Walking Speed

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fraluchi

RIP 2019
Dec 24, 2007
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One every year since 2007
Dave2013 said:
I was wondering what the average might be so...
Age 74 - 1.70 m. - 71 kg.
Walking speed: uphill or downhill (5% - 10% - 14%) between 4 km/h and 2 km/h; Level road: 5 km/h; Other factors are road conditions (asphalt, stones, mud, etc.) as well as weather (wind, storm, sheets of rain, etc.)
And last but not least: a pleasant albergue, good company, enticing menus, cool beverages, etc. which may make you decide to "call it a day". :lol:
 
Ideal pocket guides for during & after your Camino. Each weighs only 1.4 oz (40g)!

Mysticl

Active Member
Mar 22, 2012
177
176
Comox
Time of past OR future Camino
Frances May (2015) - pending
53 years old female 5'5" with a slightly bum hip that I tend to baby about 4-4.5 km/hr on level trails or approx 2.5 mph

If the hip does start to twinge I slow it down to about 2.0 - 2.2 mph (3.2-3.5 km/hr) and that seems to sort things out.

I'm not planning to make the 20+ km a day (unless I absolutely have to) that some of the younger or more fit folks do. I am aiming around 15 km a day give or take ... if the distance is likely to be more than 15 on a given day to make the next closest refugio I will choose alternate accommodations at a shorter interval. I am still unsure exactly how far I will be able to manage on any given day but I have no time restrictions so I plan to let my feet health and general fitness level dictate my progress. But who knows, as my walk progresses my fitness level will too ... time will tell.
 
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The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.

Freetime

Member
Mar 26, 2011
94
2
Time of past OR future Camino
0 currently. Shooting for 2014
I'm with Robert and Mystcl. This isn't a race or one-upsmanship challenge. Walk at your own pace what ever it is. If walking with others, set a stopping place in advance for each night. You get there when you get there and not a moment sooner.

I plan on going slow and taking the time to pray, commune and reflect.

Tony

Sent using Tapatalk.
 

dougfitz

Veteran Member
Mar 12, 2011
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Past: a few
Last: Sanabres
Next: St Olav's Way
In 2010, I averaged 4.5kph as my effective average for most days. I walked on the flat at around 5.5kph, decreasing slightly on slopes and towards the end of the day, and would take a break every two hours at the closest convenient bar/cafe/albergue. Most days I did three sessions, or around 25km. Some days I did an extra session, but that was rare.

I was walking to a deadline, and did not have the luxury of just taking it as it came.

M59, 176cm, ~85kg when I am walking seriously.

Regards,
 
Down bag (90/10 duvet) of 700 fills with 180 g (6.34 ounces) of filling. Mummy-shaped structure, ideal when you are looking for lightness with great heating performance.

€149,-
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.

Stephen Nicholls

Steve Nicholls, Suffolk, U.K.
Jul 26, 2011
1,348
2,826
Suffolk, U.K.
snicholl5.wix.com
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Mysticl - your schedule sounds fine. I'm off on the Via de la Plata in six weeks, and have scheduled myself for 10 miles [16 kms] a day. I average about 2 m.p.h. [3 k.p.h.] because I take lots of photographs, pray at the wayside crosses, visit the churches [if they're open!], chat to everyone I see [and a few that I don't] and really enjoy myself.
The camino isn't a race.
I have a dodgy hip, so I sympathize. May I recommend you take some Ibuprofen with you? In England they come in 200mg and 400 mg. In Spain you can get 600 mg but I prefer to take the smaller doses and double up if necessary.
God bless you on your pilgrimage.
Buen camino!
Stephen
http://www.calig.co.uk/camino_de_santiago.htm
 

koby

Member
Jul 15, 2011
45
17
Hola. What a great question! I am walking alone Sarria to Santiago 100-115kms Camino Ways Easy Walking 11days-10 nights with pre-arranged accommodations. I've been estimating my average walking speed at 2.5mph , racing speed 3mph under super conditions. After an hour on the road drop to about 1-1.5 and less with distractions, hills, poor road conditions and sore feet. I figure sometimes I'll be so slow I'll be walking backwards. The "ace up my sleeve" as the saying used to go, is my excellent health.

