Hi Everyone,
T-minus just about 3 weeks till we start the walk. When I began writing the blog in January, it seemed like the Camino would never arrive. Now it’s almost here and it’s time to lock in.
In the past week, I’ve stepped up the training. My shoes are finally broken in, which was not easy.
I’d never got a blister in my life. However, these new boots that I’m wearing have given me 3. And it’s not like it’s 3 blisters between my 2 feet — all 3 are on my right foot. While it is a pain in the ass to have to push through them, I’m extremely grateful I got them now and not in Spain.
Also, on these walks, I’ve realized how tough mom is. A few weeks ago, we went on a 12-mile hike and she only let us rest for 5 minutes halfway through. Believe me, Maggie and I were furious. But after we finished that walk, we felt a strong sense of accomplishment. Although it was hell and there were some words spoken under our breaths, we felt like the Camino was doable.
This isn’t the first time mom has pushed us to our limits.
Before/during COVID, mom had a big hiking phase. Every single weekend, she got a call from those endless forests and beautiful peaks in the Catskills, Adirondacks, and White Mountains.
It was only a matter of time before she brought us with her.
I remember we went to New Hampshire to hike some of the Whites. On the Franconia Ridge loop, I think I was about to kill mom. During this time, I had stopped playing soccer for almost a year because I had some problems with my knee (Osgood Schlatter). So, the fact I could barely move my knee and was extremely out of shape made hiking incredibly painful. But I didn’t tell mom the extent of the pain, which is my fault, and probably a mistake.
However, summiting this very challenging sequence of three peaks made everything go away. The pain, the exhaustion, the bad words all vanished. It was all totally breathtaking and I felt a real sense of triumph up there (don’t ask me how I made it DOWN those mountains, though; the descent is total hell on the knees). I’m hoping that envisioning and then actually seeing the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela at the end of the Camino will do the same. I know it will.
Mom isn’t the only person who has pushed me before, though. I’ve pushed myself so many times that I hate my brain.
I completely forgot about this until last Friday afternoon. But it came back to me as I was thinking about pushing myself and preparing for the walk. In third grade, I got up at 5 a.m. every morning and walked 10,000 steps around my house. I know this sounds ridiculous and completely made up, but I’m telling the truth.
I literally would get up at 5 a.m., put on my Fitbit, and walk 10,000 steps. My Bulgarian grandfather — Dede, who was staying with us at the time — told me to go back to bed, but I never did. I didn’t stop until I reached my goal. I didn’t have breakfast or get ready for school. Nothing stopped me.
I will use this very same mentality on the Camino. Nothing — I repeat — nothing will stop me from completing this walk. I don’t care if I lose an arm or a leg. I’m pouring all my blood, sweat, and tears into this journey, and I’m so excited to start the actual walk.
Until next week!
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