What do you do in between caminos?

[David with new Kit!]

I'm just wondering how everyone keeps themselves off the couch, in between caminos?

My wife and I completed the CF in October 2021 and apart from a few aches we were pretty happy with it, so we decided that we will do the Camino del Norte in September 2022.

We have been walking around 12kms a couple of times a week to "keep fit", and it was all going splendid until last Saturday when I decided to do a 20km walk.

OMG, did I ache the following day, reminding me I'm not quite "camino fit" yet. But its the same aches we all experience the morning following a long camino stage.

It was an early eye opener for me and I think I'll do more 20k days just to clear away the lethargy that was creeping in.

So, just wondering if its only me that regresses (fitness wise) after a camino, or is it normal to feel this way?

 

[good_old_shoes]

Do you carry your fully loaded backpacks when doing your training walks?

I find that really helps. Up- and downhill sections included when possible.

I try to do more hikes and less "going for a walk". 10km with a daypack in a park and all flat is nice to do but not the best training.

So I go for shorter walks often, but try to add the longer, full day, more challenging hikes whenever possible on days off work. The backpack goes with me even for the shorter, easier walks in the park.

It's strange to walk around with a 70l backpack in pilgrim clothes when everyone else around you is dressed nicely for their sunday walk I get funny looks all the time, but I don't care anymore.

I'm still always a bit sore on my first Camino days. I guess it's simply very difficult for most people to replicate 20-30km day after day in all kinds of terrain with the kind of training that is possible to do at home.

I think you're already doing great with several 12km walks per week!

 

[trecile]

With the exception of about a week when it was too smokey here to be outside, and a couple of days after my first Pfizer shot I have walked between between 5 and 12 km every day for the last two years, with a couple of longer walks thrown in occasionally. There have been days when I haven't wanted to, but I'm always happy that I did when I finished.
I want to be ready to walk a Camino at any moment.

 

[zzotte]

from a fitness stand, you should be doing 12km everyday, however if want to do 20km everyday on your Camino you should train with a 15lb pack 25km everyday, its just my opinion

 

[David with new Kit!]

Do you carry your fully loaded backpacks when doing your training walks?

I find that really helps. Up- and downhill sections included when possible.

I try to do more hikes and less "going for a walk". 10km with a daypack in a park and all flat is nice to do but not the best training.

So I go for shorter walks often, but try to add the longer, full day, more challenging hikes whenever possible on days off work. The backpack goes with me even for the shorter, easier walks in the park.

It's strange to walk around with a 70l backpack in pilgrim clothes when everyone else around you is dressed nicely for their sunday walk I get funny looks all the time, but I don't care anymore.

I'm still always a bit sore on my first Camino days. I guess it's simply very difficult for most people to replicate 20-30km day after day in all kinds of terrain with the kind of training that is possible to do at home.

I think you're already doing great with several 12km walks per week!

Thanks @good_old_shoes Yes, I do mean hike, not walk. Apologies for my sloppy description. At the moment I'm wearing my day rucksack when I go out, probably about half my normal camino weight. I wait until the week before flying out before I go up to full camino pack weight.

I don't mind the looks when I have my full pack on as I know why I do it

 

[David with new Kit!]

from a fitness stand, you should be doing 12km everyday, however if want to do 20km everyday on your Camino you should train with a 15lb pack 25km everyday, its just my opinion

I should probably mention that in addition to the walks, I also go to the gym three times a week for 60-70 mins of aerobic exercise (each visit)

 

[Jeff Robinson]

Thanks @good_old_shoes Yes, I do mean hike, not walk. Apologies for my sloppy description. At the moment I'm wearing my day rucksack when I go out, probably about half my normal camino weight. I wait until the week before flying out before I go up to full camino pack weight.

I don't mind the looks when I have my full pack on as I know why I do it

What is the logic for practicing with half your Camino weight?

 

[Phoenix]

It's strange to walk around with a 70l backpack in pilgrim clothes when everyone else around you is dressed nicely for their sunday walk I get funny looks all the time, but I don't care anymore.

I get the strange looks now (in an area where people exercise regularly), especially when it's cold and I have a Buff covering my face and a hoodie over my beanie along with carrying my pack. I get the feeling folks think I'm scouting for houses to rob.

When I lived in the deep South and was training for the first Camino during the winter, I was harassed by police following me and giving me the "I see you" hand gesture. Finally, I had a meeting with one of them to explain what I was doing.

