Miles walked today: 0mi / 0km
Total training miles to date: 73.85mi / 118.85km
Days left ’til I leave: 24

Considering that I’ve been discerning and planning this trip for over two years, the fact that it’s a mere three weeks away feel staggeringly close.

I had the pleasure of a week-long visit from my best friend, Marissa and we tooled all over the place — Bush’s Pasture Park, Drift Creek Falls, Lincoln City. Right after her visit, I headed to Medford/Jacksonville, Oregon to lead a couple of trainings. I confess, I’ve done a lot more “fueling up” (read: good eating) than training over the last two weeks. I’ve been conscious of the numbers, but not obsessing.

Tomorrow, I get back on the horse and am hoping to put in an 8-miler if if doesn’t kill me or my hiking buddy, Donna. Time will tell! 🙂

The reality that I’m doing this, that I’m going to physically walk 500 miles, that I’m going to be gone for 7 weeks — it keeps hitting me over and over in new ways. This is quite possibly the biggest, most momentous thing I’ve ever accomplished.

The Sufis talk about the importance of “dying before you die” as a spiritual practice — of releasing everything to the Divine in trust as a key step to living fully. Talking about death at this point might not warm the hearts of the superstitious (sorry Mom) — especially in light of a recent death on the Camino — but leaving my life for 49 days feels a little like dying. Especially since I’m leaving my cell phone behind and therefore unable to be in regular touch with the people I lean on the most.

As an Enneagram 9, I’ve always been a chameleon — adapting to whatever the situation asks of me, being who others expect me to be. I suspect that this walk will help me shed some of this strategy even though I’ll be surrounded by people. I want to look at who I am when I’m away from my quotidian life.  To face myself — both alone and in community — and see who is really there. This is both frightening and irresistible to me.

Note: I *will* be updating this blog while I’m on the Camino (via email and Inspired Spouse’s help). If you want to get these updates by email, click the grey “Follow” button in the lower right hand corner.

One more thing! HUGE thanks to Gayle and Michael for sponsoring me for 4 days on the Camino. I am SO grateful!