The Silly Mistake That Could Have Cost Me €300 – And What It Taught Me About Resilience (Day 1909)

Ever locked yourself out and felt that sinking, “not again” feeling? ⁣That gut-punch moment is proof no matter how driven we are, silly mistakes are just part of the human experience. If you think you’re immune, think again! Today, I want to share what happened to me in Vega de la Frontera, Spain, and why it matters to anyone chasing big goals (like running 40,075km barefoot and raising £1,000,000 for children’s charities).

A Costly Mistake in Gorgeous Spain

Picture this: I’m on day 1,909 of the Runpreneur Challenge, halfway around the world, staying at a stunning Airbnb near Cadiz, Spain. The scenery is postcard-perfect and I’m feeling on top of the world after pushing through another gruelling run. But then, reality hits. As we return to our cosy flat, I’m met by a solid, old-school wooden door locked tight. My heart sinks. The extra key is wedged in the inside lock. With a twist of fate, my morning’s haste and a forgotten key have potentially turned into a €300 error.

Why Do We Always Make These Mistakes?

Let’s be honest. How many times have you rushed out, multitasking a million things, and left your keys behind? For me, running daily for nearly 5.5 years, you’d think I’d have it all together. Yet, even now, it’s the schoolboy mistakes that catch me out. This old door wasn’t equipped with the fancy thumb-turn locks. Without realising, I’d set us up for a classic “locked out” scenario.

Moment of Panic: Counting the Cost

I started weighing my options:

• Smash a window?

• Wait hours (and pay big) for a locksmith?

• Try to squeeze my youngest through a tiny vent window?

Then, like a blessing, our Airbnb manager arrived armed with ingenuity and a strip of hardened plastic from a pack of biscuits. With a little manoeuvring, he prodded, nudged, and finally, with a satisfying click, the door popped open. Relief! We saved a fortune, and more importantly, the day wasn’t ruined.

What I learnt (And Why It’s SO Relevant)

Mistakes are part of life, even when you’re used to defying limits. Whether it’s human error or a lapse in focus, what matters is how you respond. Today reminded me:

• Expect the unexpected especially when you’re pushing boundaries, like running daily for 40,075km.

• Stay humble no matter how experienced you are, anyone can make silly mistakes.

• Celebrating human kindness and resourcefulness sometimes helps (and a bit of plastic!) is all you need.

Engage: Your Turn!

Have you ever made a blunder that almost ruined your day? How did you recover? I genuinely want to hear your stories drop them in the comments below. Let’s remind each other that imperfection is the price of progress.

The Mission Continues...

Every step I take, every lesson learnt, and every laughable mistake is all part of my quest:
🌍 4,292+ consecutive days running, 40,075km around the world barefoot
💷 Aiming to raise £1,000,000 for children’s causes

Every view, share, and comment helps put this mission in front of more people. The more people who join us, the more lives we can save.

Believe in the mission?
👉 Like, share, and subscribe to keep the challenge alive.
👉 Or just drop a comment every interaction pushes us closer to £1M for the children who need our help most.

Stay positive. Stay happy. And remember don’t forget your keys!

#Runpreneur #Ultramarathon #CharityChallenge #MakingADifference #HumanMistakes #StayHumble

Keywords: barefoot running challenge, silly mistakes, locked out, resilience, children’s charity, ultramarathon, Runpreneur Challenge, Airbnb storey, fundraising, inspirational running, overcoming mistakes

Let’s go beyond Day 4,292. Let’s make every mistake count for something bigger.

Until tomorrow,
Kevin Brittain