I really don't care what folks think, but it does get old sometimes...

 

[Just 2K]

I regularly hike up mountains in CO (10k feet and above) with my ham radio. With winter gear and radio, the pack runs around 30 lbs. The hikes are shorter than a Camino day, but the heavy pack at altitude, and ascending/descending 2-3000' makes up for it.

 

[David with new Kit!]

What is the logic for practicing with half your Camino weight?

Hi @Jeff Robinson It worked for me when I trained to walk the CF last year, so I'm sticking to a working formula.

Carrying the full weight too soon is just going to knacker me, I'm not in my first flush of youth.

 

[Gerard Murdoch]

We should have walked the Camino last year. In the meantime we do weekly walks and last year walked the Whithorn Way from Glasgow to Whithorn in Scotland. www.walkthewhithornway.org I made up a little slide show (admin, please delete if not allowed) So, like most folk, we do what we can under difficult times.
This September will be returning to the Camino. Yahoooooo !
View attachment WWW Video 2.mp4

 

[Introibo]

Goodness me! There's some serious fitness programmes being suggested here!
I can't remember who it was who said this on here but it rings true.....
There's no need to walk to Santiago before you walk to Santiago

 

[alexwalker]

"What do you do in between caminos?"

Planning...

 

[trecile]

Goodness me! There's some serious fitness programmes being suggested here!
I can't remember who it was who said this on here but it rings true.....
There's no need to walk to Santiago before you walk to Santiago

Mine isn't a fitness program - really more of an obsession.
I'm afraid that if I take one day off it will be much easier to take two - then three, four...

 

[Sue127]

"What do you do in between caminos?"

Planning...

Planning, dreaming, waiting,,,,

 

[J Willhaus]

We think about next visit of course! Everything we buy or do reminds in some way of the Camino.
-Would these shoes, socks, pants, etc be good for the Camino?
-Would this recipe work for pilgrims on the Camino?
-Remember the day we walked xx km on the Camino? We have got to do more walking before the next one!

 

[Tincatinker]

"In between Caminos"? Hmm, manage the Tribe, deal with the taxman, sort out the garden, keep the car running and the roof waterproof. Plant a few trees. Plant a few bean, squash, roots & leaves. Pick up the litter left by those who are yet to become pilgrims. Watch the years go by (less scared than I used to be - age gives the privilege of no longer fearing acquiring it).

I'm not sure that I am ever "between" Caminos. It is all but a road. What do I do when I'm not walking in Spain? See above.

 

[C clearly]

from a fitness stand, you should be doing 12km everyday

I'm curious - what is this based on?

With the exception of about a week... I have walked between between 5 and 12 km every day for the last two years... There have been days when I haven't wanted to, but I'm always happy that I did when I finished.

I'm afraid that if I take one day off it will be much easier to take two - then three, four

I find it easier to have a weekly target of at least 50 km from Sunday to Saturday. I note my distances on a paper calendar. This gives me more flexibility, but still a clear expectation. Every single week in 2021 (even through the heat bomb and the deluge) I walked at least 50 km on outdoor walks. I am continuing that plan for 2022.

There's no need to walk to Santiago before you walk to Santiago

True, but... I am glad that I have been able to make my walking an activity that is not solely intended as training for the Camino. I view it as essential to my health in old age.

 

[lt56ny]

Goodness me! There's some serious fitness programmes being suggested here!
I can't remember who it was who said this on here but it rings true.....
There's no need to walk to Santiago before you walk to Santiago

That may be true but if you keep walking between caminos when you get to that ripe old age when you have time to walk when you want and where you want you sure will have the ability to walk alot of caminos.

I find it easier to have a weekly target of at least 50 km from Sunday to Saturday. I note my distances on a paper calendar. This gives me more flexibility, but still a clear expectation. Every single week in 2021 (even through the heat bomb and the deluge) I walked at least 50 km on outdoor walks. I am continuing that plan for 2022.


True, but... I am glad that I have been able to make my walking an activity that is not solely intended as training for the Camino. I view it as essential to my health in old age.

You got that right my moderator friend.

 

[trecile]

True, but... I am glad that I have been able to make my walking an activity that is not solely intended as training for the Camino. I view it as essential to my health in old age.

