Dokkodo: Lonesome Road of Running

10/23/2025

DAY22 Dawu-Taimali 40.7km

Started just before 6am.

The wind was a headwind, as expected.

At times it was so strong that I couldn't move forward.

The temperature was 24 degrees, but the wind made it feel even cooler.

I stopped at convenience stores three times.

I was overtaken once by a group of three Germans, and met up again at a Family Mart along the way.

Today they were heading to Taitung City.

I continued running in silence, concentrating despite the headwind.

At 3:30pm, I had completed 40.7km. I'm ashamed to say that this was the first time I had covered over 40km in Taiwan.

The fatigue from crossing the mountain pass yesterday seemed to have vanished.

I was able to relax in a quiet, laid-back guesthouse.

*Today's Distance: 40.7km

Total Distance from Taoyuan: 557.7kmkm

10/22/2025

DAY21 Xuhai-Dawu 28.2km

Started just before 6am.

The 5km before joining Route 199 was a steep gradient of over 10%.

It was quite disheartening.

From Route 199 onwards, the climb was fairly gentle.

I arrived at Kotobuki Pass at 9:30am.

I started descending from there, with small ups and downs along the way.

I took a break at a small shop in Daren.

After joining Route 9, the road was quiet for a while.

There were hardly any cars, except for the occasional cyclist on a circumnavigation of the island.

I finally found a convenience store when I returned to Route 9.

There were no convenience stores at all yesterday.

I checked into a hotel in Dawu at 3pm.

A group of three senior German cyclists had arrived earlier.

It was not a long day but hill climbs and heavy head wind knocked me down.

*Today's Distance: 28.2km

Total Distance from Taoyuan: 517kmkm

10/21/2025

DAY20 Manzhou-Xuhai 29.4km

I left Zhaoling Temple where I stayed for two nights, just before 6am.

It wasn't raining, but the wind was strong.

I followed County Route 200, a road with moderate ups and downs.

I occasionally spotted wild monkeys.

I joined Route 26 at Gangzai and headed straight for Xuhai.

It was a deserted area with few shops, people, or cars, but the sea and mountain scenery was magnificent.

There was a fairly strong headwind, but it didn't bother me too much.

This route probably isn't very popular, but I was overtaken several times by Caucasian cyclists.

When I called out to them, I found that many of them were Dutch.

*Today's Distance: 29.4km

Total Distance from Taoyuan: 488.8km

10/20/2025

DAY19 Day-Off in Manzhou

I took a day-off.

Typhoon is heading to Vietnam but wind is still strong.

There comes tough and hard hill climbing from Manzhou.

That's why I need to save my power for tomorrow.

Did a laundry, went shopping at downtown, ate lunch(fried rice) and enjoyed coffee.

Walked around town, which was very small.

*Today's Distance: 0km

Total Distance from Taoyuan: 459.4km

10/19/2025

DAY18 Hengchun-Manzhou 36.9km

I set off at 6am in the rain.

19km from Hengchun to the southernmost point, with a strong tailwind all the way there.

The rain stopped by the time I reached the southernmost point, but then a strong headwind hit.

I couldn't move forward. I needed more than twice the usual leg strength.

Today, I was given some treats again, met a Taiwanese couple who are birdwatching enthusiasts, and when I asked a woman at a grocery store about lodging, she introduced me to a temple... I had many happy encounters.

The second half of the run had a moderate amount of ups and downs, and at 3:30pm, after running 36.9km, I finished at a temple in Manzhou. I ended up staying the night there.

*Today's Distance: 36.9km

Total Distance from Taoyuan: 459.4km

10/18/2025

DAY17 Fangshan-Hengchun 32.8km

I started at 5:40am.

The highway offered views of the ocean and mountains.

I stopped off at convenience stores a few times.

I met a Danish father and son cyclists at a 7-Eleven in the afternoon and enjoyed a short conversation.

Many cyclists and drivers cheered me on along the way, which kept me going on.

After the Circumnavigation Route 1 ended, I continued south on Route 26.

It seemed like there were suddenly more cyclists in this area, but perhaps it was because it was the weekend?

