Embracing the Wind

Today started with a wonderful night of restful sleep. Feeling refreshed, I began my morning by navigating over my disassembled buggy to reach the bathroom. After packing everything up, I faced the challenge of maneuvering my bulky, disassembled buggy around a narrow corner to get it through the door. Once outside, I reassembled the buggy, packed it again, and was finally ready to run.

I soon found myself on Highway 79, which treated me to 11 miles of serene, uninterrupted running on a beautifully flat stretch of road. The expansive plains stretched endlessly, giving me a clear view as far as my eyes could see. It was the perfect setting to ease into a steady pace and enjoy the morning.

Along the way, I met Howard, a man working in someone’s yard. As always, I cherished the opportunity to stop and chat for a moment. Not long after, a car slowed down beside me. It was Charlyn, who had tracked me down after her daughter spotted me running, looked up my website, and shared the news on their family chat. Charlyn kindly asked if I needed anything, and although I didn’t, she generously handed me some money. Thank you, Charlyn, for your kindness!

A bit later, I turned onto Highway 78, which lacked a hard shoulder but had very little traffic, allowing me to continue running comfortably for the next 11 miles. Along this stretch, Jonathan stopped to offer his help. Knowing I had a backup person to call in case something happened over the next 100 miles felt incredibly reassuring. During our brief chat, the wind had started to pick up.

The final 11 miles of today’s run were windier, with gusts making their presence known. The wind's noise, swirling dust, and extra effort required to move forward could have been frustrating. However, I decided on a new strategy—to simply not let the wind annoy me. Whether it slowed me down, forced me to walk, or even made me stand still, I vowed not to waste energy feeling frustrated. After all, I can’t change the wind. I’ll see how well this mindset holds up over the next 400-some days, but for now, it's worth trying.

Upon reaching Brinkley, I stopped at a Dollar General to gather some supplies. Shamal, the cashier, asked about my world run. When I jokingly said I might be a little crazy for doing this, she smiled and replied, “No, I’ve heard of people doing it.” I loved her response.

I checked into a hotel that didn’t look too inviting from the outside but turned out to be quite nice inside. My room was spacious, had good Wi-Fi, and all those funny little amenities that make hotel stays oddly comfortable. I’m looking forward to another restful night.

Thanks for being part of this journey with me!