Miles walked today: 1.4
Total training miles to date: 1.8

After the not-awful training session at the gym two days ago, I hopped in the car and drove 7 miles to the gym to walk this morning. I smirked when it occurred to me that the round-trip drive might be an average day’s walk when I’m on the Camino. Only instead of fossil fuels, I’ll be burning off my meal. Anyway, I’m looking forward to getting up to more than a mile and a half to justify the drive to the gym. In the long run, I hope to be walking outdoors more.

A friend lent me a book called Finding the Camino which is a story of a mom and daughter from Newberg, Oregon who biked the route starting from Paris. Jeanne Williamson and her daughter, Lorraine, landed at the Charles de Gaulle airport, assembled their bikes, and started rolling.

I love reading about people’s journeys and adventures — on the Camino and elsewhere. I’ve read Cheryl Strayed’s book Wild about the Pacific Crest Trail. I’ve read Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods where he and an old college buddy walk parts of the Appalachian Trail. And many others. I really enjoy learning how these experiences challenge and change them.

So I’m treating myself to this newest book — which is a delightful read — while I’m walking on the treadmill. Not only does it help me tune out the insipid TV and prevent me from obsessing about how much time/distance I have left, reading about their journey is really encouraging.

I realized as I walked today that I’m practicing to do what these ladies have done. I had a glimpse of what many pilgrims share — the sense that you’re walking in the same path as millions of others, that you’re part of something bigger than you, something old and significant. I felt deeply moved — which is not the kind of emotion one would expect to feel on a treadmill!

So. I’m moving finally. I’ll continue to keep a tally of my training at the top of my posts as I go.

And a big thank you to Carol who sponsored me for a day in Spain! I’m getting closer to my saving goal!