30.

Only 30 days to go.

Suddenly it is only 30 days before departure. What once was something in a distant future is suddenly close by with the countdown unit changing from months and weeks weeks into days. 

Training is still going as planned : I have decreased my mileage to around 70k per week. For the non-runners this is called tapering, please follow this link if you want to learn more about tapering : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapering.

I’m still injure free (knock on wood) and feel my body is ready to go. In addition I’m enjoying a weekly physiotherapy massage to prep the legs.

The last weeks all my running is done with full backpack and really pleased I changed to an Ultimate Direction backpack. The UD backpack is great to wear and feels really comfortable even after +25 k runs. Simple design but great stuff.

On the gear side I’m happy to announce that my gear kit is completed. The only item remaining to add is a running short which is sufficiently fashionable to wear in the evening. I’m open for suggestions as long it is lightweight and has a neutral design. 

Below you can find my complete kit I will take with me on display. Amazingly everything (except for the runnings shoes) fits easily in the UD backpack leaving space for food. The final weight is 4.8 kilo which training learned is definitely runnable.

Also on the logistics side preparations are almost complete. Today I received my pilgrimage credential and stampbook. 

The credential is a letter provided by ‘Vlaams Genootschap van Santiago de Compostela’ asking cloisters, abbeys, governances,...to provide me assistance during my pilgrimage. I understood it is mainly used as a “discount card” for lodging and food.

Besides a credential I’m now also the proud owner of a pilgrimage stampbook. A pelgrim receives a “Compostela” when reaching SDC. In order to receive a Compostela you have to proof that you have walked at the least the last  100k. The proof is provided by collecting stamps in the pilgrimage stampbook along the way. Stamps are provided by churches, cloisters, local government,.... even bars. My first stamp I will collect in the St.Jacobs church in Gent. I start feeling a real pelgrim looking forward to do some serious bar stamp collecting.....

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For those who are concerned about the people I will leave behind at least they will not be hungry. I have stuffed the freezer with goulash and spaghetti bolognaise with meatballs on the planning.

As mentioned in my previous blog you are still invited to run / bike along to Oudenaarde on my departure day - March 3rd. If you require information please have a look at the departure blog or just contact me.

Woooooohoooooo only 30days to go but first some skiing !

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