One of the most common sense posts I've seen about this yet.
I literally just wrote opposed about shoe selection/foot health in general in part because of all the posts I see pretty much daily on camino forums on another platform where people are asking "what is the best shoe?". As a massage therapist, every time I see those posts I cringe. People wearing poor shoes is kind of my bread-and-butter some days because I end up with those people in my office, and its unfortunate that they are often getting poor advice, not only from the people in shoe stores, but from their podiatrists. So it's no wonder that people are really confused about what to wear on the forums.
Your comment about the 5 miles is also spot on what I have told people after my experience. If I would give just one piece of advice, it's to not overtrain the mileage. I only did 5 miles a day, but I was doing the Portuguese Camino, and I knew I didn't have the hills of the French Way to start. Even so, I highly recommend that you put on 5 quality miles ( if doing the french way, make sure that you're doing hikes with elevation), then then do 15-30min of exercises and balance training to strengthen the feet and ankles. It's especially important for people who are not getting out and doing activities that put stress on those areas... Muscles will quickly catch up to the quantity of walking you're doing within a few days. But the tendons, ligaments, and joints take longer to adapt, so giving them a good workout every day. Will save people from a lot of the things that I saw when I was walking... I ended up taping up a few people's feet at one point, because their feet just weren't ready for the stressors, they were under.
Anyway, I love how practical you are about this. Everybody has different needs, so there's not no one right way to train. And in the end, it's a walk... With a few challenges here and there.
The biggest thing I learned was to not allow myself to be sucked into having to complete "stages" on the days that my body was trying to tell me to slow down. But that's a lesson I need for my whole life, lol!
Thanks for your perspective, Pamela. I didn't think about the difference between walking vs strengthening your feet and ankles and doing balance training. One of the problems in the US is that so much of our day-to-day life is walking on paved surfaces. Which is definitely not the case on the Camino!
It's definitely different in Portugal... Even many of the areas that you walk in public areas have cobblestones, which are going to put at least some stressors on those areas. And many people live in hilly areas and have no problem walking up those steep hills in their 80s... I know because I got left in the dust by one of them! 🤣
It is very easy to get caught up in the "rules" and stressed out by Camino prep. So it's especially nice to read your calm and simple approach. Thanks Rebecca!
Thanks, Lisa. One of the things I love most about the Camino is the lack of true "rules." My friend Lois taught me years ago to always ask, "Who says . . .?" Who says you have to train like this? Who says it has to be this way? That advice has helped me so much!
So here is the mirror image of the person who needs to walk.
So you are a hiker - up and down in a national park, 8 to 10 miles most weekends.
And now you are comtemplating 15 plus miles every day. 15 miles? Is that nuts?
No... Walking the Camino is not like hiking in a park or forest.
The biggest time waster on a hike is driving to the trailhead and back. On the Camino, you are on the trail. You step out of your hostel and you're on the trail - usually by 7 am.
The Camino, especially the Frances, is almost flat. No mountains to climb. You are walking through villages, the same villages that residents live in. The trail is almost smooth. People in these villages are not wearing boots; most of the time, it's slipper-like shoes or flip-flops.
So hike to prepare and then realise that mile for mile, the Camino is so much easier. Enjoy!
Thanks for this --I've talked to many people who thought they were in "great shape" and didn't need to do anything different from their regular exercise routine only to realize they never done back-to-back 8, 10, or 12 mile days!
However, I wouldn't say the Camino Francés is flat. Perhaps you didn't do the part that crosses the Pyrenees? Or the part that climbs up to O Cebreiro? For many people, if they choose to start in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the first day over the Pyrenees is the hardest hike they've ever done.
Also, I wouldn't say the trail is smooth. I walked with a friend who specifically said to me, "When you tell people about the Camino, tell them about all the rocks!" I took many pictures of rocky paths--some flat, but some terrifying descents.
I guess we all have different views of the same trail -- just as in life!
One of the most common sense posts I've seen about this yet.
I literally just wrote opposed about shoe selection/foot health in general in part because of all the posts I see pretty much daily on camino forums on another platform where people are asking "what is the best shoe?". As a massage therapist, every time I see those posts I cringe. People wearing poor shoes is kind of my bread-and-butter some days because I end up with those people in my office, and its unfortunate that they are often getting poor advice, not only from the people in shoe stores, but from their podiatrists. So it's no wonder that people are really confused about what to wear on the forums.
