My Updates
Camino Training - 3 Months Out
Wednesday 1st Jan
The biggest is that it gets hot where we live - damn hot. So that means in order to get a longer walk done I need to be up at 4am and out of the house around 4.45 at first light in order to get before the heat becomes unbearable. I am not an early morning person so I really struggle with this and I usually sleep poorly the night before - something about having to get up early makes me anxious. Crazy I know but thats me.
The upside of getting out this early is you do get to set some magnificent sunrises and catch lots of early morning wildlife like all the kangaroos.
The other not so great thing is that there are zero facilities. And I dont really mean bathrooms. Its reasonably remote where we are and when I walk I generally see no cars, no people and certainly nothing like somewhere to stop and rest and have a coffee or even a breakfast. So I carry water and low sugar snacks to get me through the 4-5 hours I am walking.
Whilst I had planned to do 3 long walks a week by this stage I find I am not doing that every week. I have done it a couple of times but often life gets in the way - especially around Christmas and New Year. However, I am keeping up a solid regime and that includes some walking on the golf course each week as well as daily dog walks so I am up around 100km per week which is good.
I am also training with a medical regime that means I have reduced stamina and strength and this will not be the case when I walk so anything I do over and above now is a bonus.
So, what will it be like when we walk the Camino Frances? We are expecting quite cool weather in early April and at the higher altitudes there may even be a little snow. Given we are walking early spring we are expecting changeable weather and we will certainly get some days of rain - something I am not looking forward to.
As the walk progresses it should gradually warm up into the low 20's centigrade by the time we approach Santiago in mid May and perhaps even a little warmer than that.
But certainly very different to training in the Australian summer!
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Why Am I Challenging the Camino Frances?
Tuesday 19th Nov
I was having that exact discussion with a long time friend who said he also had wanted 'to do' the Camino for a long time and the next thing you know, we are committed!
But why now? Well, I am approaching my 70th birthday and I wanted to do something special to mark that occasion - something physically challenging, something way out of my normal comfort zone to prove to myself (and maybe some others) that 70 is just another number and it shouldn't stop us undertaking significant challenges. I also wanted it to be memorable - and I believe its going to be all of those things.
This is a 6 week walk averaging 20-25kms per day with a few rest days scattered through the program. Its likely to require 1.2 million steps and perhaps more when side trips and sightseeing are added. I have a good training program that so far I am sticking to and the body is holding up at this point.
So why turn it into a fundraiser for the RCD Foundation? It just seemed a natural thing to do. My friends and direct network know I am passionate about raising funds for research into the prevention, treatment and cure of paediatric brain cancer. I normally raise funds by participating in a fun run/walk called Connors Run. So, I am simply bringing that forward in the year and I am hoping that not only will past supporters be a little more generous given the length of the walk but I am also hoping to appeal to another audience.
We are so close to making significant breakthroughs in the treatment and prevention of paediatric brain cancer. And whilst I am not personally a pious individual I hope that perhaps there comes a little divine intervention as a result of following in the footsteps of millions of pilgrims over the centuries. As someone closing in on the final stanza of a life well lived I can't think of anything more important than giving those just starting out the best possible chance of a similar life.
Camino Training - 4 months Out
Monday 18th Nov
Whilst I walk pretty much every day, for about 6 weeks now I have walked two longer / more difficult days every week and I have done those days consecutively. Normally that means a 20-25km walk on Mondays and a 10-12km walk on Tuesdays but the second one is pretty much nothing but steep up and down.
Come December, I will up that to 3 long walks a week and with my regular daily walk means I will be getting up to 70 to 75km per week. Its all about time on your feet. With summer now around the corner that also means getting up well before the sun rises - around 4 to 4.30am and heading out to complete the walks before the heat of the day. I certainly do not enjoy this.
The other big thing to make sure off is that your feet stay in great shape. Developing blisters on the Camino can end it quickly so I have learnt a lot about foot care with long distance walking. Obviously you want your footwear well worn in - I have 3 pairs of trail runners, all worn in but one pair I am using for most training walks - they will be worn out before I leave for France so I just take the other two pair. All the trainers are a half to one size larger than my normal shoes - you want room in the toe box
Secondly, I have become a fan of Injinji toed socks and liners - with each toe individually encased there is no chance of blisters between the toes. Using wool liners to wick away moisture not only provides cushioning but wet feet are more blister prone. And finally, I put petroleum jelly all over my feet to keep them soft and supple - further reducing the opportunity for blisters to form.
I am lucky to live in a rural area which means plenty of dirt roads for walking tracks and because its in a valley there is ample opportunity to find hills for training.
So far, the training is going to plan
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