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jeff001 said:I personally think that the need to train for a long period prior to starting is greatly overrated. It may, if fact, do more harm than good since you will putting a lot of "wear" on your joints. I found on my two caminos that by starting slowly for the first few days I worked myself into condition. The important thing is to be sure that your footwear is comfortable and that your pack fits properly.
sagalouts said:Hi silvia
great post, "how to train for the camino" well to start you are on the right site,read the posts,read as many blogs as you can, learn from their mistakes, make your own choices.with a year to go before our own camino the walking and training has become a way of life,I have a problem with new things, the strange food i will be eating,sharing bed space with strangers,interacting with people that don't share my views,
to my mind the walking is a minor thing you just put one foot in front of the other,how can you train for all the other more meaningful things that hopefully the camino brings to you and me in time, I suppose you just relax and open your mind and enjoy the experience.
Ian and rosie
http://sagalouts-theroadtonowhere.blogspot.com
notion900 said:Don't feel lost. I have read a lot of posts on these boards from people who seem genuinely terrified of the Camino! You don't need to train like a demon, but you do need to be sure that you can carry the weight of pack you will be taking, so do a few practice walks with your 'real' pack on with ALL the stuff in that you intend to take. Suddenly that 'very important' gadget or item will seem a whole lot less necessary! I did this twice before I got my pack weight down to what was right for me. You will be walking between 12 and 25 km a day so you need to be sure that you can walk about 20km without being half dead, with your pack on. Other than that I would just chill out. If you want to start at St Jean don't be put off, just use the refuge near the top of the mountain so you don't have to go over in one go.
Please know that although some people seem to imagine it as some appalling ordeal, the camino is a very health-giving thing - if you do simple things like healthy food, plenty of water, moisturise your feet and get plenty of sleep. Being out in nature for 5 weeks is just so life-giving: I finished the camino absolutely glowing with health and vitality. I hope you have a wonderful time.
notion900 said:Please know that although some people seem to imagine it as some appalling ordeal, the camino is a very health-giving thing - if you do simple things like healthy food, plenty of water, moisturise your feet and get plenty of sleep. Being out in nature for 5 weeks is just so life-giving: I finished the camino absolutely glowing with health and vitality. I hope you have a wonderful time.
KiwiNomad06 said:notion900 said:Please know that although some people seem to imagine it as some appalling ordeal, the camino is a very health-giving thing - if you do simple things like healthy food, plenty of water, moisturise your feet and get plenty of sleep. Being out in nature for 5 weeks is just so life-giving: I finished the camino absolutely glowing with health and vitality. I hope you have a wonderful time.
notion........ I think you have put this so well!!!!! I am going to put this quote on the sidebar of my blog if that is OK?
Margaret
sillydoll said:Timo - I have two mantras to share with you:
Here begins the Journey
Now begins the Day.
With one step upon the Road
My soul is on its Way.
© JS Selfe
“When you walk across the fields with your mind pure, then from all the stones and all growing things, and all animals, the sparks of their soul come out and cling to you and become a holy fire in you”.
Ancient Hasidic Saying:
Almost everywhere, particularly farmacias. Look for the green cross in Leon that identifies the pharmacy. Supermercados and tiendas often have it as well. They have a dozen shapes to choose from, for different places on your foot. The basic one is oval.Compeed.
Can it be purchased along the way?
