Behold me shocked! My darling Camino trail is turning into an athletic collective, a fitness forum, a linear gymnasium.
No longer are the questions such as: ‘Is there a pilgrims’ blessings in Roncesvalles?’ ‘Will there be evening prayers at the albergues?’ But now, rather, ‘how fast how far can I walk on day 1’ or ‘can I do a dash from Palas de Rei to Santiago in a day?
Dear people, this is a pilgrimage, a privileged place for us to seek spiritual growth and challenge, not a quest to prove our athletic prowess. Jesus and his disciples were on foot all the time (OK Jesus came into Jerusalem on a donkey). The walking gets a lot of mention in the Gospels. That is what most people did. This was no big deal; this is how people got around. It was a given and no one was counting steps and timing, you just walked and that is how you travel the Camino (well you may be on a horse or a bike- oh dear have e-bikes appeared on the trail yet?) The walking should be taken for granted; you prepare for it but that is the subtext, not the main event.
So, what has got me all of a lather about this? There are Camino social sites on the internet and I follow Ivar. Here many valid questions and useful information are posted, that is until a question sends me off the rails. Recently a question was posted along these lines: “If I set off from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the afternoon can I make it to Roncevalles that day?” Context here: This is day one of the traditional Francès route. 25km but a 1,450-meter climb and then a dip and some more climbing. Many posts responded saying that this would be unwise: too far, could lose the way in the early dark autumnal evening, too steep, too dangerous all around. But our fitness pilgrim doubled down and pointed out he knew he could do this. Why then did he ask in the first place? And then the floodgates opened and a slew of posts from people about their walking stats, abilities, speed, elevation, the weight of the pack.
Oh, my poor soul. I posted a ‘please listen to wisdom, common sense and embrace the inner pilgrim.’ But the speed-steps fever had seriously set in and the competition was afoot.
I would say to these folk: please you do not need the beloved Camino to exercise your athletic prowess, go and find a local mountain or trail and leave the Camino for the soul seekers – please!