Physical training for the Primitivo

[Elvis]

Completed the Frances in early May. Considering/planning to do Primitivo in Mid Sept.22 How should I prepare for this hike as it is more physically demanding than the Frances. Please be good enough to share/advise me with your knowledge. Thank you.

 

[LavanyaLea]

I too, am looking forward to hear comments from people who have done both and can compare the difference… also thinking of Primitivo in Sep 2022 but not definite.

For the moment, I just plan to exercise/improve overall fitness as much as possible. Compared to pre pandemic, I now weigh an extra 10kg and exercise tolerance (measured as VO2max on my watch) is nowhere near what it was pre pandemic, having suffered from covid recently. To me that would include outdoor running (quite hilly where I live but also with a beach, which is like resistance training for my hamstrings), hiking, kayaking, plus some focused weight training when I remember or when outdoors is too cold/wet/windy (I live in the UK).

Also I do my camino with my fur baby Fuji, and that is an extra 4-5kg weight (food, first aid, boots, extra water for the dog). For the Primitivo I would look at restocking the food at around halfway or when coming across bigger towns, but I haven’t researched into that (only got home a few hours ago from our Camino!).

 

[Grahammac]

Hi. The big difference to other walking is that you walk day after day, and this is when blisters and shin splints kick in. You need to get the miles done, so 20kms+ 9n 4 consecutive days, including some steep climbing, is my single advice.

 

[mazzarina]

Love the Primitivo. Just do some hills to get your legs in, and listen to your body when you're out there. It's varied and undulating, but very doable.
Alternative training is to get someone to chuck buckets of ice water sideways at you..
but hopefully you'll get better weather over the top than we did

 

[Dilbin]

I have yet to walk the Primitivo but have walked Del Notre and also done 4 weeks of the Portuguese. Coimbra to Valenca in 21 and Porto to Santiago in May 22. My only training is to walk 4kms daily for a month before each trip. I'm 53yrs of age and unfortunately a smoker. My buddy is 25 from Lisbon and had walked San Salvador and then Primitivo in 3 weeks without much training at all. Depends on the person I guess. My wife plays tennis, walks, eats healthy and doesn't smoke but finds any uphill very difficult. The only suggestion I can give is to prepare for the downhill walking as my knees got very sore( one time) on Del norte. I too would love advice on training but more around the downhill stuff as I will walk San Salvador in August. Daniel

 

[gittiharre]

Completed the Frances in early May. Considering/planning to do Primitivo in Mid Sept.22 How should I prepare for this hike as it is more physically demanding than the Frances. Please be good enough to share/advise me with your knowledge. Thank you.

I am currently in Lugo, taking a rest day tomorrow.
I am 67, this is my 20th camino, first time on Primitivo. My fitness level is average and I am a tad overweight. Yes it is definitely harder than most caminos, I have walked with the exception of the Via Jacobi and the Via Gebennensis.
I advise taking 15 to 16 days to Santiago with a rest day in Lugo, which is a beautiful town. There are several somewhat demanding stages in a row. It gets easier after O Cadavo. Overall it is doable and absolutely wonderful.
I had booked a few weeks ahead and was glad, as there are a few accommodation bottlenecks and there was a festival in Lugo, so people who had not booked had to taxi off route or walk a lot further.
I walked the Portuguese coastal/Spiritual immediately before, that was my warm up.
I developed problems with my lower back during the Portuguese, so ended up using Correos Pack Transport every day. Worked like a charm ( 82 Euros Oviedo to Santiago) and I think I would have struggled on the long somewhat challenging stages without it.

 

[LavanyaLea]

Alternative training is to get someone to chuck buckets of ice water sideways at you..

No need for that in the UK/Wales…. Simply need to stand and walk outside this will happen 80% of the time the Spanish word for Wales is Gales…

 

[wanderlustesq]

Completed the Frances in early May. Considering/planning to do Primitivo in Mid Sept.22 How should I prepare for this hike as it is more physically demanding than the Frances. Please be good enough to share/advise me with your knowledge. Thank you.

Whatever you do, do more. It is hard. Period. But it is doable. Long hilly walks, practice with trekking poles and a full pack, do lots of leg works outs And then do even more.

 

[jimmyc]

I have walked both. I was 79 when I walked the Primitivo and it was much harder than the CF. However if you are fit and not carrying an injury you should not find it too difficult. Start of with shorter days and gradually increase the distances as you proceed along the way.

 

[Keikochan]

I am starting Primitivo for the first time on Aug.19 and the advices of many experienced walkers are very helpful. I'm fit for my over-70 age with some minor discomforts, but these 2.5 years' confinement reduced my energy and muscles. So I'm trying to keep the distance for a day under 20KM but there are 4~5 days I have to walk more than that to get to an albergue. I'd appreciate it very much if GITTIHARRE (or others, of course) warns me where the possible accommodation bottlenecks are, so that I can re-plan my dairy walks.
Thanks

 

[wanderlustesq]

I am starting Primitivo for the first time on Aug.19 and the advices of many experienced walkers are very helpful. I'm fit for my over-70 age with some minor discomforts, but these 2.5 years' confinement reduced my energy and muscles. So I'm trying to keep the distance for a day under 20KM but there are 4~5 days I have to walk more than that to get to an albergue. I'd appreciate it very much if GITTIHARRE (or others, of course) warns me where the possible accommodation bottlenecks are, so that I can re-plan my dairy walks.
Thanks

There has been accommodations at every stop. Private rooms sometimes are harder to get, but albergues have been no issue. On the long days (there are 2-3 you cannot avoid), book ahead. Bodenaya and Sablissmo can get crowded if they fit in your schedule.

