Camino stories: The freedom in slowing down

Kris Kuhn on shin splints and the simple rhythms of the Camino

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Mar 16, 2025

Camino Finisterre, October 2022, by Louise Stevenson

“There’s something special about following in the footsteps of countless pilgrims, all walking for their own reasons, yet sharing the same path.”

Welcome to the fourth of our Camino Stories, a series exploring the Camino de Santiago from different perspectives (read the first post here). Every fortnight we’ve been meeting up with a different guest to explore their personal journey along the Camino de Santiago and find out what they learnt from their experience.

It’s my hope that these posts provide nostalgia and reminiscence for those of you who have walked this path, and inspiration to those of you who are tempted by it.

In fact, editing these posts is proving to be a kind of gentle torture, where all I can think about is getting back out onto the Camino de Santiago as soon as possible! If you know, you know. Today we’re walking with the lovely

Kris Kuhn

Kris is a travel enthusiast and storyteller with a passion for off-the-beaten-path adventures, slow travel and capturing the world through photography.

Over to you, Kris. 👣

Thank you for being here Kris! First of all, what inspired you to walk the Camino de Santiago, which route did you take and how did you decide on your route?

My husband, Mark, and I have always loved hiking, and the idea of walking the Camino de Santiago combined everything we enjoy - adventure, a personal challenge, and the uniqueness of the Camino experience itself. There’s something special about following in the footsteps of countless pilgrims, all walking for their own reasons, yet sharing the same path. We chose the Camino Francés, the traditional route, because if we were going to do the Camino, we wanted to walk the "main" route which is the one most people think of when they hear “the Camino.” Watching the movie, "The Way" definitely helped solidify that decision. It gave us a glimpse of the landscapes, the struggles, and the magic of the journey, and we wanted to experience that for ourselves. We didn’t over-plan the walk, though. Instead, we took it day by day, only deciding as far ahead as where we’d sleep the following night.

Reenacting a scene from ‘The Way’, courtesy of Kris

What was the most unexpected challenge you faced along the way, and how did you overcome it?

One of the most unexpected challenges we faced along the way was dealing with shin splints. That was something neither of us anticipated since we felt like we did a fair amount of training ahead of time. The pain made walking pretty much impossible, but fortunately, we were able to adjust. We added extra rest days in major cities, giving our legs time to recover. Our routine became rest, ice, ibuprofen, and repeat. While it wasn’t ideal, it reinforced the importance of listening to our bodies and adapting to whatever challenges the Camino threw at us.

Was there a specific moment on the Camino that changed your perspective or left a lasting impression on you?

Looking back, we didn’t realize the full impact of the Camino until we returned home. Everything in the U.S. felt more chaotic than we remembered - just going to the grocery store was overwhelming. The Camino had ingrained in us the importance of simplicity, and we came to understand how a slower, more intentional way of living contributes to a healthier life.

What was the most surprising or memorable encounter you had with another pilgrim or local during your journey?

One of the most surprising and memorable encounters we had along the Camino was with Russell - a solo pilgrim from the UK with a guitar case in a wheeled cart and a knack for survival. We first spotted him sitting with a sign that read, "Lost my passport, trying to get home," complete with a donation hat and a bit of money inside. A few days later, we saw him again, this time with a new sign: "Robbed, no money, please help." Each time we encountered him, his story had evolved, and so had his requests for donations. It wasn’t until later that we realized his true deal - he had been walking the Camino Francés multiple times over the past few years, living primarily off the generosity of fellow pilgrims. By the time we reached the end, it was clear he was a bit of a scammer, but maybe we had to give him creativity points? Not sure… lol. Either way, he certainly left an impression!

What advice would you give to someone considering walking the Camino for the first time?

For anyone considering walking the Camino for the first time, our biggest piece of advice is: don’t rush it. Please don’t treat this as a race - there are too many things you could miss out on if you’re just trying to get to the end quickly. Oh, and please, please do not buy hiking footwear just because someone else said it was perfect. Footwear is incredibly personal - what works for one person might be miserable for another. Figure out what is comfortable for your feet. But if there’s one thing we do recommend, it’s toe socks. They saved me from getting blisters - not a single one the entire Camino! :)

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

One unexpected challenge was food. We didn’t realize just how accustomed we were to having a variety of breakfast options at home in the United States. At home, cafes and coffee shops open early, and choices range from eggs and pancakes to oatmeal, yogurt, breakfast sandwiches, and more. On the Camino, mornings were much simpler and we learned to appreciate that. Every day started with a simple plate of toast with jam and a cappuccino. No breakfast restaurants with meat-stuffed omelets or early-morning coffee shops with 20oz flavored mochas. In the end, the Camino wasn’t just a journey across Spain... it was a lesson in slowing down, embracing simplicity, and appreciating the rhythm of each day. That sense of intentional living is something we carried home with us and strive for in our daily life.