October 17 2019

Today’s been so long that I like barely remember how it started. Today started with a very subpar breakfast. I had bought extra yogurt and a preshake coffee from the grocery store so had that. I also purchased a very large bag of what-can-only-be described as bar nuts for €2.

So threw some of those in the yogurt. In Spain, it’s like a mix of fried corn nuts and peanuts. Kinda weird, kinda sweet, kinda salty- kinda gross but I still eat it. 

The day break up today was pretty brutal. 

Towns at miles 2.5, 5.4, 8.2, and 11.6 but then last town not till the end – mile 22.

I stopped at mile 5.4 for coffee and a snack and at mile 11.6 for lunch. Aka tortilla and a beer.

 The last 12 miles was brutal and I saw no humans 

It was a straight road the entire time. First along a highway and then along empty brown fields. 

I think everyone decided to stop at the town at mile 11 which was a super cute town… 

I listened to Educated the entire time. It was fascinating. About a girl growing up in a very conservative extreme religious family and not going to school till college. True story and highly recommend it.

It stopped working the last 1.5 miles of my walk. When I was REALLY struggling and needed something to distract me from the pain. Really it’s the shin splits. Just the constant movement of the tendons and muscles around the tibia pulling your foot up and down start to really hurt. I tried tiger balm, KT tape, Advil… but just had to slowly slither along. Step by step… I was going a snails pace eventually – close to 29min per mile. (On a fast day I’m like 19min /mile)

I was able to handle the slow monotonous hours thanks to the audio book but when it stopped working the last mile or so… it was a reallll testament. 

My phone almost dead. My watch almost dead… I like crawled into the hostal and the man at the front just held my hand checking me in because it was so cold. (He was like a sweet older man not a creepy dude)

Then I made my way upstairs and it’s the first place I’ve had with a small tub. Albeit TEENY, I was so happy. Felt freaking amazing to soak my legs. 

And after- I forced myself to eat a really huge meal. I actually get so full easily because I’m so tired but I hadn’t eaten for hours and I have 14 miles tomorrow and another 21 Saturday so I’ll need my energy… 

Now to ice these shin splints and hope they behave tomorrow