Day five - last 22km leg of El Camino de Santiago

It's All About the Journey
Sometimes you get to the end... and the cathedral is covered in scaffolding.
Although it was only partially covered our initial observation was a covered cathedral Spire. A friendly reminder that the focus is the journey and not the destination.

There is a sad anti-climatic feeling ending this amazing path among hustling cars, traffic lights, business suits and cell phone conversations. As the zen masters say: it's easy to maintain zen on the mountainside alone: the difficult part is to maintain it always. So I make a promise to myself: take the feeling and cultivate it everyday.

I'm immensely grateful to have the physical ability and mental fortitude to have completed this incredible 70 mile adventure. Thank you pilgrims that inspired us and shared the path today. Thank you pilgrims that trod before leaving footprints and prayers to follow. For the pilgrims that come tomorrow I give my hopes and dreams to guide your way.

Buen camino - enjoy the path now as the end may not be as expected.

Day four 19km el Camino de Santiago - Rua (12 miles)

Crazy Americans
Today was our shortest and most level path. Of course, you have no idea at the start what the camino might serve up. As runners (Jon & I) we train for it and love it, so, our feet itch to get level terrain. Today's camino gift was 12 miles of moderate trails and a breeze that gently  whispered go,go, go, you got it.

When you do things out of the ordinary people's reactions are unique. We get fist pumps, clapping, encouragement and of course some disapproving  head shakes and what-the-hell-are-they-thinking looks. On more than one occasion we got the "we figured you were Americans - the only ones crazy enough to run el camino"

This is my path, that is your path, there is no right path. In the church of Sirena running is the fastest form of connection to the universe. Running provides an automatic bypass of the brain and direct environment connection into the soul resulting in pure bliss! If that makes me a crazy American then I'll take it! But I'm only a half crazy American the other half  is crazy Spaniard.  

Buen camino - enjoy your path on your terms and let others do the same

Day Three 29km Palas del Rei-Arzua

One foot in front of the other.
There are blisters, bruises, sore joints and crazy fatigue on our longest day. Hiking the entire stage without rushing kilometers on this longest trek still became a dig-deep kind of day even without the running.

Scenery and symbols filled our day with impressive Celtic designs, symbolic saints and iconic demons as-well-as delightful dragonflies and friendly dogs. I'm incredibly grateful for the tough long terrain nudging me to slow-it-down and take it all in.

Asking a Canadian pilgrim her secret to persevering  28 days on the trail the answer was simple: I put one foot in front of the other. That was our motto and power for the day.  Brain: off. Feet: on. One step at a time.

Buen Camino- baby steps or leaps and bounds just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Day two 25km on el camino de Santiago

Listen to the path - welcome all that comes to you.
Today was a very obvious lesson in bending or going with the flow - taking what the path gives you and not just dictating your own will.

As much as we planned to run/walk on a specific distance/time itinerary we quickly learned you run when the path gives you moderate terrain and you patiently walk, enjoy the view and reserve energy on the steep parts.

Interesting people, situations and messages come along at the most bizarre moments. Some situations are pure fun and lighten your way while others... Well, let's just say, it's best to think you can at least brighten someone else's heavy day. Others are pure inspiration: as we trekked by a very very old and hunched-over granny wobbling up her camino path it made all our pain and complaints fade away.

Buen Camino - go with the flow and keep your trail bright

Day one 28km - holy crap those are mountains!

Part of The spirit of the camino is to sense the prayers of those who have gone before and leave goodwill for those who will come after.

Our introduction to the spirit came in kilometer one with Miguel who eagerly welcomed us to the trail. This guy is the REAL McCoy on his 22day and 690 km into his trip imparting an incredible tenacity of spirit and happiness for all fellow travelers. A contagious state I hope to maintain and share.

My other more physical lessons of long distance trail hikes for those who follow:
Lesson 1 - mountain terrain is beautifully breathtaking and deadly to your legs. I guess training in florida does nothing to prepare you for winding paths including 400 meter accents. Just keep in mind it will be 20x more grueling than u can imagine on flat land!
Lesson 2. - training to run long distances does nothing for walking, in fact, walking hurts more than running. Toward the end of today's hike I was running because it came with less pain... Guess that's why you don't hear of a walkers high?
Lesson 3- you don't NEED anything but water and joy in your heart to get through the rough spots.

Buen Camino - it's your path-lead or follow happiness or other.

Sports Wraps, Compression Sleeves, Acupuncture and Acceptance

A runners path typically winds down the road of injury. As the saying goes: it's not a matter of if but when.

Wrapping my calves in sports tape, wearing compression sleeves and 2 sessions of acupuncture didn't provide me with super-human protection or recovery. My training has ended with acceptance to embrace the unscheduled and unplanned, discarding the rigid running timeline to just enjoy the path.

Originally my intention was to push my limits, explore endurance and physical strength. Perhaps this journey is better suited for exploring patience and compassion with oneself? Could it be that we push too hard and too fast, expecting too much of ourselves, in today's world? Could injury be the universal sign for slow-the-heck-down and smell the roses?

One week from today we'll be hitting the last 70 miles of St James way to run, walk, hike, crawl or whatever it may take to be part of the adventure and a perpetual student of life.

Buen Camino - Enjoy the path - intentional or not you are on a path make the most of it.

P. S. I actually recommend compression sleeves, KT tape and acupuncture. Eash of these did improve my pain and allow for me to continue training much longer than I could have otherwise.