Training

[Trombananda]

Hello,
I leave Florida for Spain April 19,2011 and plan to walk from Burgos to Santiago.
I have been trying my best to get prepared by walking up to 13 miles per day but I feel that this is not enough plus the fact is there are no hills or mountains where I live so all my walking is on the beach and through the nature reserves.any time I see a mound I walk up it but seriously will I have a decent chance to complete this walk even though I have no mountains here to climb?
I walk 12 to 13 miles a day but not every day,should I be walking everyday or every other day or what.Should I train up to the day I leave or back off at some point.

I will start out alone is there anything I should look out for?Is the backpack transportation service okay to use.Are there hotels along the way instead of a hostel?
Thank You,
Trombananda

[BHinSanDiego]

Hey Trombananda, Congrats on your upcoming Camino, first of all you're training so you are ahead of the game, any training that you do will help you when you get there. Doing 13 miles a day is very good, even though you're not training everyday don't worry about it, it does you no good, like I said, you're training, everyday is not neccessary, you could end up injuring yourself in some way, so stay on a schedule that you're comfortable with, and don't worry about not being able to train for the mountains, your first week or so you'll be on the meseta and it is relatively flat, with some rolling hills, nothing to worry about, this will also get you ready for later when you reach the mountains. You could possibly slack down the closer you get to departure, it's all in how your body feels overall, that is, the next day, how do you feel the day after doing 13 miles? If you're feet aren't aching, you're ready to go again that's a good sign your body is up to the task. Are you training with you backpack? I'm not too familar with the backpack services, most people I came into contact with that did it used taxis for this, it seemed like an easy way for the taxi driver to make some money, consolidate a car full of packs and take them to the pilgrims destinations.

Though you're starting alone, you are never really alone on the Camino, you will have the opportunity to meet new friends from all parts of the globe, it's a built in support system so to speak, you and everyone else are working for a common goal, that is to get to Santiago. There are hotels in the larger towns, don't discount the alburgues, it is all part of the experience, if you opt for the private alburgues they are only about 7-10 euros and the rooms have anywhere from 4-12 beds, nothing overwhelming.

Have you come up with a packing list, how much you're going to take? I'll PM a list I have past along to others, if you have any specific questions feel free to PM me or just post it here, everyone is an amiga y amigo aqui!
Buen Camino,
Barry

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Trombananda ~
I want to second everything that Barry wrote to you -- you're way ahead on training compared to some pilgrims. If you can walk 13 miles in a day and not be dead at the end you'll do fine. Adding a backpack makes a difference, but as Barry said you'll be on basically flat trails for the first week (one or two large hills), but take your time and you'll be fine. If your pack is less than 20 pounds and fits you right (weight on the hips) you'll have no need of a pack service.

The biggest thing to worry about for most people actually is not training, but blisters. If, as a Floridian, you're walking in running shoes you should abandon those right away and start walking in your hiking boots. Your feet need to be accustomed to your specific Camino boots and you need to work out which socks and/or sock liners will protect you from blisters. All the training in the world goes to naught if you get a few large blisters and are walking in pain every day as a result. Training on hills is less important in my opinion that getting used to your boots on uneven trails where your feet will naturally slide back and forth and left and right in your boots. It's harder to walk 13 miles on bad blisters than 13 miles on hills. You can always slow down and catch your breath on a hill, but walking on blistered feet can make you miserable -- and in severe cases can end your camino.

Take a few days off from your training before you leave the US. Even marathon runners go easy in their last week before a marathon. You want to be rested when you start. Remember, you're walking every day and a lot of your training will be in your first week. After that your body is used to the effort and you'll settle into the groove.

There are, indeed, hotels along the way. I've found that this is one thing which the Brierley guidebook is particularly useful -- he gives hotel names and contact info for each town along the way. If you choose to stay in hotels (as my wife does when she's with me) you can just anticipate where you'll be the next night and if your Spanish isn't that great ask the hotel front desk to call ahead and make you a reservation for your next night. It's very easy and not that expensive by American standards even since many of these hotels are quite simple and rural. You'll miss albergue living which is a mixed blessing, but dorms aren't for everyone and don't feel badly if they're not for you.

You're going to do just fine, Trom. Buen camino!

[Trombananda]

Thank you very much for the incouraging words,I feel much more positive now as I know that I am on the right track.I have been walking with my backpack and boots with no blisters so far.Man, I was concerned but your mail turned me around.This walk is not an option for me it is a calling and I must go and try my very best.
Thanks again!
Peace,
Frank

[danabagg]

I agree with all that been said. I did the Camino alone 3 yrs. ago. I'm a 64 year old woman from Florida who had no hill training either. I trained but the most I did before going was 13 miles. You're ahead of the game. If you have "hot spots" (early blisters), in training, deal with them immediately. Walking in your boots is important & wear your backpack. On the Camino I hurt the first week but did fine after that. It's walking the distances day after day that is the initial challenge & for me carrying a backpack as I had previous back surgery. But...the adrenaline gets flowing. It's fabulous!!! I went thinking I'd stay in hotels...but saw that I missed the Camino people when I did. Soaking in a tub in the beginning was nice (I did the 2nd night in a hotel). Staying in one here & there and in Santiago were the other places I stayed in a hotel. The mountains were a challenge for me, so I went at my own pace. I suffered if I tried to go faster to keep up with others. Someone told me: YOUR Camino is YOUR Camino. Good advice. (I'm walking from Leon to Santiago in late April, 200 miles). I read the book: Walk in a Relaxed Manner by Rupp. I'm glad I did, because the author tells of her experience & that helped me not be surprised at a few negative things (my sticks were stolen out of the bin at the entrance, snoring, a disgruntled man when he didn't get a bed...). It taught me how to be easy going & relaxed for the month of walking. I love the Camino & can't wait to get there. I hope your experience will be wonderful! Buen Camino...

[Bix]

I have just finished walking the Wessex Ridgeway in Dorset as a training session for the Camino this September. I have read a lot of advice on these forums, but actually doing it is a different kettle of fish! I usually walk for 1 to 2 hours every day with the dogs and do 4 to 6 hours per day on the weekend, but walking for 6 to 8 hours for a whole week on different terrains is much more tiring! As we did wild camping we had to bring our food and a tiny stove, tent etc and waterproofs so our weight was initially OK, but it soon became too much. We started to become obsessed with every gram of weight that was unnecessary.
My feet were fine for the first 3 days and then I sank into a pool of cow's urine/feaces/mud! I rinsed my boots of quickly in a trough, but we had to carry on walking. That night we camped in some woods and my boots didn't dry out so I had to walk in wet boots the next day and after another 5 hours or so BLISTERS! I tried to keep changing my socks to keep my feet as dry as possible but that didn't really work. I put on lots of Compeed blister plasters and did make it to Lyme Regis but it was like walking on knives! Not fun.
So we learned a lot from doing this.
I am now going to pack my rucksack with 7 kgs of stuff and walk with that when I go out with the dogs.

[Covey]

Don't worry too much about the training. One of the main aims of the training is to break in the footwear if someone has bought new boots or shoes for their Camino.

I did quite a bit of training walks last year because my trusty Salomon boots gave up the ghost and were replaced by a pair of Merell Moabs which were brilliant. The previous two years my trips down the Camino Frances were preceded by Zero training, and I was fine.

If you were someone who regarded getting up to go to the fridge as a major workout, then training is a very good idea, but someone who walks regularly will have little problems. Its walking with a pack every day for 34 days that takes getting used to, so keep it as light as possible.