NT-OZ said:
but St Frances appeared to me in a dream ( ) and suggested I run instead of walk it.
You might consider an exorcism before committing to this course of action, my friend. A couple weeks into my Camino trek I encountered a fit but tired-looking Scotsman at a cafe whose feet were swathed in bandages. He had also tried to run the Way, but it quickly defeated him.
He said that at first the speed was quite euphoric, but soon the fast pace took its toll and pounded his feet into hamburger. He was forced to stop at a village to heal up, and a couple of days later a woman he had zoomed by on the trail recognized him and paused for a chat. She pulled out her digital camera and began clicking through pictures she'd taken on the Way.
As they looked through the photos she would ask, "do you remember this place, or that person?" He confessed that it was all a blank. He told us of the epiphany he'd had at that moment: "Here I am on an ancient, famous pilgrimage trail, and I couldn't recall anything about it. I might as well have been running a road back home."
After that he decided to take it slow, spend some time in contemplation, and truly experience what the Camino had to offer. He hadn't been able to walk very far at that point, but he was enjoying the Way much more at a walking pace. I left him looking content in the company of some pilgrims he'd become acquainted with.
Anyway, just a cautionary tale to consider before you dash out and buy some new scallop shell running shoes...buen Camino! :arrow:
VT