What is it Like Walking Every Day for 30+ Days?

I have read that walking is a prayer and every step on the Camino can be a prayer or can be filled with hope for the future or anything else that you want. It can also be a great difficulty, a slog, just to put one foot in front of the other on Camino.

On the Camino you meet new people, make friends with people from all over the world, people who you would never normally have  chance to talk to yet alone remain friends with years later.

It is a chance to walk through some beautiful countryside (whilst singing Disney songs if you want!) and see a very different lifestyle to the one that most of us experience.

It is difficult to begin with, even if you are used to walking as few of us walk constantly for several days in a row but it does get easier over time as your body gets used to the walking and to carrying your bag. That doesn’t mean that after 20 or more days you don’t groan when you come to a hill that you have to climb, the Way can still be difficult but it is rewarding.

As with anything walking becomes normal for you and you miss it when you stop (we considered having a break in Burgos but continued because we could not, at that time, imagine stopping walking for a day).

Injuries can occur and do – on my first Camino I got an infected blister and had to stop walking for a week. I was in Sarria and worried that I would not reach Santiago after about 20 days walking and that is a horrible experience to have walked that far and face that possibility. If that happens to you then I can only advise paying attention to medical advice and resting, maybe you will have to cut out some of your Camino or come back another time but the prospect can be heartbreaking.

What you have to remember is that the Camino is possible, it will be hard going at many times (and do not believe anyone who tells you that the Camino is an ‘easy walk’ – the Frances is well way marked, well walked and has a lot of bars for breaks and accommodation so that it can be split up but it is not easy. With practice walking becomes easier though but there can still be difficulties. I’m not saying this to discourage anyone from walking, I would encourage anyone to walk the Way but be prepared for what you are going to be walking, do your research because I did not fully understand the path before my first Camino and encountered a few surprises).

If you do find it difficult going then here are a few suggestions:

• Sing as you walk – you won’t be the only one doing it (especially if I am also walking)!
• You can listen to music on your MP3 player – or listen out to nature as you go
• Look at your map and find out where the next bar is so that you have somewhere to aim for for a break or see where the next albergue is as a minmum distance you have to walk
• Play any word games
• 
  
• Remember that others will be willing to help you
  Any other ideas, write them below.