I arrived in the town of Hengchun just after 3pm.

The 32.8km run.

Even though it was 31 degrees, the wind made it feel quite cool.

*Today's Distance: 32.8km

Total Distance from Taoyuan: 422.5km

10/17/2025

DAY16 Linbian-Fangshan 28.2km

I started at 6am.

The temperature was 26-31 degrees and very humid.

After Route 17, I followed the busy Circum-Island Route 1.

Apparently, some convenience stores are displayed on Google Maps, while others aren't.

Along the way, I came across a 7-Eleven that had gone out of business.

The scenery changed to one of ocean and mountain views.

I was given a drink as a gift again today.

I chatted with a local guy at the convenience store.

I checked into a guesthouse in Fangshan just after 3pm.

My accommodation for the night was a Mongolian tent.

Tomorrow, I'll finally reach the southernmost tip of Taiwan.

My circum-island trek (around Taiwan) is almost half complete.

*Today's Distance: 28.2km

Total Distance from Taoyuan: 389.7km

10/16/2025

DAY 15 Kaohsiun-Linbian 38.2km

I started at 5:40 AM from Ahiruya Guesthouse in Kaohsiung City.

I continued south to Dapeng Bay. I crossed a mountain along the way, but the entire mountain was a cemetery.

The cemeteries there resembled those in Okinawa.

I mainly followed Provincial Highway 17, which had a lot of traffic.

After crossing Dapeng Bay, the roads became quieter.

There were quite a few convenience stores.

The ocean breeze somewhat alleviated the heat.

Just after 3 PM, after running 32.5 kilometers, I thought I'd arrived at my lodging, but emails with the owner revealed that it was a different lodging with a similar name.

I've made this mistake before. I need to double-check the name and address of the lodging.

I run another 5.7 kilometers south and checked in around 5 PM.

A total of 38.2 kilometers. I'm exhausted!

*Today's Distance: 38.2km

Total Distance from Taoyuan: 361.5km

10/15/2025

DAY14 Day-Off in Kaohsiung

I'm in my second week of my circumnavigation of Taiwan.

I've been running for six days straight since leaving Taichung.

Avoiding runs longer than 40km in the scorching heat, I started as early as sunrise whenever possible, and took breaks every 5km during the day to cool down.

Perhaps because I drank less water and sugar on non-running days, my appetite didn't decrease, so I bought a bento box and ate it for lunch.

I went to PX Mart in the morning to stock up, so I could prepare for the sudden disappearance of stores and towns.

Just walking for 30 minutes made me sweat.

*Today's Distance: 0km

Total Distance from Taoyuan: 323.3km

10/14/2025

DAY13 Tainan-Kaohsiung 39.3km

Starting at 5:40 AM, the temperature quickly rose.

I managed to cover nearly 30 kilometers in the morning.

Once I left Kaohsiung City and headed south toward the east coast, I knew there would be many areas without convenience stores, so I tried not to rely on them.

I soon entered Kaohsiung City, but my accommodation was still about 30 kilometers away.

The city was crowded with motorbikes, cars, and people.

However, from here on, I would enjoy the quiet of Taiwan for a while.

I checked into a guesthouse called Ahiru-ya in Kaohsiung City at 3:30 PM.

The dormitory was large, and some staff members spoke Japanese.

I stopped in the restaurant for the first time since Taichung and had beef noodles.

*Today's Distance: 39.3km

Total Distance from Taoyuan: 323.3km

10/13/2025

DAY12 Anding-Rende(Tainan City)21.3km

Tomorrow I'll complete my journey across Tainan City, and then I'll head to Kaohsiung City.

I started late at 8am, but it was incredibly hot again today, with the temperature reaching 33 degrees in the afternoon.

Thanks for the drinks! Everyday someone gives me food and drinks!

I cooled down my heated body at a convenience store and slowly made progress.

Tainan City is crowded with people, cars, and motorbikes, so it's dangerous if you don't drive carefully to avoid collisions.

Today I'm staying at a lovely B&B in Rende District, nestled in the quiet countryside.

