Current set of worries about my upcoming Camino Frances:

1. I haven’t trained nearly enough. By now I was supposed to be walking 5 miles a day during the week and 10-ish miles one day of the weekend. Currently at 5 mile walks 3-4 times a week. Also: no hills in Florida, so I’m afraid I’m ill-prepared.
2. My Salomon Speedcross 3s may not be working for me. I expected some adjustment period, because they have a lot more support than I’m used to, but the balls of my feet aren’t cushioned enough and I’m getting hotspots after 4 miles. Decision making time – take them back to REI and try something else, or get some insoles?
3. I’m a fast walker, generally. Since I’m going to be with my dad, I’m concerned that our paces will not match up in an ideal way. Figuring out the best way to handle that – decide on an albergue ahead of time and both of us end up there, in our own time? Or slow my pace down because this is a once in a lifetime I get to experience with him? Note: this could be a completely wrong assumption and he could leave me in the dust. 🙂
4. Feeling a little guilt about leaving my girls for so long, especially since it will be Kate’s first month of her senior year. They’re both excited like crazy for me, but you know, momguilt. It’s a thing.
5. I have approximately 1,345,323 books about Camino, but something is keeping me from being exact about planning. (This is probably a good thing, come to think of it.)
6. Health stuff. So many doctor’s appointments between now and September. Gotta make sure I don’t keel over while I’m in Spain. Just general anxiety about the ticker.

I’m still (of course) stupid excited about going, and I’m praying that my mind will settle once we start walking. That’s my hope, at least. Clear skies, clear mind. ❤

 

 

‘Have pity, Lord, on we who seek out and dare to take up the sword that you have promised, and who are a saintly and sinful lot scattered throughout the world. Because we do not recognize even ourselves, and often think that we are dressed, but we are nude; we believe that we have committed a crime, when in reality we have saved someone’s life. And do not forget in your pity for all of us that we hold the sword with the hand of an angel and the hand of a devil, and that they are both the same hand. Because we are of the world, and we continue to be of the world, and we have need of thee. We will always be in need of thy law that says, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, you lacked nothing.”’

The Pilgrimage, by Paulo Coelho

Hard core training time is coming! I have to get this body ready!

Plan:

• 5 miles/day, one 10 miler on the weekends. Starting in June I’ll be doing those walks with my pack on.
• Gradually decrease the time and temperature of my showers
• Start sleeping with earplugs in my ears/stop getting angry at Shawn for snoring CONSTANTLY

While getting Kate through her junior year of high school, Abby through her sophomore year in college, moving in a month, and juggling 3 part time jobs, I think my tiny training plan will be plenty challenging. I’m committed to keeping myself accountable so hopefully that means more relevant camino posts are on the way. We shall see.

I finally joined APOC last week, and got this handy dandy patch to put on my backpack. It may clash a little with my purple – hopefully I won’t be mistaken for an LSU fan. 🙂

 

That’s all for now, folks! I’ve got stuff to do!

❤