Callouses are a mixed blessing. A little bit of skin hardening is good, but callouses can cause blisters. When a thick callous moves as a unit, it can cause a blister under the callous. I have a spot on a big toe that gets sore, and I finally discovered that a hidden blister under a callous was the source of the pain. Softening the callous in the evening can help; removing it also is good, but one needs to identify why the callous formed in the first place -- shoe fit, pressure point, bone spur, Plantar's wart, etc. -- and treat for it as well. Petrolatum has worked for me. It lubricates while softening.Even worse than the blisters though is when they callous and crack
I did that to the bridge at Portomarin, and now have an ankle boot for a month (edema of the tarsus)! The lesson: don't do anything unusual, ever; and act your age (meaning, know your limits)!how to hike down hill...dance down it
falcon269 said:I did that to the bridge at Portomarin, and now have an ankle boot for a month (edema of the tarsus)! The lesson: don't do anything unusual, ever; and act your age (meaning, know your limits)!how to hike down hill...dance down it
That was my usual practice. I should have stayed with it! Instead, I did a full forward foot roll, like the kids I was following. Four hundred meters later, I had done more damage than on the first 600 kilometers! Stick with what you know! There is a reason your body has decided on its mechanics.little steps in a zig-zag motion and ensuring you don't go too fast
I don't see what would prevent blisters. Talc, petrolatum, and silicone are lubricants, and repel moisture. Aloe vera actually is a moiturizer. There are a lot of personal preferences, but in accepting advice, keep science in mind as well. :wink:Active Ingredients: Allantoin (Comfrey Root) (Skin Protectant)
Inactive Ingredients: Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Extract, C18 36 Acid Triglyceride, Capric/Caprylic Stearic Triglyceride, Tribehenin, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E)
falcon269 said:BodyGlide (Glide from REI?)I don't see what would prevent blisters. Talc, petrolatum, and silicone are lubricants, and repel moisture. Aloe vera actually is a moiturizer. There are a lot of personal preferences, but in accepting advice, keep science in mind as well. :wink:Active Ingredients: Allantoin (Comfrey Root) (Skin Protectant)
Inactive Ingredients: Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Extract, C18 36 Acid Triglyceride, Capric/Caprylic Stearic Triglyceride, Tribehenin, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E)
It is not really there as a lubricant, particularly as part of the inactive ingredients. Comfrey root is the manufacturer's key ingredient.Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride is found in...
Eye Shadow (38)
Moisturizer (17)
Facial Moisturizer/Treatment (4)
Eye Cream & Treatment (2)
Anti-Aging (2)
Other Eye Makeup (1)
Shaving Cream (Men's) (1)
Skin Care Kits (1)
Sunless Tanning (1)
Sunscreen SPF 15 and Above (1)
Ingredients:
SOYBEAN OIL, FULLY HYDROGENATED PALM OIL, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED PALM AND SOYBEAN OILS, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, TBHQ AND CITRIC ACID (ANTIOXIDANTS).
The choice would seem to be a minor ingredient in a placebo, or the real thing in the form of hydrogenated vegetable oil or non-vegetable petrolatum. I don't make a profit on any of them, so I have no personal interest in a particular product. I just think more information is better information, and I try to provide it without being snarky.Vaseline® Petroleum Jelly is a mixture of mineral oils, paraffin and microcrystalline waxes that, when blended together, create something remarkable - a smooth jelly that has a melting point just above body temperature. The result - it literally melts into skin, flowing into the spaces between cells and the gaps in our lipid barrier. Once there, it re-solidifies, locking itself in place.
Vaseline® Petroleum Jelly serves two functions: First it helps keep the outside world out - it protects skin from the effects of weather and exposure. Second, it acts like a sealant to help keep the inside world in - it forms an occlusive barrier to the natural water loss of our skin. So skin that is dry and chapped is protected from drying elements, enabling skin-softening moisture to build up naturally from inside the skin itself.
3.1.1 Types of Lubricants
Here is a partial list of some of the options
Hydropel helps prevent the skin absorbing moisture and is particularly useful in wet conditions. It does lubricate slightly, but its water repelling powers are its prime attraction.
SportsShield is similar to Hydropel, both being based on a silicone lubricant (dimethicone). SportsShield is available as a roll on and towelette, whereas Hydropel is dispensed from a toothpaste like tube. SportsShield goes on much easier than Hydropel and results in less friction, but less water repelling as well.
Vaseline is cheap and can be used in large quantities. This can provide good lubrication, but tends to keep the skin quite moist. It also makes it harder to attach tape if this is required later.
Aquaphor is quite similar to Vaseline. Though it has different ingredients, I have not found a significant practical difference as a foot lubricant.
Bodyglide is one of the original products purposefully marketed as a sports lubricant. While effective, it does not seem to last very well, nor does it reduce the friction as much as other products.
Thank you for the encouraging words! The amount of info on here can become overwhelming. Thank you for bringing back the simplicity of the Camino. I was blessed to walk for 4 days last fall (a very last minute opportunity) and look forward to returning next fall to finish. Buen Camino.notion900 said:Don't feel lost. I have read a lot of posts on these boards from people who seem genuinely terrified of the Camino! You don't need to train like a demon, but you do need to be sure that you can carry the weight of pack you will be taking, so do a few practice walks with your 'real' pack on with ALL the stuff in that you intend to take. Suddenly that 'very important' gadget or item will seem a whole lot less necessary! I did this twice before I got my pack weight down to what was right for me. You will be walking between 12 and 25 km a day so you need to be sure that you can walk about 20km without being half dead, with your pack on. Other than that I would just chill out. If you want to start at St Jean don't be put off, just use the refuge near the top of the mountain so you don't have to go over in one go.
