Hi
@backlasher - I walked my first camino at the age of 63. That was 8 years ago. I walked a "baby" one (Portuguese Coastal) a couple of years later, pre-pandemic. Unless the sky falls in, I'll be walking the full 1,000 klm VDLP this year, starting 2 days after my 71st birthday. I say this to put the age thing into perspective.
One of the biggest lessons for me when I first walked the CF (the whole lot) was the issue of "I
have to do "X"" . That is, I'll have "failed" if I don't do <.... fill in your own words ...>.
When you say "
to make sure I can finish" I say, "for whom?". I went into my first camino with that sort of thought. Maybe it's different if you're a young 'un, but for us oldies, I now say, just go with the flow. Yes, our knees aren't as good as they used to be. Sure, maybe we're a bit slower. If you have to take a taxi because you're worn out today, then do it. At the age of 76, nobody will be keeping score.
I see that you're from Texas (I'm from Australia). I've not spent enough time in Texas to make any judgements, but I reckon I can fairly safely say that whatever you decide to do it'll be far far removed from normal Texan life, and you'll have heaps of fun.
Buen Camino ...