Daily Walks

My giant marshmallow grew stir crazy and has been insistent on daily walks.  She does much better on the days we take the longer walks.  But any walk will do.  She knows the road I like to take very well and remembers spots she wants to check daily on all the routes.  When we go to a new area she gets very excited at the new scents and scenery around her.  Then on our return she sleeps off the rest of the day and through the night.  A good puppy at last. 

We haven't been walking less than 5 miles each day.  I think the daily walks, no matter the distance, are something of a challenge to get accustomed to. The giant marshmallow shows her weariness as, I am sure, do I.  But this is an important aspect of my training - I have to be able to walk every day on the Camino.  Once I have accomplished this daily routine of walking distance I must then increase my distance so that my body and, especially, my feet are ready.  Most documentation that I have read is inclined to a standard daily distance of around 15 miles.  Sometimes more, not often less.  I cannot really dedicate this much time at present.  Most accounts relegate this to a 5 or 6 hour walking period.  I set aside 4 hours to walk, eat, pick up the mail, and shower afterwards.  On the weekends I dedicate more time to more distance. 

The weather has been fairly cooperative but the sunny, warm days melt the snow which turns rapidly to ice around here.  I am clumsy on my best days, but ice compounds my balance problems.  I have fallen on the slippery road numerous times but Tuesday I took a very hard fall, on gravel that held some ice underneath.  I landed on my right knee, tore my jeans, and scraped and bloodied my kneecap.  Remarkably I did not hurt my joint terribly much and have rested to keep the inflammation down, though still walking 5 miles a day.  But not long after, on the trek back up the hill to my car, I twisted the same ankle.  There's a message in these minor injuries. I need to be more attentive so that I do not injure myself badly before May.  This means to stop and stand still when I am trying to adjust my I-pod!