Training for the Camino

 
 Hiking in the Don Valley in January


We are about to book our tickets, with less than 3 months to go, and I am wondering about training.

My goal each week is to walk 150,000 steps, though I don't always make it. That is about 90 km per week.
On the Camino, I hope to average about 25 km per day, or 150 per week.

So, how do I get to the Camino, prepared to walk that distance day after day, carrying a pack which will weigh about 8 kg plus food and water for the day?

Here is what I am doing right now:
On Fridays, I lead a hike of about 15-20 prospective pilgrims and returning pilgrims, and anyone else crazy enough to want to hike about 20 kms. And I walk 10 to 20 kms on the other days, especially on Monday and Tuesday when I lead one hour hikes, and Thursday and Sunday when I walk to church and sometimes back, carrying a 5 km backpack each time. I also go to a 90 minute yoga class each week.

Is that enough?

Or do I need to walk back to back days of 20 or more kms?
Do I need to practice with the loaded backpack for those back to back hikes?
Do I need to go up and down hills repeatedly to build up my leg muscles?
Should I be lifting weights and doing squats every other day?

I think I am in as good as or better shape than I was on my first and second Camino.
Can I trust that my body will be up to the challenge?

The proof is in the pudding - I think I will only know when I am there, doing it.

Here is a blog post from the Camino Forum with specific goals for each week. As I look at it, I think that I am almost there.
http://www.caminoadventures.com/getting-walking-fit-camino/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook

What a great adventure my life is!