On the Wobbly Camino?

Reading a Bas Bleu mail order catalog with my brother, I discovered a book called Wobble to Death, a murder mystery that takes place around a six-day, 500-mile race that was popular in London in the 1870's, before the Camino de Santiago de Compostela became the commercial success it is now.  (I love Spain, so that's nothing against the Camino!)

Since a friend and I are "doing" a small part of the Camino--about 110 miles, from Cebreriro to Santiago instead of the 500 mile trek that most do (eventually if not all in one whack), I was intrigued by this 500-mile race done not in a month or 50 days but in 6 days!  (Intrigued is not the same as inspired.)

I ordered the book, which arrived yesterday, and have underlined key phrases:

"I've seen nothing so internally barbarous as a six-day race."
"You got to take the first hundred fast.  Get well in front, Bill, and we'll ease up later."

(Bill is my walking partner's name.)

"He's all right for five hundred easy.
His training?  "No butter, sugar or cheese since August.  Purging with Cockle's pills.  His feet won't blister, neither.  We've had them in alum and water regular.  And he's run on the roads two hours daily these six weeks."

Bill, are you listening?

Of course, it describes the participants, the majority of whom "moved more like sacrificial victims than gladiators striding into the arena."

Another day I'll cite the ones that "finish the week in coffins."

There's also mention of the all-important socks:  I shall want a change at noon.  Be sure to air the new pair for at least two hours.  And I shall want you to have a sponge and vinegar ready in case I require it later...

I've just begun chapter two, which relates the rule against wearing spiked boots or shoes.

But now it's time for me to take a two-hour walk from my house with the view of the ocean to a friend's house facing the Bay.