*Today's Distance: 21.3km

Total Distance from Taoyuan: 284km

10/12/2025

DAY11 Lucao-Anding(Tainan) 36.3km

I started at 5:30 in the morning.

The temperature ranged from 25 to 33 degrees.

There was a tailwind today, so the heat was somewhat less.

I passed through areas with many corn fields and dairy farms.

Two men brought us lots of treats along the way.

Even if they give us more than we can eat, we always eat it...

It was a happy cry.

I took a few breaks at convenience stores.

In sections where there were no convenience stores, I took roadside breaks in the shade of trees.

Folding chairs were very useful.

It was difficult to find accommodation during the long weekend, and the one we managed to get was quite expensive at 1,480 NTD.

But it was a nice room.

Tomorrow I'll head to central Tainan.

*Today's Distance: 36.3km

Total Distance from Taoyuan: 262.7km

10/11/2025

DAY10 Dounan-Lucao 37.1km

I started at 5:40 AM.

The dim light before sunrise was cool and refreshing.

It was my first time seeing the sunrise in Taiwan.

The sun soon got stronger, and the temperature rose above 30 degrees just after 9 AM.

Although it was 33 degrees, it felt much warmer.

The lack of a convenience store (and no shade at all) along the 10-kilometer stretch was a real pain.

When I reached a Family Mart 6 kilometers before the guesthouse, it felt like I'd found an oasis in the desert.

I stocked up on food at the convenience store and checked into the guesthouse in Lucao just before 5 AM.

I'm so grateful, so touched, and so grateful to have made it safely today!

*Today's Distance: 37.1km

Total Distance from Taoyuan: 226.4km

10/10/2025

DAY9 Tianwei to Dounan 30.7km

At 5:30 AM, I checked out of the B&B and headed to a restaurant where I could have breakfast, but due to a misunderstanding, I ended up at the wrong restaurant.

I had no choice but to skip breakfast.

While I was taking a break at a Family Mart, a local man who had seen me on YouTube came by on his motorbike with his son, who is a high school student, to show his support.

We talked for about an hour and he even brought me some treats.

The temperature rose to 34°C in the afternoon.

It was a good idea to limit myself to around 30km per day.

I checked into a hotel in Dounan City at exactly 3:00 PM.

It was an old hotel. It smelled of cigarettes, but it was only 790 yuan.

They couldn't use the washing machine, so I washed my clothes by hand in the bathroom.

*Today's Distance :30.7km

Total Distance from Taoyuan:189.3km

10/09/2025

DAY8 Taichung to Tianwei 37.1km

I started at 5:40am, in the twilight before sunrise.

Taichung City is such a big city that it took quite a while to get through it.

I took the main Route 1, but also took various parallel roads to Tianwei Township.

The highest temperature was 34°C. It was easier to ride when it was cloudy and breezy.

The run was fairly smooth for the first 20km. There was a lot of traffic.

Not as much as in Vietnam, but motorbikes are still the main means of transportation for the general public.

At intersections, groups of around 10 motorbikes always stop in groups, then start off all at once.

It can be quite dangerous if I'm not careful.

Convenience stores are usually dotted here and there on major roads.

I mostly went to convenience stores for meals and rest stops.

I wanted to go to a restaurant, but the edible food was limited.

There was a bit of a shortage of vegetables.

I found a well and poured water over my head. Cold well water is the best!

I entered Tianwei Township and found my lodging in a corner of a residential area full of landscaping companies.

The name of the lodging was "Changhua B&B Mei Chen's Home B&B." There was a nameplate on the entrance that read "Mei Chen's Home."

I checked in at exactly 4:00.

The owner, Mrs. Chen, doesn't speak English, so we used translation software to communicate.

There's a kitchen and laundry facilities.

It's great that breakfast is included for 700 NTD.

I noticed a broken spoke on the rear wheel.

I'll replace it tomorrow morning.

The nearest convenience store seems to be about 2km away.

The place to get breakfast tomorrow is a restaurant a little further away.

I took a shower, did laundry, and had dinner. I ate the salad and instant noodles I'd bought on the way here.

I organized today's data and updated our blog and official website.

I then decided on tomorrow's lodging and planned my route.