This is one of the many reasons why I walk

 

[Chris Gi]

We should have walked the Camino last year. In the meantime we do weekly walks and last year walked the Whithorn Way from Glasgow to Whithorn in Scotland. www.walkthewhithornway.org I made up a little slide show (admin, please delete if not allowed) So, like most folk, we do what we can under difficult times.
This September will be returning to the Camino. Yahoooooo !
View attachment 118522

Love your video

 

[walkinglover]

I'm just wondering how everyone keeps themselves off the couch, in between caminos?

My wife and I completed the CF in October 2021 and apart from a few aches we were pretty happy with it, so we decided that we will do the Camino del Norte in September 2022.

We have been walking around 12kms a couple of times a week to "keep fit", and it was all going splendid until last Saturday when I decided to do a 20km walk.

OMG, did I ache the following day, reminding me I'm not quite "camino fit" yet. But its the same aches we all experience the morning following a long camino stage.

It was an early eye opener for me and I think I'll do more 20k days just to clear away the lethargy that was creeping in.

So, just wondering if its only me that regresses (fitness wise) after a camino, or is it normal to feel this way?

I continue to walk a lot and/or run. A 6 mile walk does wonders for me.

 

[mattythedog]

I'm just wondering how everyone keeps themselves off the couch, in between caminos?

My wife and I completed the CF in October 2021 and apart from a few aches we were pretty happy with it, so we decided that we will do the Camino del Norte in September 2022.

We have been walking around 12kms a couple of times a week to "keep fit", and it was all going splendid until last Saturday when I decided to do a 20km walk.

OMG, did I ache the following day, reminding me I'm not quite "camino fit" yet. But its the same aches we all experience the morning following a long camino stage.

It was an early eye opener for me and I think I'll do more 20k days just to clear away the lethargy that was creeping in.

So, just wondering if its only me that regresses (fitness wise) after a camino, or is it normal to feel this way?

You asked, so here is what I do: Even before I started biking/walking Camino's in 2016, I pretty much did an hour in the gym 5 days per week. Concurrently 6 days per week I mix up walking 3-10 miles, cycling 20-40 miles, elliptical 30-90 minutes. It helps to have like minded friends to pressure you on days when you are feeling lazy. I often borrow someone's dog to take on the hikes.

Now and in addition to the above, I am in 3 different Camino chapters and do periodic group hikes. This pretty much keeps me always ready for a Camino or any other endurance activity. About 2 months prior to Camino walk, I do my hikes with 30-50 pounds of gear using trekking poles. Therefore, I only need to do 2- 10 mile hikes rather than those 20 milers which take a big chunk of time. Gym workout increases a bit to 6 days a week. Cycling distances increase. I walk barefoot at home as environment/etiquette allows.

My Camino pack weight is 12.5 pounds, and that includes enough food and water for a day. At 61 and this level of training, I walk the Caminos injury and blister free 20-30 miles per day while stopping for coffee, snacks or conversation every hour or two, thoroughly enjoying each day. I don't need rest days, but can stay in town an extra day, make side trips or sight-see whenever I feel like it stress-free.

When I start to slide into that lethargy you wrote about, I think ahead to my next Camino and how nice it will be if I stay in shape.

 

[OTH86]

Hmm, I'm never "between Caminos".

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I keep fit by walking the dogs every morning, a good 10 km. I don't wear a backpack or really even measure the distances. And when I hit the trail, I'm fine. Or I have been up til now!

 

[WalkingJane]

At 88 now and with cardiac issues, I'm afraid it's unrealistic to think I could be "between" Caminos. I do walk every day, living across the street from a lovely park, and near a grocery store and drugstore. So my Camino experience is reading this Forum and feeling so grateful to all of you who are still at it, and sharing your experiences. Thanks! And Buen Camino!

 

[zzotte]

I'm curious - what is this based on?

well, if you only doing 12k three times a week, and you are planning to walk every day in the Camino, would be logical to train your legs everyday and I mean walking asides from any other form of exercise just my two cents

I find it easier to have a weekly target of at least 50 km from Sunday to Saturday. I note my distances on a paper calendar. This gives me more flexibility, but still a clear expectation. Every single week in 2021 (even through the heat bomb and the deluge) I walked at least 50 km on outdoor walks. I am continuing that plan for 2022.


True, but... I am glad that I have been able to make my walking an activity that is not solely intended as training for the Camino. I view it as essential to my health in old age.

 

[zzotte]

I should probably mention that in addition to the walks, I also go to the gym three times a week for 60-70 mins of aerobic exercise (each visit)

Just icing on the cake