 

[Elvis]

Thanks to everyone for your kind guidance as I workout more to prepare myself.

 

[gittiharre]

I am starting Primitivo for the first time on Aug.19 and the advices of many experienced walkers are very helpful. I'm fit for my over-70 age with some minor discomforts, but these 2.5 years' confinement reduced my energy and muscles. So I'm trying to keep the distance for a day under 20KM but there are 4~5 days I have to walk more than that to get to an albergue. I'd appreciate it very much if GITTIHARRE (or others, of course) warns me where the possible accommodation bottlenecks are, so that I can re-plan my dairy walks.
Thanks

I suggest Oviedo Paladin 20 km, then Cornellana 20 km, then Bodenaya ( Absolutely wonderful)19 km.
Definitely stay at Samblissimo, as right by Hospitales Route. Split the 30 km stage into Lugo in half by staying in Vilar de Caz at Pocina de Muniz. It is an unforgettable experience.
If you are not pushed for time, you could stay at Embalse de Salime, then the fantastic alberguecin Castro, then on to A Fonsegrada. It cuts 2 hefty stages down.
The day into O Cadavo is a bit challenging too, but can't be shortened.
You would end up with 17 days, if you include a rest day in Lugo.

 

[Keikochan]

Dear @wanderlustesq and @gittiharre (hope I have your names right),
Thank you so much for your information. Really helpful. My original plan was for 17 days, staying 2 nights at Lugo to visit a Celtic ruin nearby. I can work out a good plan, I'm sure.
Do you think I'd better reserve the hotel in Paladin now? It seems to be the only one affordable hotel there.

 

[Felipe]

I developed problems with my lower back during the Portuguese, so ended up using Correos Pack Transport every day. Worked like a charm ( 82 Euros Oviedo to Santiago) and I think I would have struggled on the long somewhat challenging stages without it.

Could you elaborate about the correos option, please? I generally carry my backpack. but there are here a couple of stages that give me pause. And I suppose that the service is available only in main villages.

 

[mazzarina]

Could you elaborate about the correos option, please? I generally carry my backpack. but there are here a couple of stages that gives me pause. And I suppose that the service is available only in main villages.

Here's the link to some information (there are other companies that offer a similar service): https://www.elcaminoconcorreos.com/en/rucksack-transfer

 

[gittiharre]

Dear @wanderlustesq and @gittiharre (hope I have your names right),
Thank you so much for your information. Really helpful. My original plan was for 17 days, staying 2 nights at Lugo to visit a Celtic ruin nearby. I can work out a good plan, I'm sure.
Do you think I'd better reserve the hotel in Paladin now? It seems to be the only one affordable hotel there.

Probably yes, but La Roca, Bodenaya and Samblissimo and Pocina de Muniz are essential to reserve early.
Four Room Hostel in Lugo is fantastic by the way.

 

[wanderlustesq]

Dear @wanderlustesq and @gittiharre (hope I have your names right),
Thank you so much for your information. Really helpful. My original plan was for 17 days, staying 2 nights at Lugo to visit a Celtic ruin nearby. I can work out a good plan, I'm sure.
Do you think I'd better reserve the hotel in Paladin now? It seems to be the only one affordable hotel there.

Yes, but call them directly for a better price. Or use email. They have a couple of private rooms that are spectacular, but the dormitory is quite perfect if you don’t mind a group.

 

[wanderlustesq]

Here's the link to some information (there are other companies that offer a similar service): https://www.elcaminoconcorreos.com/en/rucksack-transfer

It’s available everywhere. Just ask the host/ owner and they will give you an envelope. Write where it’s being picked up from and where it is going. Put in a 5€. I used it twice. Once for some overflow articles I put in a bag and once was my whole pack. Worked perfectly. The host will call for the pick up. Use it as often or as infrequently as you need.

 

[Robbinsx3]

Love the Primitivo. Just do some hills to get your legs in, and listen to your body when you're out there. It's varied and undulating, but very doable.
Alternative training is to get someone to chuck buckets of ice water sideways at you..
but hopefully you'll get better weather over the top than we did

Along with the buckets of ice water, add in a jet engine trying to blow you off the mountain. That about sums it up.

 

[gittiharre]

Could you elaborate about the correos option, please? I generally carry my backpack. but there are here a couple of stages that give me pause. And I suppose that the service is available only in main villages.

There are several backpack transport options. Best to ask your host. They can call for you to arrange for next day and you put money into an envelope.
If you want regular transport you can do it via correos website. It is self explanatory. They went to every place I stayed at, except 1.

 

[wanderlustesq]

Dear @wanderlustesq and @gittiharre (hope I have your names right),
Thank you so much for your information. Really helpful. My original plan was for 17 days, staying 2 nights at Lugo to visit a Celtic ruin nearby. I can work out a good plan, I'm sure.
Do you think I'd better reserve the hotel in Paladin now? It seems to be the only one affordable hotel there.

There is only the Villa Palatino in Palatin. If you want private room, definitely book ahead. But call them direct and avoid the Booking.com fee.