Getting Ready, Getting Excited!

It is now less than a month before we travel. Am I ready? Maybe. How do

you actually get ready to walk 800 km? Here is my strategy. May or may not be the best way to prepare but it is my way.

First off, there is the physical prep. that means a LOT of walking. Preferably outside in nature with natural hills. But as I live in the frozen north of Edmonton, Alberta, sometimes walking on a treadmill or even in the mall will suffice. I have been walking at least 4 times a week with at least one long walk. Long walks have been anywhere from 10-16 km. And partway through I added my backpack and some trekking poles. I joined a couple of walking groups (thanks to meetup.com and the CCoP group, as well as my own Camino Companion group.

Speaking of my Camino Companion group, it has been super to have this group to plan with. We have had a great time planning and hopefully we will still get along after starting our walk. I am pretty confident that we will manage. And if not, we are all adults and can strike out on our own if we want.

One if the best things I did was reach out to the local group of Camino pilgrims. See the Resources page so you can find one in your area. They are a wealth of knowledge and so welcoming and happy to share. Plus, when you hang out with people who have done the Camino, it builds your confidence - it makes being a successful pilgrim the new norm. When I started to run and joined the Running Room I found the same thing - running and being healthy and doing fun activities became the new norm. And I love it!

Another part of training is deciding what to bring and how to pack. Again, have a look at the Resources page. Or look on YouTube for "packing for the Camino" videos. It is fun to go shopping, share ideas, learn about backpacking. I have never backpacked before, so I have a lot to learn. And I'm pretty sure the learning will continue as I go.

Logistics is a whole category on its own. Which route to choose. How do you get to the start? Where do you start from? How far do you go per day? How much will it cost? Do I have enough health insurance? Where will you stay? What will you eat and drink? (I know that one - lots of cafe con leche, vino tinto, and cerveza). Lots of questions, lots of answers. And it is so exciting now that everything is coming together.

One more area to consider - the spiritual aspect. This is a traditional Catholic pilgrimage. But for me I think of it as a spiritual journey. And I am not even sure what that will mean for me. Right now I think of it as a way to unplug from day to day responsibilities, reconnect with my inner self, and maybe with A Higher Power (God, Source, whatever that means). All while having a fun walk with my daughter and a few friends (maybe a LOT of friends by the time I finish).

When people say "it was a life-changing experience", I often think "well, isn't everything?" I am pretty sure that yes, walking the Camino will change my life. A little or a lot remains to be seen. Let's find out together.