Dokkodo: Lonesome Road of Running

Breakfast at 7:20 AM. Departed Izmit just before 8:00 AM. Switched from the D100 to the D130 and headed west. Traffic wasn't exactly light, but it was somewhat better than on the D100. Arrived in Gölcük around 10:30 AM and was treated to *çay* (Turkish tea) by a local resident named Ersin at a seaside café. He told me he loves riding his Suzuki motorcycle all over the country. When I told him about the PEACE RUN, he followed me on Instagram. Whenever I turn onto quieter back roads, local cats always come out to greet me. The cats around the seaside café in Gölcük were eating fish given to them directly by anglers. I'm traveling along the southern coast of the Sea of ​​Marmara; the opposite shore is Gebze, where I passed through the other day. The Körfez area is an industrial zone; even from here, the town looked hazy from the smoke rising out of the chimneys. The seaside promenade is always pleasant. I wish a path like this would continue forever. Covered 38.6 km today. Arrived...

Day 5: A rest day in Izmit. Woke up at 5:30 AM. The hotel is right in the middle of the bustling downtown area, yet it’s quiet in the morning. Took a short walk around the city this morning. I heard there’s a bicycle shop nearby, so if they have 20-inch tires, I plan to buy and replace mine. I’ll also re-evaluate the route for the days ahead. Today’s temperature ranges from 11°C to 26°C. It’s chilly in the morning but looks like it will get a bit hot during the day. On days I run, I focus entirely on running; on days I don’t, I don’t think about running at all. I don’t even put on my running shoes. This mental switch is crucial. I suspect that runners who frequently suffer injuries or breakdowns often struggle to make this kind of mental switch. Well, that excludes people who run all year round, of course (haha). Regarding my journey across Turkey, the route has changed a few times, but after reconsidering, I’ve decided not to go to Ankara and instead take the coastal route heading wes...

Woke up at 5:30 AM. Went for breakfast at 7:00 AM. A buffet-style meal at the hotel's restaurant. There was a wide variety of options, including cheese, bread, egg dishes, and vegetables. It’s easy to end up eating too much with a spread like this. Picked up the laundry I had dropped off yesterday. In Turkey, you rarely see coin-operated laundromats outside of Istanbul. The hotel's laundry service cost 600 Lira (approx. 2,000 yen) per load. Hand-washing takes a long time to dry, so I figured it was worth it to have it done professionally. Departed at 11:00 AM, seen off by the kind hotel staff. They asked to take a commemorative photo, and I happily agreed. They even followed me on Instagram. Körfez was a wonderful, lively city. Now, heading east. Just before noon, I took a break at a park in Kocaeli, located above the D100 highway tunnel. Even there, the noise and exhaust fumes were unavoidable. The temperature was a comfortable 21°C; taking off my jacket felt just right. After...

Day 3. Woke up at 4:00 AM. My legs and lower back are sore. If I can just get through this third day, I’ll be okay. Took a shower and relaxed a bit. Today’s route covers 35 kilometers to Körfez. There aren't many climbs, and I should be able to run along the seaside promenade again. The weather has been clear for a while, but it looks like there will be a lot of rain next week. My body is gradually shifting into "traveler mode." I’ll accept the aches and pains here and there. No complaining. I’m thinking of taking a rest day in İzmit to recover and make adjustments. Had a delicious breakfast just after 7:00 AM. It was a buffet-style meal: boiled eggs, ham, cheese, pickled olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, coffee, and bread. Packed up my gear and set off at 7:30 AM. However, I got a flat tire before I’d even gone 100 meters. A flat tire—the first hurdle of the day. While I was repairing it in front of a bank that hadn't opened yet, my pump broke—hurdle number two. Fortunate...

Woke up at 4:00 AM. Severe muscle soreness was concentrated in my lower back, upper back, shoulders, and arms rather than my legs. I took a hot shower and massaged the sore areas with the hot water. Even though I run regularly, I rarely push a buggy up and down hills. I could have taken a rest day, but due to accommodation arrangements, I aimed for the town of Gebze, about 15 kilometers away. Decided to check out a bit later than usual. Breakfast at 5:00 AM: banana, oat biscuits, raisins, dates, orange, apple juice, and salted drinking yogurt. A late start at 11:00 AM. Navigating through residential areas and the town center was fine, as there were sidewalks. The first tricky spot: I was guided onto a road resembling the D100 expressway—restricted to motor vehicles. It ran parallel to the highway, and the exhaust fumes were intense. There were sections where the shoulder simply disappeared. Running on the left side of the road felt terrifying, as oncoming traffic seemed to be charging ...