My alarm went off at 3:45 but I was already awake. I was antsy to get going. I knew I had a long day ahead of me and I had no idea how my knee would hold up. But I needed to get to town. I was almost out of food and town would bring new shoes – my only hope for fixing this knee pain. 

I walked through the pitch black with only my headlamp to guide the way. As I’ve mentioned before on previous trips, I love being out in the dark. There’s a creepiness to it, sure. But overall there is a sense of calm and stillness. A sense that the only things that matter are what happen to fall within the beam of your headlamp. 

I moved slow, trying to remember that I didn’t need to rush. It was a marathon of a day (literally – 26.2 miles into town), but I was up early and that would allow me to plod along as slowly as I needed. 

The first 8 miles were pain free. I walked cautiously but without unnecessary care. I didn’t think about every step or every pole strike. I just made sure I didn’t go too fast or step on any sharp rocks. It took to me to breakfast where I was feeling good. 

Then next 10 miles were less pain free. Leaving breakfast, I stepped wrong and felt the pain shoot through my knee again. I didn’t come close to buckling this time but I felt myself become nauseous. Each step, it seemed, no matter how I landed or how slow I went, seemed to send that same jolt through my leg and the same nausea up through my stomach. 

I was drenched in sweat even though it was a rainy and cool day. I stopped to dig through my medical kit and found an ace bandage. I wrapped it tight around my knee and took a few more ibuprofen. The combination slowed down the pain but I still felt I needed to watch every step and every pole strike. 

It was exhausting. Physically, 26 miles is a lot. But mentally it was worse. I couldn’t get distracted or I would feel the pain again. It was all I could let myself think about. Every time my mind wandered, the pain would shoot through.

Finally I saw the shelter I had decided would be my lunch spot. I let out an audible sigh of relief and heard a giggle from behind me. “That kind of day?” Asked juicyfruit. It sure was. 

I sat at the shelter with Bugs and made a wrap with the food I had left – a tortilla, two packages of spam, olive oil and some honey. It was delicious and I hoped it would be enough to get me the last 10 miles to town 

I plodded along. Letting everyone pass me. Unicorn (a 60 year old military vet) passed me. He saw my limp and offered to carry some weight for me. But I guess I was too proud because I said no. Jackrabbit passed and stopped to chat for a minute. I told him to go on. I needed to concentrate. 

With 3 or 4 miles to go before town I finally hit my stride. I figured out a way to walk that involved leaning heavily on my poles and using my arms to drag me up hills and brace me from going down hills too quickly. I crossed the state border into Virginia and barely stopped to celebrate. 

When I finally made it to town (12 hours after starting), I was exhausted. The first thing I did was stop at the outfitters and bought a new pair of shoes. The difference between the old and the new was incredible. I could feel so much support in the new ones. I threw away the old ones on the spot. 

I then went over to the diner to join jackrabbit and bugs (and soon Salt). I ordered the grilled cheese burger – a burger with grilled cheese sandwiches instead of buns. It was as indulgent as you’re thinking and hit the SPOT. 

One of Salt’s friends from high school picked us up and took us back to his to stay for the next two nights. It was a lovely evening sitting outside with a fire and eating (too much) Mexican food. Looking forward to a day off tomorrow to hopefully let my knee fully heal up. It feels so much better already. I’m confident a day or two off should have me back feeling good.

Key stats:

Miles: 26.2 

Elevation gained: 3,700 ft

Mile marker: 471

New shoes: acquired