Camino Frances - Training

[pippafk]

Hello to the wonderful new community I have just joined. What a great site this is; I'm very excited to be here and planning my first Camino. I plan to walk the Route Frances next September/October (2012) to mark my 40th birthday. I wonder if anyone could offer me some training tips? I am not unfit (I have 3 dogs so walk regularly and I cycle from time to time) but I would not call myself really fit. Have any of you seasoned Camino walkers devised a regime to help prepare for the 33 days walking I reckon I will have ahead of me?

I'd be so pleased to hear from you. Thank you in advance.

Pippa

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Pippa ~
Congrats on your upcoming camino. Some people feel that no training is necessary, since in the first weeks of the camino you're getting the best training possible, i.e. actually walking the camino. Personally I feel it's a good thing to start walking some weeks in advance and build up to around 10 miles or +/- 15 kms with a fully loaded pack. This allows you to test your gear while your muscles are getting used to the exertion. Ideally the walking is on uneven surfaces with uphills and downhills.

However . . . . lots of people do the camino with no training whatsoever. I worry that these folks open themselves to tendonitis and blisters because they don't know or aren't prepped for the level of exertion the camino offers. My last training regime before my May/June camino was 17 weeks of marathon prep. That meant my legs were good and strong and ready for the effort.

Wish you the best!

[Lipka149]

My last training regime before my May/June camino was 17 weeks of marathon prep. That meant my legs were good and strong and ready for the effort.

Hi Pippa !

Welcome to the Forum ! It really is a wonderful community and we look forward to your story from beginning to end. Be sure to spend some time browsing through the various threads. There is a LOT of info already posted and you are sure to get a good perspective by reading about the experiences of those who have walked the Walk. Be sure to read the About Me info of other members and make a lot of Friends.

Sandy has walked the Camino several times, so his advice carries a lot of weight. I might kinda fill in the gap between his own regimen and no training at all by asking what you mean by "training".

<ahem> What do you mean by training ???

If you are looking for a way to make you physically fit, almost any program will suffice. From my own experience and from what I gather from the testimony of others, fitness is not really the issue. The key is avoiding INJURY.

Injury takes many forms. All are painful. Some are debilitating. For example, a blister is painful. A blister covering the whole ball of your foot is debilitating. It is virtually impossible to avoid the first; it is essential to avoid the second.

So after breaking in your shoes/boots, balancing your pack, and building your stamina ... the question that remains is ... have you trained MENTALLY ?

What will you do if you get a blister, twist an ankle, or suffer neck spasms ? Will you listen to what your body is telling you ? Will you answer be able to answer properly ? How well do you know yourself under these conditions ? Training for this is much, much harder. In fact, it is probably something none of us can train for the first time we attempt the Camino. Rather, it is something the Camino teaches us.

As well, there is a certain spiritual training that can be quite beneficial if you are so inclined. Sandy has written about this at length under the Religion & Spirituality Topic. Physical fitness and mental toughness are worthy goals. Walking the Camino requires both. But remember that El Camino de Santiago was founded as a pilgrimage to bring one closer to God, and as such, offers a unique spiritual experience.

Enjoy your training, Pippa ... IMHO, anything you can do in advance will help, nothing you can do will prepare you completely, something will happen that will stretch you beyond what you thought was possible, and everything that happens will come together in the end to change you forever.

Looking forward to your story !

[Gazza]

Pippa

The others are right. The Camino is all about managing yourself. Nothing will "stop" you getting blisters etc, but you can reduce the risk. Boots well worn in, the right type of wicking socks - to reduce the moisture around yr feet etc etc. Simply listening to yr body as you walk. If it aches rest it.

As for "training" I too am relatively fit to, but the biggest & best tip I can give you is (next year) do some walking with yr Pack on & some weight in it. Getting your upper body use to carrying a Pack.

Planning creates the excitement. Good luck & this forum became my bible (sorry Husky but there is room for two)

[Welsh Jon]

Hi Pippa,

I decided to walk the Camino Frances two weeks before I left to do it, I even had to but new boots as the ones I had were really heavy winter boots... however I did manage to walk around 100 miles within the two weeks to break the boots in and also get some blisters. My thinking is that it is easier to deal with blisters at home than when your walking the route, I would always slice the blister and then use either compeed or thick tape to dress it.
I did pick up the odd blister whilst walking the Camino but the areas where I got blisters before I went ended up being quite tough and I didn't get any more problems with them...

So I guess the biggest thing as far as training goes for me is to get some blisters before you go )

Thanks

Jon

[acwelch]

Hi Pippa,

A little tip that might help with the blister situation. To help toughen your feet swab them down each day during your training with methylated spirit, particularly around the heels and end of the toes. This helps harden the skin and ward off blisters.

Good luck!

Tony

[Covey]

Mr Welsh Sir............That sounds rather like a solution beloved of RM types!

[acwelch]

Mr Covey, you got me in one! I forgot to mention that is best not to apply the methylated spirit on blisters or open cuts - it won't do any harm but it hurts like hell!

[grayland]

Probably the most important training would be to walk as much as time allows each day if possible. Carry your pack with the weight you are carrying on the Camino as often as possible.
Remember that it is the repetition of walking 20-25 km every day with your pack that will cause you the most problems on the Camino.
Covey has pointed out that just walking 30 km once a week and then nothing for the rest of the week will not prepare you.

[CA_Pilgrim]

Since I haven't done the Camino before, I don't really have any experience to give other than what I plan on doing and what I've learned from 2+ years of long-distance running training.

1. Give yourself plenty of time to work up to higher milage. If you increase the miles too rapidly, you risk injury and that will set back you training. General rule of thumb for running is to increase do one long run per week and increase the mailage about 10% (and no more then 15%) per week. Also schedule some step-back weeks to give your body time to recover before adding a higher level of stress.
2. Wear "technical" (synthetic) fabrics (especially socks) that are designed to wick moisute away. Keeps you cooler when your hot and warmer when your cold. Cotton is a BIG no no. Also when skin befomes hydrated, friction increases and that sets you up for blisters.
3. A good pair of shoes should be comfortable straight from the store. With the exception of leather boots, generally there is little breaking in of the shoe. It's more a breaking in of your foot to the shoe. So, being comfortable from the start is important.
4. Consider removing the liner that comes with the boot/shoe and replacing it with a good a specialty liners that has more cushioning and arch support. Unfortunately, it's a lot of trial and error to find the one that's right for you.
5. Use a good friction reducing product on your feet and other high chafing areas sich as underarms, groin, and niples (mostly a guy thing). Some people swear by petrolatum (Vasoline), others by a waxy product called "Glide". I have a hard time getting past the idea of putting anything so occlusive on my feet and that may plug up the fibers in my expensive high tech socks. I like a silicone product made by Asics. Downside is that it's a lotion type product and that adds weight. But for me, it's weight I'm willing to carry because it work well for me.
6. Don't forget to add hill work to your training. I understand that that first day is difficult. I plan on simulating it by hiking a local mountain pass.
7. Start toughening up your abdominal muscles with crunches and similar exercises. Many back problems are caused by weak abdominals because your abdominals serve to pull your spine forward and prevent hyperextending it. This problem is compounded by the weight of the pack, so stong abdominals mean fewer back problems.

OK, running out of tid bits I've learned from running. If I think of more I'll post them. Oh, BTW, I'm planning on walking into Santiago on my 55th birthday where I will meet up with my wife and kids. THis is a big birthday present for me.