If you follow me on social media, you’ve probably noticed the change in scenery lately. No skyscrapers. No Gran Vía chaos. No Central Park loops or Retiro runs.That’s because, for the summer, my family and I have pressed pause on city life and moved our home base to Galicia, in the northwest corner of Spain.
Believe it or not, Galicia was the first place I ever visited in Spain.
When my husband and I were dating, he had one goal: to make me fall in love, with Spain and him.
So instead of flying me into the usual spots like Madrid or Barcelona, he brought me straight to the source of his childhood: Rías Baixas.
I mean… talk about a bold move. He knew exactly what he was doing.
Between the salt air, the incredible seafood, and those views that don’t even look real, my heart didn’t stand a chance. 😍
After we got married, we bought a piece of land in Carril, right along the Ría de Arousa, overlooking the legendary clamers at work.
We dreamed of building a home where we could return each year to rest, to eat well, and to reconnect. It took years of waiting for the right permits, but eventually… we built it.
Now every summer, this is our place to breathe.
Fun fact? I’ve trained for every single one of my fall marathons here: Berlin, Chicago, New York. Long runs along the coastline. Cool, breezy mornings. Recovery rowing in the river.
And my post-run fuel? Fresh protein literally pulled from the water. Galicia just gets it. 🐟🦪I always head back to NYC or Madrid in the fall feeling refreshed, strong, and ready to race.
The kids and I always say our favorite places to live are the Upper West Side and Carril, two places that couldn’t be more different, but they both feed us in the same way.
We’re water people. We need to be near it. To breathe it. To live with it. And honestly? Even though Madrid is technically “home” now, I have more friends in Galicia than I do there.
So if you’ve ever heard the rumor that people from northern Spain are cold… I’m here to tell you, that’s a lie.
Some of the warmest, funniest, most down-to-earth people I’ve met are right here.
Another thing I’ve loved watching? The running community here is growing. Over the years, more and more runners have started showing up on the trails, the roads, and along the coast. I’ve met some amazing people out on my morning runs and I love how the sport is catching on.
There’s just something magical about training in a place that’s so connected to the land and sea.
Galicia is where I unplug, rebuild, and reset. It’s where my kids run wild, where we eat with our hands, and where the only background noise is seagulls and waves.
It’s also where I become the strongest version of myself quietly, consistently, and with a full heart.
If you’ve never been, I can’t recommend it enough.
But don’t say I didn’t warn you: you just might never want to leave. 😊
—Carleth 🧡
@carlethkeys
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