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ola and welcome!Hello all!
I have just graduated from college in the US and want to walk the Camino as a last hurrah since I've been dreaming of doing this for many years now. I was thinking of starting in Pamplona as I've always wanted to visit that city, but I only have about 2 weeks total to make it to Santiago. Is this doable or is this crazy? I am a very athletic and physically fit 22 year-old female (I was a basketball player) and I have a fair amount of hiking experience; however, I have no idea what is the typical walking distance for an average day on the Camino. I know the exact distance will vary from person to person and day to day, but if I could just hear from a number of you what you found your typical daily distance to be and with how many hours per day of walking, that could really help me out. On paper, I would like to think that I could do 20-25 miles a day easily, but I realize that I really don't know anything about the Camino and that walking that far per day every day is a lot more easily said than done.
Thank you all so much for your help!
On my first Camino I walked from Leon to Santiago in 12 days and I was 52 years old. I think you should have no problems starting there.Thank you all for the responses! To answer the question about my reason for wanting to do the Camino, I want to do it for the spiritual reasons rather than the physical challenge - finding myself, becoming more in touch with who I am, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of my typically busy life, testing my independence, the adventure, etc. On that note, perusing this forum (in addition to your appreciated responses!!) has helped me realize that my original plan is quite silly....I'd much rather end in Santiago though, rather than start in Pamplona and end before reaching Santiago. That being said, what would be the best starting point for an approximately 2 week Camino? (14 days isn't a hard deadline, just an estimate).
Also jet lag won't be an issue because I plan on flying to Madrid from LA and staying with the host family I lived with while studying abroad for a few days to rest up before I actually set out on my Camino, so the 2 week time frame I was referring meant from the time I leave Madrid to start through the time I arrive in Santiago. I did like Anemone del Camino's idea to go to Pamplona for a couple days to see it for my bucketlist and then taking bus/train to Leon and actually starting the Camino there. Is that a more doable plan?
... I did like Anemone del Camino's idea to go to Pamplona for a couple days to see it for my bucketlist and then taking bus/train to Leon and actually starting the Camino there. Is that a more doable plan?
Hello all!
I have just graduated from college in the US and want to walk the Camino as a last hurrah since I've been dreaming of doing this for many years now. I was thinking of starting in Pamplona as I've always wanted to visit that city, but I only have about 2 weeks total to make it to Santiago. Is this doable or is this crazy? I am a very athletic and physically fit 22 year-old female (I was a basketball player) and I have a fair amount of hiking experience; however, I have no idea what is the typical walking distance for an average day on the Camino. I know the exact distance will vary from person to person and day to day, but if I could just hear from a number of you what you found your typical daily distance to be and with how many hours per day of walking, that could really help me out. On paper, I would like to think that I could do 20-25 miles a day easily, but I realize that I really don't know anything about the Camino and that walking that far per day every day is a lot more easily said than done.
Thank you all so much for your help!
@AlyB, when I saw your OP, I thought to myself that you would want to be an experienced multi-day ultra-marathon runner with a support crew to even start to contemplate your proposal. I am glad to see you are considering something more realistic.
I wonder what your point is here.AlyB wonders whether Pamplona-SdC in two weeks is doable or is this crazy for a very athletic and physically fit 22 year-old female ( a basketball player) and with a fair amount of hiking experience. leaving alone is it a correct way for pilgrimage, the trail conditions of CF allows this when walking for some 10h daily and being well prepared (rule #1 stay well hydrated at all time). no need to run ultra-marathon. will she feel miserable after the first couple of days? almost certainly, but then again it will be her call either to get over this and continue or give up. some people just need to reach their physical limits on the way to spiritual discoveries.
I wonder what your point is here.
I think the range of circumstances where it would be sensible to suggest this is a good thing to do are so narrow that one would consider it foolhardy. For that reason, I think it sensible that @AlyB has chosen a less demanding, but still challenging, option.
- The OP would have involved walking an average of 50 km each day for 14 days - that is 14 ultra-marathon distances on consecutive days. Whether one runs it or walks it, it would be a significant undertaking.
- You are suggesting it could be done in 10 hours each day, or at an average of 5 kph if there were no stops, somewhat faster the longer taken on stops for coffee, food etc. That is a cracking pace! Do you really think it is sustainable for 14 days.
- Even if the OP is a match fit basketball player, walking over 10 or more hours is an entirely different thing to the intensity needed for that for an hour or so of match play.
As a Camino newbie who is currently 14 days into his journey, the only thing I would say to anyone contemplating the Camino is this.....
Don't rush. Take your time. The Camino is not about getting from A to B in a certain time.
The journey is the Camino, not the destination. ....