Starting May 30. F(80 in a couple months). Look for me napping in the ditches.

PS. I'm Canadian from Toronto, Canada
 
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I average 5.5km as a comfortable training pace though on the Camino, this average invariably falls as I stop to take photos and explore the countryside I'm walking through. I could walk faster but except on training sessions when I'm trying to get the heart going and improve my fitness, I don't feel the need.

I do know the odd joy that comes from number-crunching though, as I keep a log of my training walk times but on the Camino, the walk itself is the pleasure.

Male, 33, 75-80kg, 180cms.
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.

annakappa

RIP 2024
Jan 6, 2009
1,620
2,396
Costa Rica
Time of past OR future Camino
Part frances jun 07/rest frances may- jun 2008/Frances sept-oct 2009/ Sanabres Oct 2010/Frances sept-oct 2011/Aragones Sept-Oct 2012. Hospitalero Sept 2010, Amiga in Pilgrim's Office Oct 2013. Part Primitivo Oct 2013. Portugues from Porto June 2015.
Age 70, 59 kgs. 5 kms the first hour if the trail is flattish, especially if I still havent had my morning coffe!. After that it's usually about 4kms per hour - UNLESS it's raining, it's boiling hot, it's muddy, steep path to climb, etc. By the end of the day, considering all the stops, photos, visiting churches, sitting under a tree to have a snack, sitting at a bar watching all the comings and goings, I guess we do 3 kms per hour! Anne
 
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Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-

Abbeydore

Veteran Member
Oct 11, 2011
705
48
Hereford England
Pieces said:
5-6 in the morning (mostly cause it is cold and i need to get to my first coffee FAST) slowing down to about 3 later in the day...

surely your day is over after the first 2 hours, yes getting the first hit in the morning could include some argy-bargy.......I'm just hoping for any kind liquid intake, chilled water can be just wonderful
 
59 y/o female, 53 kilos (117 lb), 162 cm (5'4"): 4.5 km/h.

For those who have a dodgy hip: I used to have that, and cured it completely with the most potent natural anti-inflammatory on Earth: turmeric.

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/spi ... erbs/212/2

I will take a small plastic vial and sprinkle it on food, 1/2 teaspoon a day is all you need. It's specially good on rice or salads. Mixing it with a bit of ground pepper increases its anti inflammatory effect manifold. Research (just google "turmeric inflammation") has shown it to be more effective to lower inflammation than ibuprofen, without the side effects (stomach problems). And it will protect you from more serious chronic inflammatory diseases such as heart disease and cancer too!

I eat turmeric every day of my life, it really works. :)
 
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A selection of Camino Jewellery

unadara

Active Member
Oct 5, 2010
271
238
Time of past OR future Camino
2013 CF then a few more. Plan May 24 Primitivo
Who wants to be average?
I walked last year with my husband, he likes to walk fast. After many days training and on the Camino I realised he doesn't really like the "walking", so, figure this, I have to now slow myself down, change my acquired habits, and be "on the camino". I consider myself lucky that over the years I have walked the hills with people faster/fitter/thinner than myself, they have kept me fitter than I may have been. BUT I may not have got the dodgy knees, sore ankles, achilles bulges etc etc if I had walked at my own body dictated pace. I walk alone this April. I may report back how many days it has taken me to get from a-z (sorry, Santiago) but I sure as hell won't be telling anyone my less than vital stats...to be able to walk from St Jean to Santiago is a privilege, a pilgrimage, a gift-ENJOY.
 
