Training for CF in September

[Waka]

Time is rushing on 8 weeks to go, as is my training programme. I watched a lot of camino training advice on You Tube and adapted some of that to fit my ramshackle plan .My first CF back in 2015 and the VDLP in 2019 I did no training and suffered for the first couple of weeks, or if the truth were known, all the way through the journey.
But as they say, wisdom comes with age and as I'm knocking the door to 76 I've decided not to be stupid this time.
So a month ago I started with gentle 5 mile walkies on the flat 5 days a week, this quickly escalated to 10 miles over a three week period, talk about being pleased with myself. Then I realised I had to carry my belongings with me, what a shock. Before anyone comments about sending my pack ahead, I like the freedom of carrying my gear stopping wherever I choose. Just me I guess.
So out comes the pack and all my camino gear and clothing, does seem rather a lot. I started with just a few kilos and built up fairly quickly to my fullback weight of 6 kilos including 1 kilo water. I have to say it doesn't take long before it becomes your friend.
My training regime is now up to 14 miles twice a week and three sessions of 7 to 8 miles, all with a full pack.
I feel that I'm ready to start now, but common sense tells me, I might be old but I'm not stupid so I'll stick to this programme until the day I step out from SJPDP for real.
If you come across an old man struggling just say Buen Camino.

 

[K_Lynn]

You’ll be ready to go! I usually start with 5km walks then 10km with no pack. When I add the pack with 1/2 the weight I’ll carry I drop back down to 5km and then add weight and distance. I live in a mostly flat area but there is one small hill nearby that I walk up and down the gravel path, the gradual paved path and the three sets of stairs over and over until I’m cross eyed.

Wear what you’re planning on taking on Camino to make sure it’s the right gear for you.

Buen Camino!

 

[trecile]

My training regime is now up to 14 miles twice a week and three sessions of 7 to 8 miles, all with a full pack.
I feel that I'm ready to start now, but common sense tells me, I might be old but I'm not stupid so I'll stick to this programme until the day I step out from SJPDP for real.

Your are ready! I would suggest backing off a bit a couple of weeks before you go.

 

[Anhalter]

I would suggest backing off a bit a couple of weeks before you go.

Completely agree. Best to start well rested.
Also would recommend to add some hill walking into the mix, but even if not, you'll likely will be well prepared.

 

[nycwalking]

Old man have a blast.

Buen camino.

 

[Dani7]

A-m-a-z-i-n-g!!! Buen camino and bravo on the discipline needed for your training

 

[Marbe2]

Congratulations. My reaction is you are ready now. Why not take a 3-4 days off now. Rest up a bit. Then continue your program till a week before you leave. Stop then. Give your body a chance to recover before starting the Camino!

 

[Silvermomma]

You are ready! Yes, it's time to "taper."

 

[topochines2012]

Time is rushing on 8 weeks to go, as is my training programme. I watched a lot of camino training advice on You Tube and adapted some of that to fit my ramshackle plan .My first CF back in 2015 and the VDLP in 2019 I did no training and suffered for the first couple of weeks, or if the truth were known, all the way through the journey.
But as they say, wisdom comes with age and as I'm knocking the door to 76 I've decided not to be stupid this time.
So a month ago I started with gentle 5 mile walkies on the flat 5 days a week, this quickly escalated to 10 miles over a three week period, talk about being pleased with myself. Then I realised I had to carry my belongings with me, what a shock. Before anyone comments about sending my pack ahead, I like the freedom of carrying my gear stopping wherever I choose. Just me I guess.
So out comes the pack and all my camino gear and clothing, does seem rather a lot. I started with just a few kilos and built up fairly quickly to my fullback weight of 6 kilos including 1 kilo water. I have to say it doesn't take long before it becomes your friend.
My training regime is now up to 14 miles twice a week and three sessions of 7 to 8 miles, all with a full pack.
I feel that I'm ready to start now, but common sense tells me, I might be old but I'm not stupid so I'll stick to this programme until the day I step out from SJPDP for real.
If you come across an old man struggling just say Buen Camino.

