief.

As I set off, I noticed on Google Maps a cycle path and confirmed the route with some locals. A short mile in, I met Susie and asked her about A20, a backroad running parallel to Highway 20. She reassured me it was a good route. The road was calm, framed by beautiful tree-lined paths, and an old train rail ran alongside me—scenery that made for truly enjoyable running.

At mile 9, I had the option to take a sand road, but I chose to stick with Highway 20 for the last 20 miles. Somewhere along the way, Nelson called to confirm I could stay at his house. That gave me an extra boost—I could focus fully on the run, knowing I had a safe place to land at the end of the day.

The running felt smooth today. It seemed like there was a net loss of elevation, and I was able to keep a higher pace, pushing myself to stay alert rather than slipping into the autopilot ‘running sleep’ that sometimes happens. It was hot, I was sweating, but my breath was steady, my legs kept moving, and the world around me felt fresh and full of life.

At one point, I spotted two women sitting in front of their garage, looking relaxed and at ease. I couldn’t resist stopping for a quick chat—sometimes, a kind conversation can be as refreshing as a cold drink on a hot day. Brenda and Rosa welcomed me instantly. Rosa’s words stuck with me: "You, girl, can do it." There’s something about hearing that from someone who genuinely believes in you that makes all the difference. Thank you, Brenda and Rosa, for your warmth and encouragement.

Feeling energized, I pushed on, determined to dip below a 10-minute mile pace again. As I approached Gainesville, I made a quick stop at a Dollar Store to grab supplies for tonight and tomorrow. Gainesville turned out to be larger and more spread out than I expected—I still had seven more miles to go after reaching the city limits!

Finally, as I neared Nelson and Linda’s house, I was greeted by a beautiful road framed with trees and lush greenery. Nelson stood in the driveway, welcoming me with open arms. Inside, Linda joined us, and we had a wonderful, deep conversation. Time and again, I’m amazed at how quickly people seem to trust and believe in me. It brings me so much joy.

As they left for dinner, I stayed back to recharge—both my devices and myself. I showered, ate, and took care of my social media updates, reflecting on how incredibly generous and open-hearted people have been to me. The way strangers welcome me, allowing me to feel at home within minutes, speaks volumes about human kindness.

This journey continues to teach me that sharing is truly caring. Every act of generosity I receive reminds me of how much good there is in the world. To all of you who have supported, believed in, and shared with me—thank you. I carry your kindness with me every step of the way.

Excited for another day on the road tomorrow—let’s see what awaits us.

#WorldRunDay74 #RunningTheWorld #KindnessEverywhere #KeepMoving #TrustAndGenerosity