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supersullivan

Active Member
Jul 14, 2012
505
935
Dun Laoghaire, Ireland
Time of past OR future Camino
Sarria-Santiago 2012. SJPP-Santiago-Finisterre-Muxia 2013. Ponferrada-Santiago June 2014. Leon-Santiago-Finisterre September 2014. April-May 2015: SJPP- S de C- Finisterre -Muxia- S de C.
52 years old, 5 foot 10 inches and 88 kgs ( 14 stone ), 5.5 kms per hour on easy trails, averaging 5 kms per hour over a typical up and down day excluding stops but I do like my cafe con leche's :D
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.

mspath

Veteran Member
Nov 25, 2009
11,251
48,903
France
allmycaminos.blogspot.fr
Time of past OR future Camino
Frances, autumn/winter; 2004, 2005-2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Last autumn at 72 years, 5 feet 8 inches tall, and 62 kilos carrying a 6.5 kilo loaded pack I averaged 4 km per hour. But NOT the first week, nor later walking through heavy mud or pouring rain. I hope to resume this pace once again this October. However, wishing will not make it so. The daily topography and weather plus one's health and pack weight as well as personal strength and ability to endure all are contributing factors.

Ultreia!

Margaret Meredith
 
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A guide to speaking Spanish on the Camino - enrich your pilgrim experience.

LGin

New Member
Oct 5, 2011
9
1
I am a pretty fast walker at home, but found I not only wanted to go more slowly on the Camino, but needed to in order to prevent hip pain. Maybe it was just the accumulated distance, but most people I met had the same experience--speed on the Camino significantly slower than training walks. At home I average about 4 miles an hour; on the Camino I averaged about 4 km an hour. (I'm 46, 5'4", female).
 

freescot

Active Member
Jun 19, 2013
186
351
75
Santibañez el Alto, Caceres, Spain
www.the-raft-of-corks.com
Time of past OR future Camino
La Plata (2010) Portuguese from Coimbra(2010) Levante (2011) La Lana (2013) Francés from Roncevalles to Molinasaca then the Camino de Invierno (2014)
Captura-almanza-alpera-1024x206.jpg


I succumbed to a GPS this year and it confirmed for me what I know that I walk on average at 3km/hr over a day and I often walk for 8 hours or more with breaks. I'm slow because although I'm 6´ I've little legs.
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.

grayland

Veteran Member
Dec 29, 2008
4,258
9,166
Tucson, Arizona
Time of past OR future Camino
Yes
Age: 75
5'9"
165 lbs (75kg)

I walk about 3 mph ( 4.8 kmh) on average over a day. Stops, hills, weather and pack weight all have an effect on this.

Last month, In November, I walked 272 miles (440 km) (approx) over about 15 days. These were just daily walks from my home and back with many steep climbs. Almost all on hard surfaces. Small day pack.
The walking average was about 3 mph according to GPS recording.
(About half the distance from SJPdP to Santiago).
.
 

BeatriceKarjalainen

Veteran Member
Nov 25, 2012
1,201
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Boden, Sweden
beastankar.blogspot.com
Time of past OR future Camino
Finished: See post signature.
Doing: C. Levante
Age: 40
Hight: 170 cm
Weight: Starting 63 ending 56 kg
Backpack: 8 kg with water and food
Speed: 5 km/h (when stops for a lot of photos, food, rest etc) without the stops around an average of 5,8-6 km/h (haven't got the same statistics for it over the camino).
My total average speed (5) is for SJPdP-SdC-Finisterrre-Muxía-SdC plus Ferrol-SdC.

Edit: I walked approximately the last 10 days with severe anemia and had shin splits in the left leg from Ponerrada and onward so my average speed was taken down a bit compare to hiking/walking when I'm not ill.
 