What day are you leaving?

 

[Getwood]

Time is rushing on 8 weeks to go, as is my training programme. I watched a lot of camino training advice on You Tube and adapted some of that to fit my ramshackle plan .My first CF back in 2015 and the VDLP in 2019 I did no training and suffered for the first couple of weeks, or if the truth were known, all the way through the journey.
But as they say, wisdom comes with age and as I'm knocking the door to 76 I've decided not to be stupid this time.
So a month ago I started with gentle 5 mile walkies on the flat 5 days a week, this quickly escalated to 10 miles over a three week period, talk about being pleased with myself. Then I realised I had to carry my belongings with me, what a shock. Before anyone comments about sending my pack ahead, I like the freedom of carrying my gear stopping wherever I choose. Just me I guess.
So out comes the pack and all my camino gear and clothing, does seem rather a lot. I started with just a few kilos and built up fairly quickly to my fullback weight of 6 kilos including 1 kilo water. I have to say it doesn't take long before it becomes your friend.
My training regime is now up to 14 miles twice a week and three sessions of 7 to 8 miles, all with a full pack.
I feel that I'm ready to start now, but common sense tells me, I might be old but I'm not stupid so I'll stick to this programme until the day I step out from SJPDP for real.
If you come across an old man struggling just say Buen Camino.

You're doing better than me (66 yr old). I've had to stop for about a week now due to smoke from wildfires coupled with very high temps (35 Celsius or so). In actuality, the temps don't bother me so much, but the smoke is really impinging on my ability to breathe deeply while going up or down hilly terrain.

I leave for Europe in just over 6 weeks. *gulp*

 

[rbmelton]

Time is rushing on 8 weeks to go, as is my training programme. I watched a lot of camino training advice on You Tube and adapted some of that to fit my ramshackle plan .My first CF back in 2015 and the VDLP in 2019 I did no training and suffered for the first couple of weeks, or if the truth were known, all the way through the journey.
But as they say, wisdom comes with age and as I'm knocking the door to 76 I've decided not to be stupid this time.
So a month ago I started with gentle 5 mile walkies on the flat 5 days a week, this quickly escalated to 10 miles over a three week period, talk about being pleased with myself. Then I realised I had to carry my belongings with me, what a shock. Before anyone comments about sending my pack ahead, I like the freedom of carrying my gear stopping wherever I choose. Just me I guess.
So out comes the pack and all my camino gear and clothing, does seem rather a lot. I started with just a few kilos and built up fairly quickly to my fullback weight of 6 kilos including 1 kilo water. I have to say it doesn't take long before it becomes your friend.
My training regime is now up to 14 miles twice a week and three sessions of 7 to 8 miles, all with a full pack.
I feel that I'm ready to start now, but common sense tells me, I might be old but I'm not stupid so I'll stick to this programme until the day I step out from SJPDP for real.
If you come across an old man struggling just say Buen Camino.

Have a great time.

Buen Camino!

 

[Waka]

What day are you leaving?

I'll be leaving SJPDP Sunday 15th Sept for Borda.

 

[Richard Smith]

Great training so far, a nd I agree with the suggestions above to taper off in last 2 or 3 weeks. I didn’t see anything about hills, so I suggest doing some gradual hill walking with your pack

 

[Waka]

Great training so far, a nd I agree with the suggestions above to taper off in last 2 or 3 weeks. I didn’t see anything about hills, so I suggest doing some gradual hill walking with your pack

Hi Richard
I’ve incorporated hill into every walk, hard not as I live on the Jurassic coast, very steep but not as long as the Camino.

