College Student seeks Camino Mentor

[Frank Metcalf and Mary Doherty]

I certainly agree with Bob Spengler that footgear is a matter of personal
choice. Having said that, I have no idea why--other than sheer received
tradition--most people do indeed wear boots instead of running shoes. Since
I live my life in runners, the (archived) post by a pilgrim who had
through-hiked the Appalachian Trail in trail runners caught my attention,
as I prepared, much more than did the postings of the "must wear boots"
legion. She commented on the Camino that, were she doing it again, she'd
use conventional road runners, instead of the trail variety, because the
Camino is so hard underfoot--on average, a dirt road. No part of it is
truly rugged nor difficult in the way that North American trails often are.
In any case, since you need only a very light pack--ours were 12 pounds
basic load, 15 with food and water--there's no need to subject your feet to
the weight, heat, sweat, and blisters that boots provide for those million
steps.

Our party of three--two women in their mid-50s and myself, 60 at the time
in May / June 2002--had a significantly easier time of it, all around, than
did most others we met, of all ages. Conditioning and light loads were
major factors, but so were the runners, as our lack of blisters suggested.
We helped many pilgrims with their feet--one of us is a doctor and
marathoner--and couldn't fail to observe that the awful "raw meat" blisters
seemed boot-related, as boots tend to make feet conform to them, rather
than the other way round with runners. (For the record, we used WrightSock
double-layer (in one sock) running socks; and as feet expand on long walks,
a larger shoe is needed.) Walking speed is no virtue in itself, but was an
inevitable byproduct of our kit--including no sticks, and not even
hipbelts, no need for either at 15 pounds max--but freshness at day's end
is a good thing, and the odd 40K day was a pleasant option.

For a young person in good health, I'd say just go light all around, the
trail and the hills are rather easy, the experience is incredibly rich but
it lies in the people, the places, the wonderful scenery, the language, the
vibrant cohort of pilgims you share your journey with, and however your
soul responds to the mysterious "thing" that makes this voyage unlike any
other. It's not about equipment, despite my two cents above. The other
night we attended a talk by a doctor who became a cancer patient, and I
memorized one of the quotes he used, since it applies to the Camino, even
to choices of kit and training for it. (We'll start walking from Le Puy to
Pamplona this May, so I'm immersed again.)  He said, "Pain is inevitable.
Suffering is optional."  Amen.

Frank Metcalf, Vancouver BC



> I'm about to graduate from UNC in North Carolina.  I wear about a size
>> 10.5 or 11 shoe.  I take it that a boot is your recommendation for
>> footwear? (that's one of the questions that I had).
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Ben
>>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date:    Sun, 22 Feb 2004 16:24:58 -0800
>From:    Robert Spenger <rspengeraEARTHLINK.NET>
>Subject: Re: College Student seeks Camino Mentor
>
>It is strictly a matter of personal choice. For three pilgrimages, a
>total of about 2500 km, I wore low cut shoes, with stout soles,  the
>whole time and never missed my boots. The camino is not cross country
>stuff - it is roads and trails trod by many thousands of people every
>year. If there had been deep snow or mud I would probably have
>regretted it , but the stones and downhills were no problem - not for
>the feet at any rate. Downhills are hard on my ancient knees and I made
>good use of my walking sticks,  but boots would not have made a
>difference for the knees.
>
>regards,
>
>Bob Spenger
>
>
>On Feb 22, 2004, at 3:31 PM, john rogers wrote:
>
>> most, if not everyone I met was wearing boots of some sort. If one
>> started
>> late in the camino and missed the most of the mountains, something else
>> might work but I would not recommend it. Lots of stones and steep
>> downhills.
>> I wore the ankle height hiking boots from LL Bean. Found the choice of
>> proper socks as important as the boots and lots of walking to break
>> them in
>>