Please know that although some people seem to imagine it as some appalling ordeal, the camino is a very health-giving thing - if you do simple things like healthy food, plenty of water, moisturise your feet and get plenty of sleep. Being out in nature for 5 weeks is just so life-giving: I finished the camino absolutely glowing with health and vitality. I hope you have a wonderful time.
sillydoll said:Timo - I have two mantras to share with you:
Here begins the Journey
Now begins the Day.
With one step upon the Road
My soul is on its Way.
© JS Selfe
“When you walk across the fields with your mind pure, then from all the stones and all growing things, and all animals, the sparks of their soul come out and cling to you and become a holy fire in you”.
Ancient Hasidic Saying:
Buen camino peregrina!
Compeed really didn't work for me. I developed a hotspot on the ball of one foot, stopped and bought some Compeed and stuck it on there. By the next day, I had a major blister the exact size and shape of the Compeed. It wasn't until I stopped using Compeed and simply applied cotton held on with tape that the things finally started to heal ...falcon269 said:Training and blisters are not related (except for finding "hot spots" caused by your boots during training walks). Following is the fool-proof way to avoid blisters:
Work in your boots for several hundred kilometers before heading for a long walk. When buying boots, wear the sock combination detailed below in order to get a proper fit. Do not be surprised if the size you buy is different from your normal shoes, perhaps a 1/2 size larger and a step wider (I wear narrow A or B width shoes, but buy a D boot to accommodate socks and an anti-pronating inner sole).
Use a silicone-type lubricant on clean feet each morning (Sportslick and Hydropel are two brands available in the U.S.; Amazon.com carries Sportslick). It waterproofs your skin. Moisture is the primary cause of blisters.
Wear a polypropylene inner sock to wick away moisture. DO NOT USE COTTON SOCKS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Wear a wool or wool-blend outer sock (Thorlo). I use medium weight socks, but you may like heavy or light weight. Pick the one that does not make your boots too tight. Much of the friction inside your boot will be absorbed between the polypro liner and the wool sock. In effect, the polypro adheres to your foot and its lubricant, and the wool sock adheres to your boot.
Carry some Compeed. Compeed on the shelf of a nearby farmacia will not help you when you really need it! If you detect a "hot spot" on your foot, stop IMMEDIATELY. Do not wait for the mentally-scheduled break on the hour. Do not let walking companions deter you. Their desire to get to that first cafe con leche could end up ruining your five week Camino as you limp along with a growing blister. Eventually your other foot and leg will develop problems as you change your gait to compensate for the blister. While everyone else is having fun doing eating, drinking, and doing laundry, you will be tending your blister. Honestly, your friends are NOT worth it! You can always find new friends, but the blister-to-be is your private-enemy-number-one and needs you now.
Thoroughly clean the hot area with isopropyl alcohol so that the Compeed will adhere. Warm the Compeed in your armpit for a minute, then apply it over the hot spot. Do not remove it until it falls off of its own volition. It will rip a hole in new skin even better than it prevents a blister!
A minor cautionary note: The silicone lubricant can make your bare feet very slippery on some surfaces, so tread carefully to and in the shower.
If you follow ALL the steps, I guarantee that you will never have a blister. Skip one, and all promises are off.
Other things that help promote foot comfort are removing your boots and socks each hour to let them dry a bit (a Japanese fellow pilgrim squeezed lemon juice onto his feet at each stop to dry them!); changing socks midday; and putting on dry socks after the rain stops (though I have hiked for several days in wet/damp socks and been protected by the silicone).
Last time I used Sportslick and was very satisfied with that. I didn't get any blisters in 34 days of walking. Sure the socks get a little bit messy, but since you wash the socks every day I don't think it matter so much. Hate to change a winning concept.falcon269 said:My personal choice: http://www.sportslick.com/
I used http://www.2toms.com/products-page/spor ... ld-roll-on this October, and it kept my socks much cleaner than the SportSlick. Other users have found the powder very messy to use, but the roll-on was great for feet and inner thighs.