 

[Dan]

Time is rushing on 8 weeks to go, as is my training programme. I watched a lot of camino training advice on You Tube and adapted some of that to fit my ramshackle plan .My first CF back in 2015 and the VDLP in 2019 I did no training and suffered for the first couple of weeks, or if the truth were known, all the way through the journey.
But as they say, wisdom comes with age and as I'm knocking the door to 76 I've decided not to be stupid this time.
So a month ago I started with gentle 5 mile walkies on the flat 5 days a week, this quickly escalated to 10 miles over a three week period, talk about being pleased with myself. Then I realised I had to carry my belongings with me, what a shock. Before anyone comments about sending my pack ahead, I like the freedom of carrying my gear stopping wherever I choose. Just me I guess.
So out comes the pack and all my camino gear and clothing, does seem rather a lot. I started with just a few kilos and built up fairly quickly to my fullback weight of 6 kilos including 1 kilo water. I have to say it doesn't take long before it becomes your friend.
My training regime is now up to 14 miles twice a week and three sessions of 7 to 8 miles, all with a full pack.
I feel that I'm ready to start now, but common sense tells me, I might be old but I'm not stupid so I'll stick to this programme until the day I step out from SJPDP for real.
If you come across an old man struggling just say Buen Camino.

Onya Waka! I saw your nickname and thought you must be an Aussie. It's popular out here. Different spelling.
I checked your training program. Blew me away. You're ready to circumnavigate the Earth!
I'm in a position to judge how tough you are: I've knocked on the door of 76 and walked through, and covered quite a few miles.
We're wimps by comparison with what you do. Our training regime is to walk every day unless something stops us; 2 to 2.5hrs (no packs).
We have a favourite route combining hills, some steep hills and flat areas along rivers and surf beach. We time ourselves but do not rush at it. The advantage of the same route is that we can asses how we are going, whether we are puffing, or just eating up the kilometres.

However our "training regime" has become a way of life - and that's where the benefits kick in. In our early camino voyages the crunch came when we had to face the necessity of walking every day - and not just to the nearest bus stop.
Now, we're addicted. We get twitchy if we have not had our daily jaunt. 'Packs On' is something we do for the 2 or 3 weeks before departure. And because I can, and because there are water taps here and there along our daily route - I cheat a bit on the weight (I kid myself that carrying water when the time comes will be a piece of cake). It still takes me about 7 days to get match fit on a Camino. Always will I suppose.
Congrats on getting your pack weight (incl. I litre of water) down to 6kg. That is just so sensible. I've never managed it; must be my heavily embroidered underpants.

You're not old, and you're not stupid Waka. Hope our paths cross, some day, somewhere.
Dan

 

[Waka]

Onya Waka! I saw your nickname and thought you must be an Aussie. It's popular out here. Different spelling.
I checked your training program. Blew me away. You're ready to circumnavigate the Earth!
I'm in a position to judge how tough you are: I've knocked on the door of 76 and walked through, and covered quite a few miles.
We're wimps by comparison with what you do. Our training regime is to walk every day unless something stops us; 2 to 2.5hrs (no packs).
We have a favourite route combining hills, some steep hills and flat areas along rivers and surf beach. We time ourselves but do not rush at it. The advantage of the same route is that we can asses how we are going, whether we are puffing, or just eating up the kilometres.

However our "training regime" has become a way of life - and that's where the benefits kick in. In our early camino voyages the crunch came when we had to face the necessity of walking every day - and not just to the nearest bus stop.
Now, we're addicted. We get twitchy if we have not had our daily jaunt. 'Packs On' is something we do for the 2 or 3 weeks before departure. And because I can, and because there are water taps here and there along our daily route - I cheat a bit on the weight (I kid myself that carrying water when the time comes will be a piece of cake). It still takes me about 7 days to get match fit on a Camino. Always will I suppose.
Congrats on getting your pack weight (incl. I litre of water) down to 6kg. That is just so sensible. I've never managed it; must be my heavily embroidered underpants.

You're not old, and you're not stupid Waka. Hope our paths cross, some day, somewhere.
Dan

 

[Waka]

Hi Dan
I’m actually from the Uk, my internet name came to me from a trip I did to NZ many years ago and it seems to have stuck.
I have to say since posting my training regime, I have cut it back a little, still doing it with a pack but have cut out two of the shorter hikes. I’m a little worried about injury.