Last edited:

Maggie97520

Active Member
Jun 23, 2013
142
84
Ashland Oregon
Time of past OR future Camino
CDF Fall 2013, CDF Spring 2014
Left SJPDP on Sept 20 and walked to Fisterre on Nov. 8. Two zero days. Many more nero days.
Age: 58
Height: 5'6"
Weight: over
Backpack: 18lbs with food and water
Speed: Glacial
Note: Better going uphill, but the downhills (especially after Cruz de Ferro) were killers. I never learned the technique for relaxing on downhill and absolutely dreaded the descents. Trekking poles are lifesavers.
 
Down bag (90/10 duvet) of 700 fills with 180 g (6.34 ounces) of filling. Mummy-shaped structure, ideal when you are looking for lightness with great heating performance.

€149,-

Maggie97520

Active Member
Jun 23, 2013
142
84
Ashland Oregon
Time of past OR future Camino
CDF Fall 2013, CDF Spring 2014
P.S. Despite the "dreaded descents" I loved every minute on the Camino and can't wait to go back next autumn. But I'll be taking the time until then learning how to walk downhill safely and without scaring myself to death.
 

dougfitz

Veteran Member
Mar 12, 2011
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Past: a few
Last: Sanabres
Next: St Olav's Way
P.S. Despite the "dreaded descents" I loved every minute on the Camino and can't wait to go back next autumn. But I'll be taking the time until then learning how to walk downhill safely and without scaring myself to death.
I find walking poles are a great help on descents. Otherwise, I think it's largely a matter of slowing down and looking carefully where one is putting one's feet.
 
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A guide to speaking Spanish on the Camino - enrich your pilgrim experience.
D

Deleted member 12253

Guest
I timed my camino walks and here goes, age 60 plus, 5 '11 and 90 kg. I average 12 minutes a km, that's 5 km an hour. I can keep that up no problem for 4 hours, so 20 km in 4 hours, I don't drink coffee so H2o my only stop. Oh but after 20 km I slow way down, oh age!! I keep backpack to 5.5/6 kg
 
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jirit

Veteran Member
Dec 31, 2010
1,780
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Canada
www.verderamedia.com
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Camino Frances 2007,
Via Francigena Italy, 2008,
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Le Puy to Lourdes 2012,
Via de la Plata 2013,
Future:
Ökumenischer (Via Regia), Germany,
Lycian Way, Turkey
6 foot 1 1/2 inches on a good day
195 lbs plus 25 lbs pack
Uphill: 3 km/hr
Average: 4 km/hr
Top speed: 6 km/hr
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.

BeatriceKarjalainen

Veteran Member
Nov 25, 2012
1,201
2,230
51
Boden, Sweden
beastankar.blogspot.com
Time of past OR future Camino
Finished: See post signature.
Doing: C. Levante
Would the 6km per hour be on your skateboard..downhill?:cool:
If he has 6 km/h as top on a skateboard downhill what do I use then a rocket. I do 6 km/h as average when taking away stops for photos, food etc. My max on flat was 7,8 on the camino, downhill it was a bit over 10 :) At home without a backpack my normal speed out walking is an average of 7,6 km/h. :)

But the camino is no race and everyone has a different ground speed in us. I'm a fast walker my husband is a really slow one, one of many reason for us not to go on the camino together :)
 

fraluchi

RIP 2019
Dec 24, 2007
1,360
1,447
Costa Rica
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Time of past OR future Camino
One every year since 2007
At home without a backpack my normal speed out walking is an average of 7,6 km/h. :)
I know of other walkers who managed this speed. Some without problems, but most with serious aches to attend to. It's all relative, and my over 3/4 century age is slowing down the pace. More time to savour the Camino!;)
 
A guide to speaking Spanish on the Camino - enrich your pilgrim experience.

jirit

Veteran Member
Dec 31, 2010
1,780
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Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances 2007,
Via Francigena Italy, 2008,
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Le Puy to Lourdes 2012,
Via de la Plata 2013,
Future:
Ökumenischer (Via Regia), Germany,
Lycian Way, Turkey

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