Two Hikes And A Week of Wellness

I found myself signing up for two consecutive weekend hikes, one in Cerro de San Pedro (AKA the Lonely Mountain), and another 3-hill route from Collado Mediano to Navacerrada. Both were scenic, and both took my breath away — in the literal and figurative sense. My lungs burned, but they were immediately replenished by the fresh air of Madrid’s mountainous region. Physical pain and emotional gratification — isn’t that what the hiking life is all about?

My hike up the Lonely Mountain was not as lonely as I thought it would be, though, as I spent the day with girl friends, new and relatively newer. Sonia was one of them, the fellow entrepreneur and girl boss that introduced me to the Google Campus. While our thighs struggled to heave us up the monstrous landform, she gave me a quick assessment (and later, tips!) on my lifestyle. After all, I am quite the novice in the wellness department, and she was a certified yoga instructor and wellness guru through and through. So proud of her and so blessed to learn from her.

We talked about my daily routine, my habits, and my diet, and then she told me about hers. The following week, I found myself going to the gym 4 days in a row and then signing up for yet another hike. I ate no junk, with the exception of the post-hike Coke Zero, and I actually ate my veggies. I also slept stupendously. The Saturday after that, I grocery-shopped for healthier ingredients and planned a week’s worth of healthy meals and snacks. Pretty proud of myself and incredibly grateful for the inspiration.

Week 1 of my wellness journey culminated with my Collado Mediano-Navacerrada hike around the reservoir. I went by myself and met some cool people on the trail, as usual. At first I thought that this trail was not as hard as advertised, but I soon realized that it was me who had gotten stronger. I had much better energy, I felt well-rested, and I did not feel as heavy as I did a week ago. I kept pace with the rest of the group and didn’t fall behind. I quite enjoyed this hike, and savored the burn in my calves. It’s amazing what treating your body right can do.

Even the mental shift surprised me, because I had woken up 6 minutes before my alarm went off that Sunday. Normally, I’d be scrambling out of bed and rushing to the meet-up point. This time things were different. I was different, in a good way.

As I write this, it is Monday — the day after — and I am at the Google Campus in Madrid. I’ve been here since 11 AM, working on my Youtube video ideas, my business, and my blog. I’ve spent zero Euros and have only snacked on the carrots and hummus that I brought. The day isn’t over and I’ve accomplished so much already.

Crazy what a week of wellness can do, huh? Now I can only imagine what a lifetime would look like.

Some photos from my hikes!