Your comment about the 5 miles is also spot on what I have told people after my experience. If I would give just one piece of advice, it's to not overtrain the mileage. I only did 5 miles a day, but I was doing the Portuguese Camino, and I knew I didn't have the hills of the French Way to start. Even so, I highly recommend that you put on 5 quality miles ( if doing the french way, make sure that you're doing hikes with elevation), then then do 15-30min of exercises and balance training to strengthen the feet and ankles. It's especially important for people who are not getting out and doing activities that put stress on those areas... Muscles will quickly catch up to the quantity of walking you're doing within a few days. But the tendons, ligaments, and joints take longer to adapt, so giving them a good workout every day. Will save people from a lot of the things that I saw when I was walking... I ended up taping up a few people's feet at one point, because their feet just weren't ready for the stressors, they were under.
Anyway, I love how practical you are about this. Everybody has different needs, so there's not no one right way to train. And in the end, it's a walk... With a few challenges here and there.
The biggest thing I learned was to not allow myself to be sucked into having to complete "stages" on the days that my body was trying to tell me to slow down. But that's a lesson I need for my whole life, lol!
Thanks for your perspective, Pamela. I didn't think about the difference between walking vs strengthening your feet and ankles and doing balance training. One of the problems in the US is that so much of our day-to-day life is walking on paved surfaces. Which is definitely not the case on the Camino!
It's definitely different in Portugal... Even many of the areas that you walk in public areas have cobblestones, which are going to put at least some stressors on those areas. And many people live in hilly areas and have no problem walking up those steep hills in their 80s... I know because I got left in the dust by one of them! 🤣
I would say the same for Spain, France and Italy (in my experience). And I've had 80 years old pass me as well. Rite of passage, I guess 😂
Fun and practical!
What a wonderful combination. I may need to apply that to more areas of my life!
Such a wonderful, practical perspective Rebecca! Thanks so much for sharing your deep experience and advice!
As such an avid hiker yourself that means a lot!
It is very easy to get caught up in the "rules" and stressed out by Camino prep. So it's especially nice to read your calm and simple approach. Thanks Rebecca!
Thanks, Lisa. One of the things I love most about the Camino is the lack of true "rules." My friend Lois taught me years ago to always ask, "Who says . . .?" Who says you have to train like this? Who says it has to be this way? That advice has helped me so much!
I really enjoyed this Rebecca, and will take your wisdom as I start some casual training. Thank you!
So glad it was helpful to you, Margo.
So here is the mirror image of the person who needs to walk.
So you are a hiker - up and down in a national park, 8 to 10 miles most weekends.
And now you are comtemplating 15 plus miles every day. 15 miles? Is that nuts?
No... Walking the Camino is not like hiking in a park or forest.
The biggest time waster on a hike is driving to the trailhead and back. On the Camino, you are on the trail. You step out of your hostel and you're on the trail - usually by 7 am.
The Camino, especially the Frances, is almost flat. No mountains to climb. You are walking through villages, the same villages that residents live in. The trail is almost smooth. People in these villages are not wearing boots; most of the time, it's slipper-like shoes or flip-flops.
So hike to prepare and then realise that mile for mile, the Camino is so much easier. Enjoy!
Hello Danny --
Thanks for this --I've talked to many people who thought they were in "great shape" and didn't need to do anything different from their regular exercise routine only to realize they never done back-to-back 8, 10, or 12 mile days!
However, I wouldn't say the Camino Francés is flat. Perhaps you didn't do the part that crosses the Pyrenees? Or the part that climbs up to O Cebreiro? For many people, if they choose to start in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the first day over the Pyrenees is the hardest hike they've ever done.
Also, I wouldn't say the trail is smooth. I walked with a friend who specifically said to me, "When you tell people about the Camino, tell them about all the rocks!" I took many pictures of rocky paths--some flat, but some terrifying descents.
I guess we all have different views of the same trail -- just as in life!
True. The first day was a steep uphill over the Pyrenees. But after that ...