More Training Walks

On average we will be walking 15 - 20 miles a day so I figured that it might be wise to get some time and distance in on the road. At first (back in the winter with snow still on the ground) I was thinking that I needed to get into the woods to get dirt beneath my shoes, but as I look at various blogs on the internet, I have changed my mind. Contrary to what the guide books report, it seems like there is a lot of road time to be had and very little "trail" walking - at least as I think of it. e.g. Monoosnok Trail here in Leominster.

So as of this date (actually 4/26/13) with under a month to go, I have done a number of walks between 7 and 16.2 miles. Probably in the range of a dozen so far, three over 12 miles. I did the 8 mile one twice one morning which is probably pretty realistic. From now on, if I go for long distances, I must take longer breaks to replicate the Camino.

I did a 15.6 miler in the woods (Monoosnock) last week, but realized after that that's not a realistic terrain on which to train ... some of it was, but much is not. The hills are good.

Speaking of hills, there are plenty around here. Starting from home, I can go straight up Litchfield, pass Holy Family Church, the Little Red Schoolhouse (28 minutes), and continue on up past the reservoir, around several bends and up the hill to Grand View ... all uphill ... without stopping. That's a nice push. I even continue another mile before stopping. I'll need that hill training when we set out from St. Jean Pied du Port to Ronscevalles ... almost all uphill for 15+ miles.