What is the difference between training for, and walking the Camino de Santiago?

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Ivar Rekve — 4 Comments ↓

Training for the Camino de Santiago

The question was:

I guess it’s pretty obvious, but it just occurred to me today that we will be walking day after day after day! So far we have been doing a walk each weekend (usually limited to about 12km because of other commitments) and it’s been easy-peasy. Today we did 16km and 6 year old said at the end of it, “That was my best walk ever. (pause) Because I didn’t grizzle at all.” Interestingly, she has only rarely complained, but she really did not fuss at all today; she just bounced along and at the halfway mark even asked to carry the 8yo’s backpack (an effort which lasted about 100m!!!!).

BUT this evening everyone felt a bit tired. That extra 4km made a discernible difference (and we want to be doing even longer distances some days – and climbing mountains!!). I’m trying to imagine whether it gets easier to walk further each day or whether you just get sorer and sorer! The optimist in me says you end up easily walking 30km in a day. The realist suggests you slowly get worn down.

What’s your experience?

Read this interesting conversation on the difference between training for, and walking the Camino de Santiago here.

Tagged with: Preparation, Training
Posted in From the Camino de Santiago forum

http://www.facebook.com/lynn.santiago.3 Lynn Santiago

It’s great to build up the distance as time goes by…..it gives you resistance and worked well for me. But….the terrain is never the same….to think you can easily do 30k a day is very optimistic….there are many hills to climb and back down again which is not easy….especially if you are starting in France. To be realistic, 23 to 25k will beat you down little by little but doable. Take a day rest every 7 days…you body will need it.

Have a great Camino!
Ron

I was not an experienced hiker/backpacker. I am 70 years old. I did train some. In training, the longest hike I did without stopping to rest was 10 miles. The longest I carried my pack was 6 miles. On the camino, I walked the last 175 miles in 13 days–a couple of short days and a couple of long ones (with no rest days). I don’t know what it would be like to walk 500 miles in 4 or 5 weeks. But on my walk, yes, I was tired at the end of the day, and yes, I was sore (more so early on than later). But every morning I got up and couldn’t wait to walk! My guess would be if you are walking with a 6 year-old, 30 k per day could be very ambitious. When climbing and descending, it is more rigorous than the same distance on flat ground. Brierley’s guide has some suggested staging, complete with actual km’s and adjusted km’s for climbing. If there are hills in your area I would definitely suggest you train with some climbing. And on the camino, if you have the flexibility, build in a rest day now and then.
- Zakosdad
  
  Ron – what kind of footwear did you use?
Aldy (Sylvie)

I trained a fair amount before leaving for my first Camino journey – what I didn’t prepare for, were the riverbed sections – - these were pretty challenging and I was very happy to have two hiking poles to help me maneuver those sections. Big rocks, uneven surfaces, slippery rocks at times – - all combined to offer a very unique terrain.

What is the difference between training for, and walking the Camino de Santiago?

Camino Frances

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