Training for Pilgrimage
Saturday, 2 April 2016
Getting ready for 2016
This raises some interesting issues:-
the realisation that we still think in 'walking distance' when planning a driving route, then realise that the days travel is only a couple of hours by car!
the fact that we need only be capable of carrying a 'day-pack' although we will still be taking our usual Camino packs as they are so comfortable;
taking extra clothes will be no problem but we will be limiting ourselves still to avoid taking more than we really need;
Once it is sorted we will post the list here, meanwhile we need to keep walking, and hoping that the tracks soon dry out.
Sunday, 19 July 2015
Training was worthwhile
Our walk is recorded as Camino 2015 and covers the route from Ribadeo westwards to San Andrés de Teixido then the Camino Inglés from Ferrol to Santiago de Compostela.
We will continue to walk to keep in training although next time we expect to take a car and walk around rather than on the Camino. Some posts will have a place here, others on Walking Around depending on whether they class as preparation or walks of interest.
Packing lists and weights will still have their place as we would not intend to over-pack even with transport. They might be of interest to those who need to make their pilgrimage with aid or private accomodation. We feel that staying in hotels, for example, does require more than one change of shirt.
Sunday, 18 January 2015
Packing - keeping the load light
For this Camino we will not be taking either sleeping bags or liners which helps to keep the weight down. We plan to stay only in private accommodation and not the albergues, especially as this is the only option for 50% of our walking this year. Also we will be taking only one fleece each, not 2 as previously, because we will be walking later then in other years. This brings Valerie's packing down to 5.5kgs and Terry's to just under 6.8kgs with water extra. This is for a hot day when wearing only hot weather gear. The full lists can be seen on Camino 2015:-
Valerie's
Terry's
We invested in new boots ready for last year but have not yet worn them so will be wearing them occasionally over the next months to ensure that they are a comfortable fit and ready for the Camino, otherwise most of our kit has already seen several Caminos and proved its worth. Any replacements have been made to lighten the loads but tried and tested items have been kept for use again.
Now we need to build up our walking distances again, after time out, and increase our practise pack weights too. We have time.... and are hoping the weather is kind over the next months as we continue our preparations.
Wednesday, 31 December 2014
New Year 2015
Tuesday, 7 October 2014
Future plans and need for training
We are still walking regularly, anything between 5 and 12 kms+ with rucksacks weighing around 4kg and 6kgs. We have weighed our prospective loads for next year and calculate that we will be carrying approx 6kgs and 8kgs including water with fleeces etc in our packs. A little lighter than before reflecting that we plan to walk in slightly warmer weather and also without sleeping bags. The route (Camino del Mar) requires more use of private accommodation and so we will use that too on the Camino Inglés rather than the albergues. This may mean booking ahead, very different to unplanned stops, but we do not want to completely pre-book. All part of the over-all preparation.
Interesting walks will still go on Walking Around, anything specific to training - pack weights etc - will go on this blog.
Sunday, 23 March 2014
Delays and changes
Sunday, 26 January 2014
Winter training
The lighter general packs are being more heavily loaded again and we also are walking sometimes with our proper Camino packs. This is partly to keep used to the weight and also to double check what we really need on the route later this year.
Yesterday's walk was 12.9kms in 3 hours, over hilly terrain, with a lunchbreak at the halfway point. Ongoing walks will depend on the next band of weather but spring is coming and then a new walking season and our next pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
Thursday, 5 December 2013
A Walking Week
With several days of good weather we have had a good week for training. We have been walking the 7km and 12km walks so on Monday we stretched this to a circular 16kms, with some long steep hills. Jacket potatoes at the halfway point before the (mainly) downhill walk home.
This was followed by one of our normal 7km walks and today a mere 3.5kms, all with hills. We are also starting to carry a more realistic weight in our packs, so far - so good.
The leaves are falling fast and it is much colder, but we are enjoying ourselves. Most of the hills are more challenging than those we will meet on the Camino, apart from the hill out of Pontedeume and the one beyond Betanzos at Casa Julia. If we can manage here we should be able to manage them happily.
Tuesday, 19 November 2013
Back to Training
With plans to walk to Santiago again in 2014 we continue walking to keep in training. The walks are mostly on Walking Around, the actual walk will go on Camino del Mar-Camino Inglés and some preparation (eg pack weights) will go here on this blog.
It feels good to be preparing for the Camino again. So far we are walking between 7 and 12 kms with plenty of hills and carrying our lighter packs. We know the weights we need to aim for so will be 'tweaking' our Camino packs over the coming months and walking with them occasionally.