13 Weeks to go

 So As I only just started this blog I will cover a few things of where I am with things.

On Monday I started my diet in an effort to drop a stone and 3/4 before I go.  So on to clean eating, because of this I had a weekend trying to eat as much crap as I could so I knew starting monday I was likely to drop a few pounds just from water weight and carbs clearing my system.

I have been walking to and from work with my rucksack with weights in so it at around 13kg which should be full pack weight.  I had a number of engagements this week so was unable to do as much in the evenings fitness wise as I would have liked.

My New Solomon – Crossmax 2 trainers came on tuesday and I have only walked in them since and worn them all day in work to break them in and so far its got to be said I love them.

I also bought black walking trousers so I can now wear them in work so it makes it easier to walk to and from in comfort.

My Under Armour boxers also arrived and I cannot stress enough, they are immense how I didn’t have any before is astonishing.  I now plan to replace my entire underwear collection with these.   They make walking easy with no chafing and great wicking. I know this chat may make some people uncomfortable but the guys will thank me.

So very happy with my new purchases.  Still loving my rucksack, incredibly comfortable and supportive.  Also my rab boreas mid layer top is soo good I bought another one.  Its so light and breathes so well even wore it in the rain and it was fine.  My new jacket is also great its breathability is great and the pit zips have made a huge difference in me not sweating so much when walking in the rain or colder days when i’m layering up.

So this week I walked 50k to a from work.  Then this morning I woke up at half 6 as normal even knowing I didn’t have to get up I looked out the window and it was glorious sunshine so went down to asda and got some breakfast and food for a long walk.

Started by the river across from Asda, walked to Duthie Park and then all the way up the Old Railway Line to Culter and back down the line until Back to the flat. 23k walked with little to no bother or problems.

Details of the Walk here:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/307395633

Some pics from the Walk:

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Fitness/Preparation

 So after years of partying and drinking through University up until September 2011 I was fat no other word for it.  My Best friend had nicknamed me Pies.  I had serious portion control issues, also eating all the wrong foods and very lazy.  At the time I was working on the doors so had the night time living sleep pattern, fueled by pizza, lager and energy drinks.  The Economy was in the pooper and I had been getting loads of rejections from IT Job Interviews.  I used to commute cycling and fighting/throwing out punters was as active as I got.  I was actually in a very low point with my self confidence due to all the conditions and not being happy with my weight or body or job.  My friend who I worked with on the door Paul Gibson, owned a gym and was a body builder regardless of if he recognized how low I was or was just being a great friend took me under his wing.  Introduced me to bodybuilding, a clean diet and a group of people who supported me through training intensively 5 days a week.  I owe a lot of appreciation to Paul for this he allowed me to turn my life around.  After 4 months I had lost close to 6 stone and was looking far more healthy and toned.  My weight then plateaued and I had pretty much hit my weight goal.

This was the point that due to my new confidence and happiness I got my first IT job and got to quit working security.  Now being a much more conscious eater about food and exercise I decided to stop going to the gym and up the cycling to new levels.  I bought a road bike and didn’t look back and for most of 2012 I was cycling 150 miles a week plus.  This was keeping me slim but as winter hit into 2013 I will admit I got a bit complacent and gained a stone.

The winter sucked for road cycling was snowing lots or was icy.  Decided to buy a mountain bike in an effort to go offroad or cycle in snow.  While doing this is slid on some ice and fell off my bike and twisted my ankle tearing the muscles.  This put me out of action for 2 months.

In the last 6 weeks I have been building my ankle back up and knowing at this point I was going to do the Camino I had started walking. A tough task for someone who cycled everywhere.  Once I started walking I knew I was in trouble my feet would cause me silly amounts of pain even after short distances.  So started walking every other day between 5-10k depending on time and weather.  This was making my feet better powering through the pain but I knew i needed to up this more as I was at the 16 week countdown to the Camino.

So I started walking to and from work.  This is 5k each was so short enough that my feet don’t hurt and have a rest before coming back.

I have done this for a few weeks now and my feet have responded very well and are now conditioning to the walking.

I will post weekly updates with training going forward.  You will find these in the archive posts.

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Packing/Equipment

So something you should know about me is when I decide to do something I normally get pretty stuck into it.   Normally find out heaps about the subject and get the right equipment.  Normally compulsively obsessed with being prepared for whatever it is so when I decided to do the Camino I instantly started shopping in my head.

So far I have spent quite a lot if I am honest on equipment for the training and for the actual Camino.

Its worth mentioning I am a very hot person (temperature only my ego is not that big) and sweat and the mere though of movement so have bought a lot of items based on comfort knowing I will be doing the Camino in the peak of the Spanish Summer.

This is what I have so far but will hone my packing list closer to me going and update this page:

Rucksack – Northface- terra 45
Boots – Salomon – Cosmic 4d 2 gtx
Trainers – Salomon – Crossmax 2
Trousers – 3 x Craghoppers – Kiwi zip offs – Waterproof trousers- Gore cycling GoreTex
Tshirts- 2 x Under Armour – Technical loose fit T-shirt & Under Armour – Compression top
Mid-Layer – 2 x Rab Boreas pull over’s
Jacket – Mountain Equipment – Firefox
Hydration – 3L camelbak antidote (fits in rucksack)
Sweat Bands – Under Armour
Socks – 3 x bridgedale walking boot socks
               2 x hiking liner socks
               1 x Sealskin waterproof – ankle socks
               9 x on one – thin cycling/trainer socks
Underwear – Under Armour Boxing Shorts (best things I bought soo comfy)
First Aid Kit – various compeeds, zinc oxide tape
Walking Poles – Karrimor X-Lite Carbon
Sleeping Bag – Blacks

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My Camino Travel

 So first of all I will be walking the Camino and will be very different for me a self confessed cycling junkie.

I am on a tight schedule most people average 33 days and take rest days on top of that to complete the Camino Frances.

I have August booked off work from so finish on Friday the Second of August and I am back at my desk on the Second of September

So I have booked my flights and transport:

Friday 2/8/13 - Flying from Aberdeen to Heathrow

Bus Transfer from Heathrow to Standsted - sleep in the airport or get a hotel

Saturday 2/8/13 - Flying to Biarritz

Bus to Bayonne, then Train to Saint Jean Pied de Port

Saturday 31/8/13 - Flying from Madrid to Edinburgh

Bus back to Aberdeen

I am yet to book transport internally in Spain from Santiago to Madrid or any hotels will just do it on the move.

So this gives me 28 days until i have to be in Madrid.

So realistically 27 days giving me some travel time to Madrid.

I also want to go to Fisterra and as much as I would love to walk it I don't think I will be able to as most take 3 extra days and an extra 89km to do it.  but will have to accept hopefully being done a day earlier on the main Camino then get a bus out and back the same day.

So that included means 26 days walking 30.77 km each day. Personally I will see how it goes and if I can average out more in places to do less on other days I will do that to spend more time in the main cities.  Pamplona, Leon, Burgos & Santiago.  I am also hoping to put in some long stretches on the last few days as getting beds in the last 100k is tough in the summer months and mixed with that being the minimum people are required to do to means there is always a race for beds.

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