Dokkodo: Lonesome Road of Running

Day 18 of my journey through Turkey—my 66th birthday. I spent the night camping on the coast in Denizkent and woke up inside my tent. Thank you to everyone who has already sent me birthday wishes! I’d like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude. Please continue to follow my "PEACE RUN"—a 40,000-kilometer journey across five continents—and keep supporting me, adventure runner Katsuhiko Takashige. Although I heard dogs barking and people talking during the night, the morning arrived without any real issues. My tent was soaked with night dew. The humidity made it feel quite cold. It’s a shame there’s no shower, but I’m grateful for the zero-cost accommodation. I might encounter situations like this again further down the road. I set off at 7:40 AM. While packing up the tent, I was swarmed by a massive cloud of mosquitoes. On the way to today’s destination, Biga, I passed through several small settlements and a few gas stations. As usual, my diet consists of nuts, dried...

On Day 17, I woke up before 5:00 AM. The weather is great again today. My route takes me from Bandırma to a place called Denizkent—a distance of just over 40 kilometers. It has already been 20 days since I left Kansai International Airport. Heading south from Çanakkale; I suppose the area around İzmir marks the halfway point. With a smile on my face and safety as my top priority, I’ll keep moving along at a steady, relaxed pace. I set off from my hotel in Bandırma at 7:30 AM. After navigating the hilly city streets, I reached the D200 highway. Traffic was heavy at first, but it soon quieted down. I took my first break after running 15 kilometers. It looked like a bus stop, but there was nowhere to sit. The temperature began to rise quickly. It’s another perfectly clear day with a brilliant, expansive blue sky. It’s over 20°C—warm enough to feel hot. The landscape features wind turbines and vast fields, with stunning views of the Sea of ​​Marmara. Someone from what appeared to be a fact...

Day 16, just past 6:00 AM—I’m jolted awake by the deafening broadcast of the *adhan* (call to prayer). Today’s temperature ranges from 10°C to 21°C. It’s quite mild, likely because we’re by the coast. I’ve decided to take another day off. Mud from the trail has been interfering with the brakes—to the point where they stopped working—which made for a terrifying experience while descending a hill in Bandırma yesterday. My mission for today: completely remove the dried mud and install a protective liner inside the tires. I also need to head to a bike shop to pick up some rubber cement for puncture repairs. Fortunately, this hotel is quite affordable, and thanks to some Agoda points, it’s even cheaper. Breakfast this morning: *Chai* (tea), mango juice, boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, honey, bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach, pickled olives, salami, French fries, various types of cheese, and more. You really can’t beat a buffet-style breakfast. Since I’m eating breakfast here, it must be lun...

Woke up at 4:30 AM. The town is quiet—all I can hear are the chirping of birds and the distant barking of dogs. Temperatures today will range from 8°C to 20°C. It will be reasonably warm during the day, but I’ll need to set off in full winter gear this morning. While I’d prefer to avoid rain and wind, perhaps it’s precisely because of them that I’m able to truly appreciate a clear, calm day. Breakfast at 7:00 AM. Sunrise is gradually coming later each day. I’ll wait until it’s light out to depart. The daylight hours are shrinking; the seasons are slowly moving forward. Finished eating, packed my gear, and checked out. When I went to retrieve my buggy from the storage area, I found the rear-left tire completely flat. It seems a piece of wire from the road must have punctured it again. I quickly swapped out the inner tube. The friendly staff member who helped me at check-in watched the whole process. As I was leaving, he shook my hand and used a translation app to show me a kind, heart-w...