If the goal is to walk a vast distance in a certain time as some kind of challenge, there is no need to come to Spain for that. .....
Yeah, I find it kinda odd that anyone would use the Camino Santiago as an endurance sports platform of sorts. There are so many other venues that are actually designed to be that not to mention one could take up triathlons and the like.As a Camino newbie who is currently 14 days into his journey, the only thing I would say to anyone contemplating the Camino is this.....
Don't rush. Take your time. The Camino is not about getting from A to B in a certain time.
The journey is the Camino, not the destination. ....
If the goal is to walk a vast distance in a certain time as some kind of challenge, there is no need to come to Spain for that. .....
Wow, Mark I just watched Wild for the first time. Now that is an endurance trek and more and my daughter-in-law told me a 50kg backpack is standard issue because these folks carry tents, food and cooking equipment. That is downright insane when you can come to Spain and enjoy hot meal and free wine every 20k or soYeah, I find it kinda odd that anyone would use the Camino Santiago as an endurance sports platform of sorts. There are so many other venues that are actually designed to be that not to mention one could take up triathlons and the like.
I just couldn't imagine hauling-ass past a bunch of people who are on for the most part, a meditative or spiritual walk and have no concern for speed or time. In a sense competing with a bunch of people who could care less how fast you are going and who are not competing with you anyway.
No doubt, Don.Wow, Mark I just watched Wild for the first time. Now that is an endurance trek and more and my daughter-in-law told me a 50kg backpack is standard issue because these folks carry tents, food and cooking equipment. That is downright insane when you can come to Spain and enjoy hot meal and free wine every 20k or so. Just saying!
... my daughter-in-law told me a 50kg backpack is standard issue because these folks carry tents, food and cooking equipment. ...
... I've changed my plans now to begin in Leon, ...
I don't think it is doable in 14 days.Hello all!
I have just graduated from college in the US and want to walk the Camino as a last hurrah since I've been dreaming of doing this for many years now. I was thinking of starting in Pamplona as I've always wanted to visit that city, but I only have about 2 weeks total to make it to Santiago. Is this doable or is this crazy? I am a very athletic and physically fit 22 year-old female (I was a basketball player) and I have a fair amount of hiking experience; however, I have no idea what is the typical walking distance for an average day on the Camino. I know the exact distance will vary from person to person and day to day, but if I could just hear from a number of you what you found your typical daily distance to be and with how many hours per day of walking, that could really help me out. On paper, I would like to think that I could do 20-25 miles a day easily, but I realize that I really don't know anything about the Camino and that walking that far per day every day is a lot more easily said than done.
Thank you all so much for your help!
... Why don't you consider starting from Leon?
Yeah, I find it kinda odd that anyone would use the Camino Santiago as an endurance sports platform of sorts. There are so many other venues that are actually designed to be that not to mention one could take up triathlons and the like.
I just couldn't imagine hauling-ass past a bunch of people who are on for the most part, a meditative or spiritual walk and have no concern for speed or time. In a sense competing with a bunch of people who could care less how fast you are going and who are not competing with you anyway.
Bicycles are cool. I like them. I've done some trail riding on mountain bikes here in the US. It's neat way to get around the woods, quietly and minimal environmental impact. Personally though, I don't think I would enjoy bicycling the Camino. Walking it was so cool.It is really amazing how odd the perception of a different pilgrimage may be! It is perfectly fine to walk slowly, quit early to get a better bed or enjoy a conversation while sipping some fine wine. But I would assume it is equally fine to walk long hours, despite of being tired or hungry. For someone the concept of pilgrimage might be less meditative or spiritual, it is rather a fight with own weakness. And it has nothing to do neither with endurance sports, nor competing fellow pilgrims. But you are right, since appearance of modern bicycles, there are some elements of triathlon on Camino de Santiago. I hate to say, that renting one of these would be yet another option for OP to cover whole way down to SdC.
You might say that, but for others, it is about those things.The Camino is not about meeting people, neither about making a specific distance nor arriving to Santiago; doing the Camino has nothing to do with being clever or logical
Sorry. I am using my iPhone. I don't find it user friendly.She already has decided to do so, and stated that in this thread. Really, sorry, please people, give the OP at least the courtesy to skim over the whole thread before responding!!! SY
You might say that, but for others, it is about those things.
You might say you will meet people anyway. That might be so on the CF, but not on other routes. So if meeting other pilgrims is important, it will influence where you go, and how much of each day you walk compared to taking time to be with other pilgrims in towns and villages.
Arriving in Santiago and receiving a compostella is also fairly important to many people, otherwise there wouldn't be the large numbers doing the shorter distances, such as from Sarria.
