Difficult spots and possible diversions when running the Camino Frances

[angryjogger]

Hey everyone,

I'm starting out from Pamplona on the Camino Frances on the 3rd February this year. I'm hoping to jog all the way to Santiago. I ran 1050 miles in 38 days in July last year but it was mainly on road. My greatest concern are the parts of the Camino Frances where it will be difficult to jog.

The descent at Alto Del Perdon sounds like the first obstacle. In terms of the entire trail, how many more of these difficult areas are there and is it usually possible to bypass them with a diversion by road?

In short I love dirt roads, footpaths, normal roads, forest trails. I'm not so hot on anything technical. I've ran trail ultramarathons before but to be honest I've always disliked the ultra muddy parts. I want the journey to be as enjoyable as possible so I thought I'd get some input as to the areas to watch out for.

Thanks
Matt

 

[mspath]

Matt,

Other difficult stretches after storms might be from Najera to Santo Domingo de la Calzada or across the Montes de Oca from Villafranca as well as Monte Irago and, of course, O Cebreiro.

Not all albergues will be open, but the welcome at those albergues which are is often most sincere. Most will usually be heated and/or have blankets. Generally the hospitaleros know who is open on the next stage. Use the handy list of open Winter Albergues http://www.aprinca.com/alberguesinvierno/

Stay safe and Buen camino!

 

[angryjogger]

Other difficult stretches after storms might be from Najera to Santo Domingo de la Calzada or across the Montes de Oca from Villafranca as well as Monte Irago and, of course, O Cebreiro.

Not all albergues will be open, but the welcome at those albergues which are is often most sincere. Most will usually be heated and/or have blankets. Generally the hospitaleros know who is open on the next stage. Use the handy list of open Winter Albergues http://www.aprinca.com/alberguesinvierno/

Stay safe and Buen camino!

Thanks mspath, I'm gonna be looking at booking hotels mostly along the way through Booking.com. I have an unlimited data package on my mobile which should come in handy for finding places. I've heard O Cebreiro mentioned several times now. It promises to be fun.

 

[Kanga]

As well as those suggested by @mspath, if it rains (very likely in February) there could be deep claggy mud between Tarjados and Hontanas. The descent from the Cruz de Ferro to Molinaseca is slippery and rocky, but there is a road alternative. There is also a road up to O Cebreiro - if you want to avoid mud take the cyclist route instead of the walkers route.

 

[angryjogger]

As well as those suggested by @mspath, if it rains (very likely in February) there could be deep claggy mud between Tarjados and Hontanas. The descent from the Cruz de Ferro to Molinaseca is slippery and rocky, but there is a road alternative. There is also a road up to O Cebreiro - if you want to avoid mud take the cyclist route instead of the walkers route.

Excellent, thanks Kanga, I've been on the Camino Cyclist website to try to get some GPX tracks as I'm taking my running watch with me for navigation. Hoping this route avoids some of the more difficult terrain.

 

[wayfarer]

Welcome Matt, there are GPX files in the Resource section for driving the Camino so you could use those in conjunction with the parts you could run/jog.
Happy planning and Buen Camino.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/resources/st-jean-to-santiago-by-road.231/

 

[rappahannock_rev]

Good luck jogging the descent into Zubiri. IMHO worse than the decent from the Alto de Person.

And if you can actually jog up to O Cebrero, well, you're a better man than me!

 

[angryjogger]

Good luck jogging the descent into Zubiri. IMHO worse than the decent from the Alto de Person.

And if you can actually jog up to O Cebrero, well, you're a better man than me!

I'm starting in Pamplona so I don't think I'll be doing the Zubiri bit? O Cebrero sounds like it'll be hell

 

[trecile]

There are lots of areas where the trail looks like this.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

You could just walk those parts.

 

[angryjogger]

There are lots of areas where the trail looks like this.View attachment 38871

I think I could handle that if it was uphill, I've seen a bit worse, what part of the path is that? Thanks

 

[trecile]

I think I could handle that if it was uphill, I've seen a bit worse, what part of the path is that? Thanks

All kinds of places look like that. Uphill, downhill, flat...

 

[annakappa]

You could just walk those parts.

My thought exactly!

 

[Robo]

Please use a Bell, particularly on the faster downhill sections.

 

[kerdi]

I'm starting in Pamplona so I don't think I'll be doing the Zubiri bit? O Cebrero sounds like it'll be hell

it is not. as you reach it you will have done the best part of the camino anyway. ut is a steep ascent. Pretty bad in places but fairly short. just a few miles long. i walked it. with backpck. was half as bad as i had been told and i am over 50. Buen Camino

 

[Anamiri]

The track from Foncebaden to Molineseca looks a lot like this.