(S)Training

[Gary May]

This week I have finally been able to get some proper training started for my Camino Fances
Following a knee ligament injury about 4 months ago and 3 months of physio.....I stepped up my gym regime by introducing some leg work to strengthen the muscles. My biggest concern would be to get out on the path and fail due to injury.
Last night I filled my backpack (with a giant bag of protein powder to simulate the weight)...put on my walking clothes that I will be wearing and set off on a weighted training walk. Happily managed 8km and returned with no knee issues
I've been advised that any slight injuries will come back 10 fold on the camino!
7 weeks to go and I am aiming to make daily short hikes of around 10km and push it up to 30+km on weekends.
I found my new Merrel Moabs to be lighter and more breathable coupled with the 1000 mile double liner socks, compared to the Scarpa Leather boots and Darn Tough sock combo I have previously worn.
I was also chafe free with the new sports boxers
My craghoppers cotton shirt got extremely sweaty on the back (where my pack was) I'm still debating if I should wear this or a tech t-shirt.
Any advice / experience on the above is as always gratefully received.

 

[SYates]

Seems you are off to a good start, the only advice I can give you is to check your Camino training regime from time to time with your physiotherapist. Buen Camino, SY

 

[Gary May]

I'm going to attempt returning to my local ParkRun at the weekend....but go for a light jog. My fitness has dropped rapidly and the stamina needs some increasing!

 

[Kieran Kenneally]

Hi Gary,
You seem to be doing the sensible thing in building yourself up slowly I think taking it handy is the key. As for the tee shirt cotton is not ideal due to holding moisture close to the skin causing ire and chaffing. Have a good one

 

[Rick M]

As Kieran points out above, cotton is last choice of material for shirts/pants/jackets/socks. Takes forever to dry. If you have never tried merino wool before, now is the time to discover these types of shirts. Otherwise, the "tech" type polyester material is preferred. Have nothing made of cotton in your possession (except the boxers!) when you set out on the Camino.

Good luck with the rehab, and Buen Camino!

 

[scruffy1]

I have not suffered any significant injuries for some time now, selling my motorbike helped on that I suppose. My ankles, knees, upper limbs, and lower back have however seen 55+ years of abuse are a worry for years now, my age perhaps doesn't help mucheither. I have found that training hikes combined with water calisthenics, running -jumping -skips and hops, leg and arm weights etc, under supervision in the neighborhood swimming pool (no impact strain on those bits recovering combined with greater exertion over a shorter time span) do wonders for me. The only tenfolds I have experienced on the Camino have been those of pure enjoyment!

 

[jgpryde]

Gary,
I prepared for my first Camino much the same as you are and it has served me well I think (4 weeks out of SJPdP).
The only thing I would advise is to make sure you include some strenuous uphill and off-road walking.
These two things really slowed me down and made my journey less pleasant.

Buen Camino,

-jgp

 

[C clearly]

Just a couple of comments...

My biggest concern would be to get out on the path and fail due to injury.

I suggest that a bigger concern should be that you might injure yourself before even getting to Spain, and thus fail to have any experience of the Camino.

push it up to 30+km on weekends.

It is not necessary to walk 30+ km on the Camino Frances, so I think this is risky since you are rehabilitating from an injury. I have never walked 30+ km in training, and rarely do it on the Camino. If you get to that point, great, but it seems like an over-ambitious target. Also, how much does that giant bag of protein power weigh? Walking in the summer, you wouldn't need more than 6 kg of stuff.

 

[Gary May]

Thanks for all the responses! The run went well and thought I "took it easy" I was only 2min away from my PB!!! I also went on a nice 22km hike yesterday through a mixture of paths / roads / fields with some fairly steep uphill climbs. The beauty of living in Shropshire!
I did however get chased by a couple of herds of cows.....hopefully something that wont happen on the camino

 

[C clearly]

I did however get chased by a couple of herds of cows..... hopefully something that wont happen on the camino

Ha! Don't count on that!