SuperPilgrim
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- CF June 5, 2013
CF June 5, 2015
CF June 3, 2017
CN May 27, 2019
I've wanted to walk the Camino since I first learned about it in high school in 1985. From time to time I would get motivated to do it, but then always found a reason to put it off. For ten years I even lived in Spain and still kept postponing my Camino. Finally in June of 2013 I made a decision to walk the way. A week later I was in St Jean Pied de Port walking out of my hotel on June 5th. It was 8:00am, exactly.
In the week prior I walked as much as I could. Tried to get at least a few days of training under my belt, but clearly not enough. After the first day I was tired, but not broken. After the second day I was a wreck. My right foot swelled so badly I could not get it into my shoe. I couldn't put any weight on my foot. I called some friends of mine who are professional dancers on Dancing with the Stars for help. The advice was to wrap it tight with ice packs, elevate and rest. I did that through the night and was able to walk again the next day.
Each day was a struggle. On June 13 I stopped to take a photo. At the same second I snapped the picture I felt a stabbing pain in my right leg. Upon looking down I saw a large bump on the side of my shin. Later I learned that a section of muscle had torn away from my bone. It will never heal. Despite a little more pain I continued on my Camino. The rest of the muscle still worked, so I kept going. Each night with ice and elevation. Trying to not quit.
About 3 miles (5km) from Burgos my right foot decided to swell again. I couldn't put any weight on it, but I had my walking poles so I just lifted the right foot off the ground and hopped the rest of the way into Burgos. This time I went to the hospital and was there for the rest of the day. My leg was a mess and I was told to rest for at least 2 weeks before continuing.
I listened to the doctors and began to rehab my leg. After two days I decided that two weeks was too long! I started again on my walk. Stretching every couple hours, seeing physical therapists each night. I was walking through my rehab.
Maybe it was stupid, but I did get stronger. My last 5 days where amazing. I was at 100%. I could walk forever. Many of the people I met again in Santiago could not believe I finished. Neither could I, but it was done.
On June 5th 2015 it will be time for my second Camino de Santiago. Exactly two years from my first. I'm starting with a right leg that only has about 70% of the muscle functioning, but that 70% is training. I'm walking, running, hiking and getting ready. I do have flashbacks of the pain, but that is my motivation.
The Camino is a serious undertaking. Let's hope my second Camino is a success.
I made this video after completing my first Camino.
In the week prior I walked as much as I could. Tried to get at least a few days of training under my belt, but clearly not enough. After the first day I was tired, but not broken. After the second day I was a wreck. My right foot swelled so badly I could not get it into my shoe. I couldn't put any weight on my foot. I called some friends of mine who are professional dancers on Dancing with the Stars for help. The advice was to wrap it tight with ice packs, elevate and rest. I did that through the night and was able to walk again the next day.
Each day was a struggle. On June 13 I stopped to take a photo. At the same second I snapped the picture I felt a stabbing pain in my right leg. Upon looking down I saw a large bump on the side of my shin. Later I learned that a section of muscle had torn away from my bone. It will never heal. Despite a little more pain I continued on my Camino. The rest of the muscle still worked, so I kept going. Each night with ice and elevation. Trying to not quit.
About 3 miles (5km) from Burgos my right foot decided to swell again. I couldn't put any weight on it, but I had my walking poles so I just lifted the right foot off the ground and hopped the rest of the way into Burgos. This time I went to the hospital and was there for the rest of the day. My leg was a mess and I was told to rest for at least 2 weeks before continuing.
I listened to the doctors and began to rehab my leg. After two days I decided that two weeks was too long! I started again on my walk. Stretching every couple hours, seeing physical therapists each night. I was walking through my rehab.
Maybe it was stupid, but I did get stronger. My last 5 days where amazing. I was at 100%. I could walk forever. Many of the people I met again in Santiago could not believe I finished. Neither could I, but it was done.
On June 5th 2015 it will be time for my second Camino de Santiago. Exactly two years from my first. I'm starting with a right leg that only has about 70% of the muscle functioning, but that 70% is training. I'm walking, running, hiking and getting ready. I do have flashbacks of the pain, but that is my motivation.
The Camino is a serious undertaking. Let's hope my second Camino is a success.
I made this video after completing my first Camino.
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