Training-ish

[Stellaluna]

So I leave SJPdP on July 4 and have been "training' for a while now. I regularly walk with a 15 lb pack and do 2-day consecutive 18 km walks easily. I have thrown in hills on shorter walk days (but hills in Ottawa are nothing compared to the Pyrannees). Mid week I do shorter walks 5-7 km. This weekend I took off because of the humidity in Ottawa.
Two questions;
1. Do I need to ramp it up a lot? (I live on the 10th floor of an apartment building and am going to add that in as well)
2. Here in Ottawa we are sweltering in a very sticky and humid 31 degree celsius and this has made it a sloooowwww weekend for me. I am very anxious that the same will happen to me in Spain in July! The humidity eats right into me and takes away any will to walk that I can muster.... Heat I can handle but humidity not so much. I looked at climate sites for Spain and what I am understanding is that humidity is less of an issue along the Frances. So.... am I right?
Thanks for any and all feedback!
Jennifer (who leaves in 5 weeks!!!!!)

 

[NorthernLight]

Consider packing a lightweight umbrella for the added shade. My memory is that Spain was much drier heat than we get in Ontario.

I think your training looks great. The first few days on the camino you are ramped up with energy from excitement, and that helps too.

 

[Mark Lee]

Sounds to me like you have done some good training and are in way better shape than a lot of the pilgrims on the Camino Frances. You will have no problems doing your walk. You might want to take a couple days off before you start your Camino to rest and recuperate before you do the real thing.
Being someone that has spent most of their life living in places that are very hot and humid during the summer (south Louisiana and south Texas) I can safely say that northern Spain in July, though warm and even a bit hot some days, is by no means a humid environment. Honestly I thought the weather there in July was beautiful. Perfect for walking in.

 

[Dutchwalk53]

I can safely say that northern Spain in July, though warm and even a bit hot some days, is by no means a humid environment. Honestly I thought the weather there in July was beautiful. Perfect for walking in.

Living In Florida I totally agree. I loved the weather in Spain last year. Yes it was hot but humidity wise no big deal compared to Florida. I'm leaving June 9th for Spain. This morning I did a 5 mile walk and it was hot and very humid. My son's Dachshund puppy joined me......I was tempted to post this mornings picture of him... he hitched a comfy ride behind my neck on top of my backpack You will love the Spanish dry heat !!!

 

[SYates]

... I am very anxious that the same will happen to me in Spain in July! The humidity eats right into me and takes away any will to walk that I can muster.... Heat I can handle but humidity not so much. I looked at climate sites for Spain and what I am understanding is that humidity is less of an issue along the Frances. So.... am I right?
...

Yes, you are right, most of the heat on the CF is dry. You can get the occasional thunderstorm and Galicia is always "a wee bit damp", but the CF doesn't have a "rainforest climate". Buen Camino, SY

 

[EBird]

I'm glad to see this thread! I'm used to the muggy heat of Eastern North Carolina, so it sounds like the Camino Frances will be a reprieve from that.

 

[spursfan]

Just as important as your training would be to cut down the weight of your pack - good rain jacket but no need for a fleece - silk bag liner instead of sleeping bag - Merino wool t-shirts that can be worn over a wide range of temperatures

 

[trecile]

So I leave SJPdP on July 4 and have been "training' for a while now. I regularly walk with a 15 lb pack and do 2-day consecutive 18 km walks easily. I have thrown in hills on shorter walk days (but hills in Ottawa are nothing compared to the Pyrannees). Mid week I do shorter walks 5-7 km. This weekend I took off because of the humidity in Ottawa.
Two questions;
1. Do I need to ramp it up a lot? (I live on the 10th floor of an apartment building and am going to add that in as well)
2. Here in Ottawa we are sweltering in a very sticky and humid 31 degree celsius and this has made it a sloooowwww weekend for me. I am very anxious that the same will happen to me in Spain in July! The humidity eats right into me and takes away any will to walk that I can muster.... Heat I can handle but humidity not so much. I looked at climate sites for Spain and what I am understanding is that humidity is less of an issue along the Frances. So.... am I right?
Thanks for any and all feedback!
Jennifer (who leaves in 5 weeks!!!!!)

Sounds like there is nothing "ish" about your training!

 

[Rick M]

So I leave SJPdP on July 4 and have been "training' for a while now. I regularly walk with a 15 lb pack and do 2-day consecutive 18 km walks easily. I have thrown in hills on shorter walk days (but hills in Ottawa are nothing compared to the Pyrannees). Mid week I do shorter walks 5-7 km. This weekend I took off because of the humidity in Ottawa.
Two questions;
1. Do I need to ramp it up a lot? (I live on the 10th floor of an apartment building and am going to add that in as well)
2. Here in Ottawa we are sweltering in a very sticky and humid 31 degree celsius and this has made it a sloooowwww weekend for me. I am very anxious that the same will happen to me in Spain in July! The humidity eats right into me and takes away any will to walk that I can muster.... Heat I can handle but humidity not so much. I looked at climate sites for Spain and what I am understanding is that humidity is less of an issue along the Frances. So.... am I right?
Thanks for any and all feedback!
Jennifer (who leaves in 5 weeks!!!!!)

Stairs. My wife and I did much what you are doing, but we added some stair climbing into the mix to improve cardio along with strength and endurance. Really glad we did! The Camino has some fairly intense hill climbing to do, especially right at the beginning. We have a nice outdoor staircase to the beach we used, but 10 (air conditioned?) floors in your building will be fine. After getting to 200 m vertical climb (that's about 4-5 circuits!) in one session without dying, we were totally ready.