Author: Debby Ball
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The Camino: Forty Miles, Angry Knees, and the Magic of the Journey
When people dream about walking the Camino de Santiago, they imagine a spiritual journey filled with beautiful scenery, personal reflection, and profound moments of enlightenment. What they don’t imagine is slathering themselves with Voltaren cream multiple times a day while carefully rationing Advil and wondering if trekking poles can double as crutches. Welcome to my…
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The Camino: The People We Have Met Along the Way
One of the things that makes travel so special isn’t always the places you visit—it’s the people you meet along the way. Today, Julie and I boarded the train from Madrid to Sarria, a four-hour journey that would take us to the starting point of our Camino de Santiago adventure. As we settled into our…
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The El Camino Adventure: Jet Lag Is Real
We departed Boise on Wednesday afternoon en route to Madrid via Atlanta. Both flights were on time, uneventful, and remarkably free of the travel drama that often seems determined to accompany any major adventure. Wearing our Buen Camino shirts, our upcoming pilgrimage became a frequent topic of conversation with fellow travelers. On our flight from…
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Pilgrimage of a Lifetime
After four physical therapy appointments — including dry needling, where my physical therapist stuck long needles into my buttocks and then hooked them up to electrical currents to send pulses through my ass and down my legs — and after three steroid injections into my spine and my ever-so-tight piriformis muscle, ready or not… I’m…
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Another Setback. Because Apparently My Character Arc Needed More Depth.
Well. Apparently 70 is the age where your body starts submitting formal HR complaints. A few months ago, I was training hard, golfing, getting ready for kayaking, strength training twice a week, going to group exercise classes, planning adventures, and generally acting like someone who had not read the official rulebook on aging. And then……
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Track Behaviors, Not the Scale
My scale and I are currently in a long-term, low-communication relationship. It hasn’t said anything new in about a year. I live comfortably—too comfortably—between 120 and 125 pounds. It’s basically my zip code now. And look, I’m fine with my weight. We’re on good terms. But my body fat percentage? That’s another story. We are…
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Sometimes You Fall Down, But You Have to Get Up and Keep Going
Today I completed the Race to Robie Creek—affectionately known as the “are you sure this is a good idea?” half marathon. It’s billed as the toughest in the Pacific Northwest, and after today, I’d like to personally confirm: they are not exaggerating. The first 8.5 miles are uphill. Uphill. As in… you start questioning your…
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Do the Hard Thing (Because Easy Is Overrated)
I recently heard a quote that stopped me mid-sip of my morning coffee (and if you know me, that’s saying something): “Do what is hard and your life will be easy. Do what is easy and your life will be hard.” Wow. That one doesn’t just tap you on the shoulder—it grabs you by the…
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Apparently My Scale Is a Liar and My Skirt Is the Snitch
I had one of those moments the other day that makes you stop and go… wait, what just happened? I went to put on a summer skirt—one I’ve owned for a while—and it practically fell off of me. Now here’s the kicker: The scale hasn’t changed. Not one bit. I weigh the same today as…
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I’m Not Doing This for Tomorrow…..I’m Doing It for Today
It’s 5:30 in the morning. I’m sitting here with my coffee, the house quiet, counting my blessings and feeling grateful for this life I get to live. And I found myself thinking… Why am I doing all of this? Why the workouts? Why the focus on nutrition? Why the consistency, the effort, the discipline? Now,…
Debby’s Fitness Journey 