Ups and Downs of Training

So far most of our training has been on relatively flat ground - except for a few short hours in the Galena territory - we have been walking country roads and right-of-ways. Today we visited the Saw Wee Kee Park in Oswego, Illinois to do some hills.  Our first attempt started off really great - until the mosquitoes woke up - we beat a hasty retreat back to the car and headed to the nearest Walgreens  to purchase some Afterbite and Deep Woods Off. 

Now - properly equipped - we should have known better - we re-started our hill training. We have never been there before and we both thought it was awesome!  We were able to really put our trekking poles to good use - going up and down hills - some fairly steep - and in the process handling ourselves well.  These trails are also used by trail bikes and I can see where they must have a great time there. Lots of ups and downs and jump spots.

Looking Down The Trail 

The trails there are smaller than the ones we expect to encounter in Spain and those that we have already walked - in fact we had to walk single file - just wide enough for one person or one bike.  So we learned that we go downhill much slower than we thought and we also learned that in this kind of terrain the rubber tips come off and you use the metal tips to dig into the dirt and mud.  Valuable training lessons 

Tree Roots - Stumbling Blocks in the Path

Steep descents were interesting - we had not encountered any like this before - the ones in the Galena area were all on asphalt - so dirt is definitely different - and I think both of us prefer dirt.

We are still doing a lot of straight walking - building up our endurance - a little over 70 days before we depart - for an older couple - I think we are right where we are suppose to be.

Buen Camino

Dale and Arlene

Training Days II

Now that we have more consistent weather - we have been able to get outside almost every other day.  We are still coping with Arlene's job - that will end soon - so we can do daily walks starting July.  In the meantime we are getting used to trekking poles - and settling into a walking rhythm that is not stressful - yet gets us to our destination in a reasonable time. We continue to go back and forth over the issue of socks - how many - which types - the most comfortable and such.  Most of the terrain around us is fairly flat so we are looking for places to hike that has more hills to train on.  Next week we will start training on those hills.  Everything else seems to be on track - rehearsing packing our back packs - testing our sleeping sacks for comfort - getting used to drinking from our hydration system.  

In the meantime we are promoting our training walk "El Camino de los Santos" scheduled for July 6th.  If we keep with our current pace - that should be an easy task.  Our hope is to recruit people to walk with us - to expose them to the concept of a walking pilgrimage and to the Camino in Spain. 

Our newest task is searching for lightweight shoes to use to walk through water and for use in the showers and in the evenings after walking all day.  We have a lead on some that look interesting.  We will share that information as soon as we receive them and test them out. Until then keep trekking.

Buen Camino
Dale and Arlene 

El Camino de los Santos Participation Forms

One Day Camino - Training Event

Previosuly I posted about walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain.  As a training tool - my wife and I have designed a one day Camino - here in Illinois.  Rather than walk this alone - we are inviting adventurous individuals to join us on this trek.

El Camino de los Santos - The Way of the Saints 

Click link above to read flier

There are two forms that are required to participate on this Camino.

Registration Deadline July 3, 2013

You must click the links provided below and print out each page. 

Your completed "Participation Form" should be mailed to:

 DeaconTravel Ministries  

PO Box 124   

Bristol, IL 60512

 OR

You may Sign and Scan your Form and send as an email attachment

to:  camino@deacontravel.org

If you want a commemorative Camino t-shirt, then indicate your shirt

size on the Participation Form and enclose your donation of $20 (if mailing)

otherwise your donation will be collected the day of the Camino.

Checks should be made out to:  St Gianna Molla Shrine Fund

Camino Participation Form (pdf)

http://www.deacontravel.com/uploads/CDLS2.pdf

Camino Participants Information Form (pdf)

http://www.deacontravel.com/uploads/CDLS3.pdf

Any questions?  Ask!

Buen Camino

Dale & Arlene