8 years ago, I set out to run the entire Portuguese Camino — from Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela — over 600 km in 7 days.
I was young, fit, and convinced I could achieve anything I set my mind to when it came to running.
I started ambitiously from Lisbon, but after 4 days and 180 km, I stopped in Coimbra — dehydrated, sick, and struggling.
The remaining route became a challenge for another time.
This year, at 37 — seeing reality a bit clearer than I did 8–10 years ago — I set out to run from Porto to Santiago de Compostela:
approximately 275 km in 5–6 days.
I started on Wednesday, April 8, and finished on Monday, April 13. Even though it’s a pilgrim’s route, I kept interactions to a minimum.The focus was simple: recovery and sleep.
I chose to stay in hotels and guesthouses along the way, not in the traditional albergues.
The “luxury” I allowed myself was a double bed and as many calories as possible from carbohydrates and protein, while keeping fats low.
With some regret, I avoided local seafood and octopus dishes throughout the journey to prevent any digestive issues.
On average, I ran 45–50 km per day.
The longest day was 60 km, the shortest 31 km.
I carried a 10–12L running pack with a spare set of clothes — surprisingly spacious, as I kept adding essentials along the way: sunscreen, wet wipes, toothpaste, and anything else I realized I needed.
Gear:
- Running shoes: Adidas Adizero Evo SL ATR
- Running pack: Ultraspire Bronco 2.0
- 2 hydration flasks (Decathlon)
- 6 gels