training/fitness/health

For folks look for trails for practice walks for CF and CP in Greater Toronto Area (GTA), I would recommend the Seaton Trail in Pickering and several trails within the Rouge National Urban Park, Scarborough. Please send me a personal message if information for these trails is needed.

Planning on taking the Primitivo route this Sept. Practicing for the flat paved stretch around Lugo. Just finished a 25k walk, with pack and no trekking poles. Man, there is a significant difference between walking on the pavement and walking on trails and graveled roads. Faster pace on the...

"Here’s a simple tool that tells you how many calories you’re burning as a function of your weight, your pack’s weight, your hiking speed, the incline of the slope you’re walking on, and the nature of the terrain." I found it interesting to play around with the variables both for training and...

Ivar recently posted that some small alterations to the site were being made to the forum to realign with the core mission "Where past pilgrims share, and future pilgrims learn" - sooo .... I was thinking about how much pre-pilgrims can be concerned about being "fit enough", which although a...

A bit of a personal journey, what worked and what didn't, that might help or motivate other Pilgrims who are 'challenged' with their body weight. I know it can seem like a hopeless cause at times. A few people have asked me how I managed to lose 18 kgs so far (40 lbs) and am well on track to...

An inspiring story of an 89-year-old walker from Seattle who is nearing the 20k mileage mark (since Feb. 2011). I'd say he is Camino-ready...

Does anyone have experience training using a treadmill? I want to add the treadmill to my biking/walking regime. This would be in addition to walking outdoors. We have recently purchased a treadmill and it seems good way to get miles in during bad weather. Does wearing a full pack on a...

Since many people are seriously hoping for a walk in 2021, I'm starting this thread on training for the Camino. Walking is almost always very good for you, whether or not you get to Spain, so there is every reason to build it into your life style. Now. But walking is slow - typically 3-6 km/h...

Hello everyone and Happy New Year! Looking forward seeing your pictures and stories behind it.

I have to admit that I take this seriously. Before I go on Camino I try to shed a few kilos. OK, I'm on a bike, which is different to most of you, but I am very conscious of the fact that going up a gradient every extra kilo hurts. 3 kilos less in body weight translates to 3 more kilos more I...

Isaac Fitzgerald in The Guardian 06/11/2020 recounts his way for walking through the pandemic while exploring NYC. and getting in shape Another example of how to keep on keeping on wherever you might be during this difficult time. Whenever we may walk we can identify with Fitzgerald who writes...

The New York Times 03/11/2020 published a review by Parul Sehgal of The Walker , a new book by Matthew Beaumont who reasons "the slow death of purposeless walking as symptom of the slow death of democracy, of the human" His is an erudite and well documented discussion of selected authors across...

In The Guardian, 17/10/2020, as cities across Europe are experiencing new waves of Covid-19 and consequential/additional lockdowns Matthew Beaumont suggests rediscovering the simple pleasures of urban walking...

I have been wanting to do the Frances Way. I have been walking and trying get myself used to walking long distances. I am mostly able to do about 8 miles in a day. It is boring and uneventful to just walk here. I have tried walking the beaches and it is better. Still I feel like maybe I should...

I do most of my training walks in the city area. I could easily find nicer places to walk, there are pretty forests and quiet, open farmland not far outside the city, but that would require me to drive for around 45 minutes or so. I do that occasionally, but for some reason driving out to walk...

I’d like to share how I’ve prepared for both Caminos and plan on repeating it for a third. It wasn’t intentional—I stumbled onto it but discovered that it was brilliant and thought that I would share it here. Oaxaca, Mexico. Famous on all the cooking and travel shows for great culture and...

Hi all, Just wanted to share my pain! My wife and me had planned on walking the Portuguese Camino in May this year but fate has intervened . . . On 12 December, whilst on a treadmill in a gym on a cruise ship in the Carribean, I suffered a cardiac arrest. After 4 defibrillator shocks, great...

Hi Everone, Two years ago I walked from SJPDP to Logrono, and after the first couple of days my knees were killing me. This April I return to CF and besides taking a few pounds of my bodyweight, I am searching for exercises to strengthen my knees before going. I live in Copenhagen which means...

Thanks to everyone who contributed in the 2019 thread about all the lovely local walks. Let's continue in 2020.