As for being clever - maybe its not, but in the context of this thread, at least planning to cover sensible distances to achieve ones goal is clearly a good start. Planning to do something otherwise is planning to fail.
I am glad that @AlyB has decided to start in Leon. She will still meet people, achieve realistic distances, should be able to reach Santiago, etc, etc.
Most of the electrolite sachets and foot care cream I had for my 2012 Camino I gave to young fit pilgrims who burned out and got sick trying to walk 40 to 50 km a day. Us plodders managed just fine doing 20 to 30 a day stopping to enjoy frequent cafe con leches and the odd San Michelle.
At some level it has a few common meanings, such as undertaking our pilgrimage as a spiritual journey or for pious purposes, or even just to prove to ourselves that we are physically capable. After that, I think we bring our own meaning. Just as suggesting everyone should have the same meaning, saying what meaning they shouldn't bring to the camino, as you did, seems rather silly.The Camino has a different meaning for everyone.
It certainly might be a physical ending, and for many the end of their religious and spiritual pilgrimage. I do hope you weren't intending to suggest that there is some psychic meaning to the Camino.When you start the Camino you want to arrive in Santiago as it is the physic ending, but that doesn´t turn it into the reason to do the Camino. Or yes, it does.
'my two pennies':When you are young you are impulsive, your hormones are on the warpath. Is it that bad?
Let the youngsters be young. Let's give them the chance to grow and learn through suffering and enjoyment.
Thank you all for the responses! To answer the question about my reason for wanting to do the Camino, I want to do it for the spiritual reasons rather than the physical challenge - finding myself, becoming more in touch with who I am, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of my typically busy life, testing my independence, the adventure, etc. On that note, perusing this forum (in addition to your appreciated responses!!) has helped me realize that my original plan is quite silly....I'd much rather end in Santiago though, rather than start in Pamplona and end before reaching Santiago. That being said, what would be the best starting point for an approximately 2 week Camino? (14 days isn't a hard deadline, just an estimate).
Also jet lag won't be an issue because I plan on flying to Madrid from LA and staying with the host family I lived with while studying abroad for a few days to rest up before I actually set out on my Camino, so the 2 week time frame I was referring meant from the time I leave Madrid to start through the time I arrive in Santiago. I did like Anemone del Camino's idea to go to Pamplona for a couple days to see it for my bucketlist and then taking bus/train to Leon and actually starting the Camino there. Is that a more doable plan?
Hello all!
I have just graduated from college in the US and want to walk the Camino as a last hurrah since I've been dreaming of doing this for many years now. I was thinking of starting in Pamplona as I've always wanted to visit that city, but I only have about 2 weeks total to make it to Santiago. Is this doable or is this crazy? I am a very athletic and physically fit 22 year-old female (I was a basketball player) and I have a fair amount of hiking experience; however, I have no idea what is the typical walking distance for an average day on the Camino. I know the exact distance will vary from person to person and day to day, but if I could just hear from a number of you what you found your typical daily distance to be and with how many hours per day of walking, that could really help me out. On paper, I would like to think that I could do 20-25 miles a day easily, but I realize that I really don't know anything about the Camino and that walking that far per day every day is a lot more easily said than done.
Thank you all so much for your help!
'my two pennies':
yes, hormone on a warpath often leave a path of lots of bruises, broken hearts/bones/spirits and many other ailments -- regardless the age. - and often it's not just the person generating that hormone war-path who is adversely affected.
i for one was grateful for each voice of caution/wisdom during those young days. even if not always heeded. but those voices surely alerted me /pointed to another way than bulldozing through life just because i could or because i felt like it.
and it's often other caring human who attend to people with ailments/bruises/blisters resulting from actions courtesy to "hormonal warpath actions".
saluti - buen camino - may your path be blessed.
I walked 54 km one day and to this day i know it ended my camino after walking for a week!Hello all!
I have just graduated from college in the US and want to walk the Camino as a last hurrah since I've been dreaming of doing this for many years now. I was thinking of starting in Pamplona as I've always wanted to visit that city, but I only have about 2 weeks total to make it to Santiago. Is this doable or is this crazy? I am a very athletic and physically fit 22 year-old female (I was a basketball player) and I have a fair amount of hiking experience; however, I have no idea what is the typical walking distance for an average day on the Camino. I know the exact distance will vary from person to person and day to day, but if I could just hear from a number of you what you found your typical daily distance to be and with how many hours per day of walking, that could really help me out. On paper, I would like to think that I could do 20-25 miles a day easily, but I realize that I really don't know anything about the Camino and that walking that far per day every day is a lot more easily said than done.
Thank you all so much for your help!
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