New Book on how to prepare for a Camino

[happymarkos]

Recent publication to help people who are just starting out or who have had problems in the past.



Available from on-line retailers as a paperback or ebook and as a paperback from the Confraternity of St James in London, UK..csj.org.uk

 

[lt56ny]

For those that don’t want or can’t afford to spend money there is
lots of great advice here as well as videos on YouTube to help answer questions and calm your worries a little before you go. The best answers that you can get about walking only really are answered once you walk.
But not having read this book maybe it will be great for lots of future pilgrims.

 

[Kathar1na]

@happymarkos, the market for readers and viewers is brimming with books and videos about all things pre-, post- and during Caminos. Still, I wish you success with this endeavour.

I remember that you once mentioned that you were a volunteer in the pilgrims office in SJPP and I see on the book's page on Amazon that you've walked 6000 km on Caminos and that your concern are in particular those who are, blinded by enthusiasm and poorly prepared, likely to fail in just the first few days because they were fooled into thinking it was going to be easy simply just because so many people have done it in the past. They rarely if ever post here on the forum but I know that they exist ... I could even name one or the other ... ¡Suerte!

 

[happymarkos]

For those that don’t want or can’t afford to spend money there is
lots of great advice here as well as videos on YouTube to help answer questions and calm your worries a little before you go. The best answers that you can get about walking only really are answered once you walk.
But not having read this book maybe it will be great for lots of future pilgrims.

Thank you for taking the time to comment, unfortunately my experience is that many are limping within a few weeks and around 50% who start in SJPDP are injured by Burgos. Others have shared similar observations about the drop-out rate.

I agree there is lots of information readily available however many, many haven't read it, or if they have, haven't allowed for the stress on the body through walking day after day for weeks. We have bandaged and treated many people with feet problems.

I am especially proud of the chapter "Walking as a System", peer reviewed by a Sports medical expert. If you have the opportunity to read it perhaps you could let me have your further comments. The e-book costs around $4.99 and is free with kindle unlimited.

BTW publishing a little book like mine never makes money, it costs more to produce and to be listed on Amazon on the first few search pages than it will ever recoup with small royalties. I am currently down over $450 and it could take 10 years or more to break even given.

My sole goal is to try and reach people and raise awareness; it includes links to Ivar's site and lots of free apps.

 

[happymarkos]

@happymarkos, the market for readers and viewers is brimming with books and videos about all things pre-, post- and during Caminos. Still, I wish you success with this endeavour.

I remember that you once mentioned that you were a volunteer in the pilgrims office in SJPP and I see on the book's page on Amazon that you've walked 6000 km on Caminos and that your concern are in particular those who are, blinded by enthusiasm and poorly prepared, likely to fail in just the first few days because they were fooled into thinking it was going to be easy simply just because so many people have done it in the past. They rarely if ever post here on the forum but I know that they exist ... I could even name one or the other ... ¡Suerte!

Hi Kathar1na:
thank you for your comments, if you can suggest ways to get more of the message out about the importance of being well prepared please do so.

I know John Brierley was very happy to supply his latest map of the caminos in France, Spain and Portugal for me to include in my book; he told me he will help anyone trying to reach people interested in the camino so they will be as well informed as possible.
Stay safe.
Buen Camino
Mark

 

[lt56ny]

Thank you for taking the time to comment, unfortunately my experience is that many are limping within a few weeks and around 50% who start in SJPDP are injured by Burgos. Others have shared similar observations about the drop-out rate.

I agree there is lots of information readily available however many, many haven't read it, or if they have, haven't allowed for the stress on the body through walking day after day for weeks. We have bandaged and treated many people with feet problems.

I am especially proud of the chapter "Walking as a System", peer reviewed by a Sports medical expert. If you have the opportunity to read it perhaps you could let me have your further comments. The e-book costs around $4.99 and is free with kindle unlimited.

BTW publishing a little book like mine never makes money, it costs more to produce and to be listed on Amazon on the first few search pages than it will ever recoup with small royalties. I am currently down over $450 and it could take 10 years or more to break even given.

My sole goal is to try and reach people and raise awareness; it includes links to Ivar's site and lots of free apps.

I appreciate what you wrote ans i am sure you have wonderful advice and can help properly educate the new pilgrim to help prevent “ preventable” issues and ailments before they become a problem. Having help I. One place is handy. I just wanted to let people know there are options. Nothing more and good luck.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

While the forum has the information you need the preparation books make a great gift to give to someone you know that is interested in walking a camino.

 

[geraldkelly]

Good luck with your book Mark. I published a similar one about ten years ago. Still going strong with yearly updates but selling far fewer copies now than a few years ago. I think it's because of the quantity of advice available for free online (some of it very good, some of it not so good).

Gerald

 

[SabineP]

Good luck to the OP but I believe that the " ultimate " book on prepping for a Camino is written by forummember @SYates.

Amazon.com: Pilgrim Tips & Packing List Camino de Santiago: What you need to know beforehand, what you need to take, and what you can leave at home. eBook: Yates, S., Hnatiuk, Daphne: Kindle Store

Buy Pilgrim Tips & Packing List Camino de Santiago: What you need to know beforehand, what you need to take, and what you can leave at home.: Read Kindle Store Reviews - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

 

[happymarkos]

Good luck to the OP but I believe that the " ultimate " book on prepping for a Camino is written by forummember @SYates.

Amazon.com: Pilgrim Tips & Packing List Camino de Santiago: What you need to know beforehand, what you need to take, and what you can leave at home. eBook: Yates, S., Hnatiuk, Daphne: Kindle Store

Buy Pilgrim Tips & Packing List Camino de Santiago: What you need to know beforehand, what you need to take, and what you can leave at home.: Read Kindle Store Reviews - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

Yes I like her book also. I sought to take a different approach and explored several area in more detail, particularly the importance of being well hydrated and the physiology behind it, and role played by fascia. There is a chapter on “ walking as a system “ that helps to explain the interconnection between tendons, muscles fascia and our skeleton. I haven’t seen this elsewhere, perhaps I missed this in other books.

 

[happymarkos]

Good luck with your book Mark. I published a similar one about ten years ago. Still going strong with yearly updates but selling far fewer copies now than a few years ago. I think it's because of the quantity of advice available for free online (some of it very good, some of it not so good).

Gerald

Thank you Gerald
Appreciate your comments. It’s interesting that despite all the publications and free advice a large percentage of people embarking on their first long Camino still are not adequately prepared and suffer unnecessarily.
We can only try to get the messages out.

Stay safe and thank you for all your efforts, particularly with the VDLP
Mark