From a runners' website:3.1.1 Types of Lubricants
Here is a partial list of some of the options
Hydropel helps prevent the skin absorbing moisture and is particularly useful in wet conditions. It does lubricate slightly, but its water repelling powers are its prime attraction.
SportsShield is similar to Hydropel, both being based on a silicone lubricant (dimethicone). SportsShield is available as a roll on and towelette, whereas Hydropel is dispensed from a toothpaste like tube. SportsShield goes on much easier than Hydropel and results in less friction, but less water repelling as well.
Vaseline is cheap and can be used in large quantities. This can provide good lubrication, but tends to keep the skin quite moist. It also makes it harder to attach tape if this is required later.
Aquaphor is quite similar to Vaseline. Though it has different ingredients, I have not found a significant practical difference as a foot lubricant.
Bodyglide is one of the original products purposefully marketed as a sports lubricant. While effective, it does not seem to last very well, nor does it reduce the friction as much as other products.
This doesn't really help those that feel that they should be starting to prepare themselves before they get to the place they intend to join the Camino. Lets face it, many of us have sedentary lifestyles and will face a combination of low muscle strength, poor aerobic fitness, excess weight and poor flexibility. It is entirely legitimate to expect better advice than this 'just do it' approach. For those who do, there is far more constructive advice in the earlier posts.Green Tortuga said:The very best training, the stuff that will work out exactly the muscles you need, get your feet and ankles strong and whip you into shape faster than anything else.... doing the Camino! =)
Luka said:I get the feeling that some people exaggerate their preparation. Starting training one year in advance? Why? Apart from the reason that you like hiking and do it for fun. It depends of course on your basic condition, but I think that starting training 3 months in advance should be enough.
I walk one day a week or one day every two weeks. I start with somewhere between 10 and 15 kms and build up a few kms every time until 25 or so. I also include one or two hikes of at least two days, to get used to my pack and carrying the extra weight. Until now this has always been enough. The spirit of the camino gave me the extra mile when needed!
dougfitz said:It is entirely legitimate to expect better advice than this 'just do it' approach. For those who do, there is far more constructive advice in the earlier posts.
jeff001 said:I personally think that the need to train for a long period prior to starting is greatly overrated. It may, if fact, do more harm than good since you will putting a lot of "wear" on your joints. I found on my two caminos that by starting slowly for the first few days I worked myself into condition. The important thing is to be sure that your footwear is comfortable and that your pack fits properly.
Canuck said:Luka said:I get the feeling that some people exaggerate their preparation. Starting training one year in advance? Why? Apart from the reason that you like hiking and do it for fun. It depends of course on your basic condition, but I think that starting training 3 months in advance should be enough.
I walk one day a week or one day every two weeks. I start with somewhere between 10 and 15 kms and build up a few kms every time until 25 or so. I also include one or two hikes of at least two days, to get used to my pack and carrying the extra weight. Until now this has always been enough. The spirit of the camino gave me the extra mile when needed!
Ah! those ''salad days''...innocence of youth.
Luka, wait your turn will come.
True, it does help. I did the same thing and walked at least 8 or 9 km before stopping for the first time. The last time I stopped was usually an hour before my arrival to drink à non-diet Coke; that cold sugar and cafeine boost will put a spring in your step for those last 5-6 km.NoorvanderVeen said:A little off-topic but somehow related:
... We always divided our day in three or four walking parts. One before coffee, after coffee, after lunch and after fresh-beverage-break. Anyway, we found out that if you make sure you postpone "coffeebreak" a little longer (instead of after ±5 kms after let's say 10 or 12), in your head you're still on your morning walk while you actually are at 1/3 of the walk. Worked for me.
Saint Mike II said:the coffee rest stops are very few and far between.
Packinglight said:I'm doing a 5-day walk next month.
Hola Packinglight - would you please advise the name of the tracking app you are using, or is the "Map My Walk" mentioned below. ThanksI'm not walking until summer 2014, but I'm already training!
I got a nice app on my smartphone which uses GPS to track my route/speed then sends me weekly and monthly summaries. It's very motivating for me.
I'm in my 40s, very overweight but fit for my weight, if that makes sense. Last month I walked about 110 kms, month before over 150. This includes walks to and from work, and extras where I can. July I've hardly walked at all but I'm doing home renos and tennis 4X / week.
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