From the Marathon to the Mountains: Slowing Down to Wake Up

Happy July, Coffee Lovers!

This month, I want to share a more personal reflection—my recent experience walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain.

I decided to take on this journey, as many do, in search of stillness. I thought I already had a good sense of inner peace. Most mornings, I practice a grounding ritual: five minutes barefoot on the earth, followed by grinding and brewing my coffee. It’s my way of connecting to nature, to life, to the moment. I start each day in gratitude, simply for being alive.

But I’ll admit something: I’m very goal-driven. I love a challenge. I’m competitive by nature and always chasing what’s next. That drive is part of me, but it can also keep me from fully being in the now.

After running the London Marathon, I had to confront that. I finished the race, yes. But I didn’t meet my personal best time. I didn’t quite hit my fundraising goal. And even though the achievement was huge, I didn’t feel satisfied.

That made me pause.

I asked myself, Will it ever feel like enough? 

Am I chasing something I already have but don’t recognise?

Is five quiet minutes with a coffee in the morning really enough?

That’s when I felt the call to walk the Camino.

For those who don’t know it, the Camino de Santiago is a spiritual pilgrimage that stretches more than 1,000km from the French Basque Country to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

You can also begin from Sarria, a popular starting point for a 5–7 day journey covering about 110km.

Naturally, I thought: I can do it in three.

After all, I’d just run a marathon - I was ready for a challenge.

But as always, life had other plans. The Camino had lessons to teach me, and I want to share some of them with you:

What the Camino Taught Me

1. The Camino is not a race - it’s a pilgrimage.
   You’re meant to slow down. To walk. To notice. To be at ease in your own company.

2. We walk alone, but we’re never truly alone.
   The Camino reminds you of the paradox of life: we are born alone and we die alone, yet on this path, you’re constantly supported. Strangers become companions.

3. Nature speaks - if you’re listening.
   The landscapes along the way were stunning, but it was the silence and space they offered that allowed me to truly hear myself.

4. The right people appear at the right time.
   I met people from all over the world, each offering kindness, conversation, or perspective. It was one of the most human experiences I’ve had.

5. Walk. Don’t cycle.
   I know it sounds practical to bike it, but trust me, you’ll miss the experience. The Camino is made for walking. It's not a sprint. It's not a tour. It's a path meant to be felt under your feet.

6. Purpose lives in the present.
   Sitting in the forest one day, I understood something clearly: we humans think we’re superior to the Earth, but we’re not. We’re temporary, just like everything else. So what we do with this moment matters. Carpe Diem.

7. Coffee can be missed, but purpose can’t.
   I’ll be honest, I craved a good cup of coffee the whole way. I didn’t bring my travel kit, which is why I’ll be putting together a proper one to offer you soon. But even without it, I was reminded why I do what I do. Because I love it. Because it’s in my heart. Because sharing coffee with others is how I share joy.

So here’s my message to you this July:

Take a moment. For yourself. For the people behind your coffee. For the Earth beneath your feet. We’re all part of the same story. You are enough, just as you are. And every morning you choose to slow down with a cup of something good, you’re choosing to live with intention.

Choose well. Choose joy. (and of course choose Ethnico!)

With all my love,
Carlos