training/fitness/health

I would love to do (part of) the Camino this year, probably starting in Porto. Question I need to ask... do you have to be extremely fit to attempt it? I'm 60 & normally walk for about an hour every day.. which is not really anywhere close to the distances I'll need to cover on the Camino...

I am looking forward to training for the Camino, but I have a question for all of you. What's the best way to work in a training schedule if you're really busy, especially on the weekends? I have a full-time job Monday through Friday, but I also sing as a church musician on Sundays, which...

I completed my Camino at the end of September and have been home for over a month now. I want to continue walking daily, because I love to walk, but it's just so different from walking on the Camino. This quote that I took from a blog post really sums it up for me Most of all, I miss the...

Hola! I am planning to walk from SJPDP around August 10. I am giving myself 40 days to complete the Camino. I just got my pack and shoes and have started a little bit of training. I thought I could walk 7 miles per day, every second day for the next 5 weeks. I am a walker and in fairly good...

Hi all, I'm wondering if you can all help after asking for permission in October I finally got permission to take off 4th July until 2nd of August in mid April. While flights was more expensive and my training was on the back burn as was unsure of leave.I have finally brought every thing and all...

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...

I'm looking for resources on exercises I can do to prepare for the camino as well as stretches to do during the journey. Thanks! Susan

This article, which has a link to the actual scientific journal, explains the benefits of hiking. I've linked both below: Article Journal Link

Has anyone else used this and has it worked for them or is there a better app to be using to track your mileage/time?

Hello, all. My husband and I are both 64, in relative good health, are complete tenderfoots, have never done any serious walking or hiking in our lives ... and yet we both greatly desire to walk the Camino next year in April and May. We've been in Managua, Nicaragua, for the past 3 months and...

Hi guys! I just wanted to know if there is anyone who decided to walk the camino without any preparation? And when I say preparation I mean the training (walking with the backpack for a few miles)? Depending on the date of my trip (which I am still deciding - last minute or with several...

Okay all you professionals. I America closing in on my first Camino . Next month I will start training with mr pack . What is the recommended approach? Start with a lighter pack or full pack with shorter walks? I am walking fit but have never used a pack.

Does anyone know of a good Camino training plan on this forum? I mean physical training. Not finding anything. Thanks in advance, BrienC

Hello Pilgrims! My husband and I have just finished our 33 day journey from St Jean to Fisterra and it was an absolutely incredible experience. We are both physiotherapists and you can imagine that we saw plenty of pilgrims needing assistance along the way, so I thought I'd post a few tips that...

Got back from my second Camino Frances and thought I would share something that might help increase the chance of completing your next Camino: start out slow and doing lower mileage for at least a week. Last year I hiked with young and not so young folks who decided for whatever reason that they...

Hi everyone Going on my first Camino (Camino Frances) starting 1st of April 2016. Just wondering how much training do I need. I still have plenty of time, but I am walking a 8 km circuit every day with a 8 kg backpack and 13 km with the same backpack, 3 times a week. Being 64 YO I am concerned...

I want to walk the Camino Frances. I am a 55 year old woman. I am healthy, with no particular injuries, but I am not in amazing shape. In my 20s and 30s, I did a lot of hiking, climbing, running, but kids came along and I put myself on the back burner. Now I am ready to rediscover myself -...

I bought a Fitbit Flex a while ago thinking it would benefit my Camino training in that it measures distance and also is a visual reminder around my wrist that I need to walk more. Sadly with a freelance deskjob I have to make sure I make my deadlines first and foremost, and take time off when I...

Hello everyone!! I finally starting training for my camino properly today... I start late September. I've had pneumonia so haven't been able to exercise for some time. Anyway, managed 10kms today and I discovered a fantastic app for smartphone users. It's called MapMyWalk and it's free, and...

Hi all, I'm 6 weeks away from starting the Camino Frances from SJPP. I'm in my 50"s and would have a reasonably good level of fitness. As long distance walking is a different discipline, over the past two months I've been walking three times per week, distances between 20KM and 30KM in each...