Camino De Santiago Research Paper

My soul has been ready to return to the Camino de Santiago for some time. There has been a longing for the rhythm of the Camino and the opportunity it provides to be present to my own heart, and the heart of God. My vocation calls me to be present to the hearts of others on a daily basis. I have the privilege of walking with them as they grow in their understanding of themselves and God. Being with people like this makes many of my days feel a lot like walking the Camino, but it is not exactly the same.

The simplicity of the Way, the long hours of walking in silence, the reflection, the beauty of the landscape, the mental and physical struggle, the moments of rest, the chance meetings and the meaningful conversations that flow from them all
Preparing physically is as much about trainign the mind and the will to choose to do the necessary work, as it is about getting the body ready. Strength of the mind/will is as important to completing the journey as being fit. It needs to be exercised too.

Given this reality, I have set a goal for the next 100 days. I want to walk 1,000,000 steps in the next 15 weeks. That is the equivalent of walking all 500 miles of the Camino. Since I will be walking every other day, it is really like completing a 30 day Camino in 50. The goal is enough of a stretch to push me, but not so much that I risk overuse injuries before I even set out. Most of these steps will be taken in the park near my home, but I also plan to utilize a nearby hill to build strength for crossing the Pyrenees on day one. A local trail will also prove useful, allowing my body to become reacquainted with walking on uneven, rocky terrain, something that will be important in helping to avoid the kind of injury that almost ended my first Camino (I severely sprained my ankle). Knowing what the journey will demand of me physically, I am giving myself to developing greater endurance, strength and agility before I go. The last time around I focused only on endurance, and I felt