Hi
I know this thread has been posted a long time ago, but I want to contribute anyway.
What about the good benefits on the Camino? I must say that I experience strength gain each day
The more I walked, the stronger I became. Literally. Legs and shoulders hurt like 1-2 first days and then stopped. After that I felt great and stronger each day. I enjoyed walking each day more and more. I also managed to increase my walk speed everyday
Other pilgrims made fun of me that I wasn't walking, but I was running
And also I carried 11 kg - 13 kg backpack each day. I didn't even have one blister until the very last day. So only 1 small blister on 14-day Camino.
Why felt I so strong and haven't had basically any health problems? I learned that the reasons were 4:
1. Regular sport. I am doing sports all year long. I try to maintain a reasonable weigh and do sports in every season of the year. Except doing sports regulary I started also jogging (40 minutes) every other day 4 months before Camino. So I would say that if you don't do sports and then start Camino and suddenly ehaust your muscles and body, you are basically "inviting" the injuries. Keep yourself at balance all year long and Camino would hurt less (mine didn't hurt at all).
2. Proper Camino care - inside and outside. Take shower everyday, have a good hygiene, put fresh creams/gels on your muscles, masage a little, put your legs up at the end of the stage and and drink fizzy (or tablet) magnesium. Or bananas if you will.
3. SLEEP! I slept almost every siesta (2,5 hours in the afternoon) plus 9 hours at night. That sums up to 11,5 hours of sleep per day. Like who wouldn't be regenerated after such amount of sweet sleep?
After all, the sleep is the best cure.
4. Food and drinks. Don't stay up too late, don't drink too much alcohol (believe, you will have time in Santiago for all of the delicious wines/beer/orujo) and don't stuff yourself with excess amount of food. Even though Camino is energy-demanding, you can pull it nicely with norma healthy portions. I felt hungry only 2 times a day (at 9.00 am and at 5.00 pm) so I ate twice a day. I didn't try to eat more or less. Simply I cooperated with my body. Everyone should listen to his own body, because the body unique for everyone and is smart and lets you know when it needs anything.
I learned that discipline added to Camino and I have never felt so strong in my life as I did on the Camino. I understand that people have different preferences, but I think that with proper and right attitude and discipline, the kilometers/miles can work for you, not against you