Beginning to train..

[YMR20]

Beginning to train,
Hope to gradually increase time and km.

 

[RobertS26]

You're done. If you can do 6.4 kilometers in an hour and 17 minutes you are ready to go.

 

[Bear]

Take it easy training.

I was walking 14 to 20Kms per day in 2 to 3 hours for the past month but have overdone it and am wearing my knee braces again. I last wore them on the Camino Frances in 2012 and had not needed them since.

 

[YMR20]

Are you sure? RobertS26?
I am a little worried, I will start in Astorga.
I don't know if I will do the stage Rabanal - Molinaseca, second day of walking,
and then my third day Molinaseca to villafranca del Bierzo and my most worried is the ocebreiro climb.
I'm a little scared of that climb.

Thanks, for your respond.,

 

[YMR20]

Thanks Bear for your advise!
I will take care! And don't over train

 

[Al the optimist]

Were you walking with a pack? If so you are ready. Many who walked with me think I am fast but I don't exceed that very often, and then only after I have been on the Camino for a good few days. Buen Camino and don't worry just let your body decide how far to walk and how fast once you are there. Trust us - plans go out of the window once you are there. You will be influenced by your body, your companions and your inner self more than you can imagine.

 

[Olivares]

When it comes to training for long distance hiking you do not train for speed, but for endurance. Otherwise you can get injured. The average walker does about 5 km/hr and should be able to sustain the pace for average of 5 hours taking 20 minute breaks every other hour. I know there is a lot of "power walkers" out there for whose walking 50 kms/day for 20 days in a row is who they are as hikers. However, this is not the standard by far.

The best approach is that you aim for 5 km/hour and increase the carrying loads, not the pace. Increasing the pace does nothing for you except injuring your hips, knees, and tendons. Remember to take breaks and to STRETCH BEFORE AND AFTER.

 

[YMR20]

Thanks you all !!

 

[Bear]

I must agree with Olivares, I was only walking fast to build up a little fitness and lose some weight before my next Camino in May and I have over worked my knee.

As I get closer to my departure date, I will carry the weight I intend to take on the Camino and will be aiming for 25km walks, 2 or 3 days per week, with 10 km walks 2 or 3 days per week and rest days.

The terrain is also important as the Camino has many short ascents and descents on most days.

 

[YMR20]

No! Al, I wasn't walking with a pack.

 

[RobertS26]

Are you sure? RobertS26?
I am a little worried, I will start in Astorga.

Well, if you can already do 5.5 km per hour, that means you have no problem walking at a brisk pace on flat ground. The walk from Astorga to Rabanal is only a 200 meter gain in altitude over 21 kilometers. The next day, you only have to gain 300 meters before you top out. The tricky part on day 2 will be descending into Molinaseca--especially if it is raining and the rocks are slippery. Day three will be relatively flat going into Villafranca. Day four might be a challenge depending on which of three routes you take out of Villafranca. Day five up to O'Cebreiro could be a bit of a challenge, but if I can make it, anybody can make it.

I guess my point is that the Camino is a walk, not a future additional leg to a triathlon. It's meant to be enjoyed and experienced. It's not the Bataan Death March where you will be bayonetted if you stop to take a break. My concern is that I see people over thinking the Camino. And I want people to know that it is very doable and that over planning saps some of the joy.

You'll be fine. Trust me. Buen Camino.

 

[YMR20]

Thanks... That's the idea!!
I would like to enjoy the walk and to visit every church and stop in places that I like.

 

[Olivares]

I was only walking fast to build up a little fitness and lose some weight before my next Camino in May

I think you should look at your training twofold; 1) the weight loss portion take it to the threadmill/ellyptical. Have six small meals a day instead of 3 large ones. make the meals as healthy as you can. You will be eating more frequently so you should not be hungry, but you will be fueling yourself more efficiently so your metabolism will kick in more effectively, and 2) the endurance portion per my previous message; distance not speed.

Good luck! Buen Camino!!

 

[NicoZ]

If you want to lose weight eat less.

Training. Mix things up. Longer days. Shorter days. If you have hills nearby add some.

 

[Bear]

Wonderful advice NicoZ, I would never have thought of that.

 

[Lotta]

Olivares: about food...
What did you eat on your camino. I like the thought of 6 meals but right now my mind can't pic any idea.., just: egg, ham bread olives cheese bananas tomatos nuts... Eh...
I will walk with my 16 y's old daughter! She loves food (want to be a chef) and we can't afford menu á la pilgrim every day.
June 23rd is da' aventure start day.( oh my good, I just went to my neighbours door instead of mine, write 'n walk...bad desission! (swedish spelling))

 

[november_moon]

I agree with mixing it up and not trying to train too much, too quickly - let the body adapt. We have been "training" for the last couple of years - training in quotes because most of it was just normal fitness, but every step we took was "for the Camino" once we decided that we were going Our focused Camino training started in January - we are going in June, so just 2 months away. I feel like we could leave today and be great, but we have 2 months to go, so we will keep training. We don't have the time to devote to walking 20km on a regular basis, so we do what we can. Each month we do the following:

* A hiking weekend, which means hiking both Saturday and Sunday, something reasonably long both days, with packs and the boots we are going to take. Last month we did a 20km hike, which was moderate-to-strenuous. Then we did about a 10 km hike the next day, very moderate. This coming weekend we will do 2 hikes of similar distance, a little more strenuous.

* 4 long walks - road walks, no packs, go for both speed - these walks are 9-14 km, depending on how much time we have. We stop in the middle for coffee and a snack (you know, for realism in our training). So basically 1 long walk each weekend with an extra one stuck in where we can - the days are getting longer, which makes it easier, but my work travel schedule is also ramping up, which makes it hard.

* Cardio, yoga, and strength training through out the week - generally about 3 hours each week.

I've lost body mass during this training - I know because all of my clothes are getting roomy - but my weight has stayed exactly the same. I am definitely burning fat and building muscle.