Ruiz's Pilgrimage 2017 - PREPARATION II

  How is it going, pilgrims? It's a new month, so we are going to change our training plan. If you agree, of course.

  I propose increasing a little the level of difficulty, just a little bit. To the 2 hour daily walks, let's add some fun in the shape of a moderate ascent and a moderate descent, preferably at the end of the walk.

  We will try to keep up the pace at all times, in flat paths, when going uphill or when descending.
  At weekends we will go for 3-hour-walk at a constant pace of around six kilometers per hour. The number of kilometers per week and per month will not increase a lot, but at weekends we will make more intense trainings to try to simulate a regular stage of the Pilgrimage to Santiago.
 Be careful with the descents, they make you more tired than you think and they are very hard on your legs. There are usually more injuries in descents than in ascents. 

  In any challenging route to Santiago there are dangerous descents due to loose stones or wet ground, wet grass, puddles or mud. You must always use a walking stick to help you.

Don't forget your mental preparation: talk to your body if you feel pain of if you're injured; if you're OK, let the body walk and fly with your mind to fantastic worlds.

   And if you have time, add another complementary exercise to walking. It can be a bit of cycling, swimming, squats or any other sport you like. It is essential to exercise the upper trunk and the heart.

   Regarding the equipment, don't go mad: use comfortable waterproof shoes and cotton-made breathable clothes.

 That's all for today, my pilgrim friends! See you next week. May Santiago and the Force be with you.

 Buen camino!

Traductora: Virginia Ruiz