It seems this is during the long weekend here, so many rooms are fully booked.

I asked my wife to use Chat GPT to find a hotel in Dounan Town, and luckily there was a room available!

It's a short distance, just 30km.

Nowadays, I can do all my research using Chat GPT.

It's going to be hot tomorrow, too, so I won't push myself too hard.

*Today's distance: 37.1km

Total distance from Taojuan: 158.6km

*Today's photo album

10/08/2025

DAY7 DayOff in Taichung

My body is almost ready to give up after running in the heat day after day.

If it weren't for the heat and humidity, I should be able to cover 40km every day without taking a day off, but I'm not going to push myself in this weather.

So, I woke up leisurely this morning, took a hot shower, and had breakfast.

After sending out email newsletters and organizing my data, I headed out into town before noon and had braised pork rice (lu rou fan) for lunch (pictured above).

I stopped by 7-Eleven to do some groceries.

My appetite is finally starting to return.

On my days off, I focus on recovering from fatigue.

The key to getting stronger is to train without breaking down.

Let's get ready for tomorrow's runs.

*Today's distance: 0km

Total distance from start: 121.5km

10/07/2025

DAY6 Sanyi-Taichung 32.2km

I started just before 6:00 AM.

It was best to run while it was cool.

The run down the mountain to Taichung City was mostly downhill.

Fortunately, the heat wasn't too unbearable.

I enjoyed frequent stops at convenience stores to cool off.

I arrived in Taichung City just before 2:00 AM and searched for a charging cable for my MacBook, which was broken a few days ago.

I found an electronics store right next to my hotel and found the genuine part, so I bought it immediately.

It's amazing how quickly I can find what I'm looking for!

I checked into the hotel early.

Thanks to the kind owner, I was able to stay in a private double room instead of a dormitory.

After showering and doing laundry, I decided to walk to Fengjia Night Market, just a five-minute walk away.

It was my first time eating hot food at a food stall in Taiwan.

The night market was bustling with elementary and middle school kids.

It reminded me of the festivals I attended as a child.

I'll take tomorrow off and try to rest.

*Today's Distance 32.2km

Total Distance from Taoyuan: 121.5km

10/06/2025

DAY5 Miaoli-Sanyi 20.3km

I started at 6am.

It gets hot quickly these days. By 10am the temperature was over 30 degrees.

Today I was passing through a lot of hilly areas.

Route 13 was quiet and easy to go.

I took frequent breaks at convenience stores.

My appetite was slowly returning.

I hadn't eaten anything other than convenience store food yet.

I'm splitting my run into two parts to Taichung City, so today's run was 20.3km.

There was a long wait at the convenience store.

It would be easier to run if it was cloudy and windy, but...

Last 100m was a very steep hill!!

*Today's Distance 20.3km

Total Distance from Taoyuan: 89.3km

10/05/2025

DAY4 Hsinchu to Miaoli 31.4km

I started late, at 8:30 AM.

By 9 AM the temperature was over 30 degrees.

I stopped at convenience stores, initially planning to stop every 5 kilometers, but before I knew it, I was stopping every 2-3 kilometers.

Convenience stores are an oasis in the city.

The heat continues.

Today, I ate a lot of cold food, sugar, and fluids.

Two locals brought me some treats.

My distance is still 31.4 kilometers, but I guess this is the best I can do in this heat.

10/04/2025

DAY3 Taoyuan to Hsinchu 37.6km

I left Taoyuan City at 5:45 AM, going from Route 31 to Route 1.

There were bicycle lanes, but I ran along the side of the road in the city.

There were no convenience stores until the 20km mark, so I ran almost nonstop.

The temperature rose to 33°C in the afternoon, and I was exhausted from the heat.

I was suffering from mild heatstroke.

I drank too much cold water, so I couldn't eat anything.

It took a long time to cover the 37.6km, probably because my body wasn't used to the heat.

10/03/2025

DAY2 Taoyuan

Before the start of Run Around Taiwan, I need one more day here in Taoyuan.

Walked around the hotel. Checked some convenience stores.

Even at convenience stores, we can enjoy Taiwanese food!