I take my microphone out for a walk with Jyrki Wahlstedt, a long-distance walking enthusiast whose idea of a stroll is anything but ordinary. We talk about ultra-walking, pilgrimage routes across Europe, and what compels someone to walk hundreds, even thousands, of kilometers.

Jyrki shares stories from the Camino Primitivo in Spain and the Jakobswege routes in Germany, detailing the challenges, history, and deeply personal moments he’s encountered on foot. From blisters and barefoot prep to cathedral organs and chance conversations, this episode explores how walking long distances becomes more than just physical movement: it becomes a journey through culture, memory, and self-reflection.

We also dive into the rich history of the Camino de Santiago, how it connects walkers across time and place, and what kind of mindset and gear it takes to go the distance.

We talk about:

• How Jyrki’s 300 km+ walks began (spoiler: Tolkien and a squash tournament were involved)
• Highlights from Germany and Spain: towns, people, and Bach
• Walking as mindfulness and personal transformation
• Learning to listen to your body and plan realistically
• Why there's no universal advice—just trial, error, and adaptation
• The fascinating history of the Camino de Santiago

“Don’t do nothing. Do something, and scale it back.” — Or in Jyrki’s case, scale it way up.

Weekly Challenge:

Pack a few books in your backpack and head out for a long walk. As you stroll, imagine yourself tracing the ancient pilgrimage routes through Spain. What might you discover on the way?

Additional resources are available in the links below.

• Camino Primitivo
• Borja Golán - Wikipedia
• Georg Böhm - Wikipedia
• Via Podiensis - Wikipedia
• A History of the Camino de Santiago - Iberian Adventures
• The History of the Camino de Santiago | Wilderness Travel
• History of the Camino de Santiago | Walk the Camino
• History of the Camino de Santiago | Stories | Notre Dame Magazine | University of Notre Dame
• St. James' Way pilgrimage routes in Germany
• Germany’s Camino trek rivals Spain’s famous pilgrimage—and is a lot less crowded
• The Camino Francés guide: routes, stages, maps and km
• Camino Primitivo | Galiwonders
• The Camino Primitivo - a 2025 guide & stages
• Camino Primitivo (The Primitive Way)

Please send us feedback by email to feedback@scaledto.fit

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#scaledtofit #fitness #grownupfitness #scaling

You don’t need fancy equipment to start walking — just a good pair of shoes and clothes that keep you comfortable. However, as your walks become longer and more frequent (or you consider running), some gear choices do matter.

In this episode, we break down the essentials, nice-to-haves, and total wastes of money when it comes to walking and running gear. From finding the right shoes (hello, gait analysis!) to avoiding blisters, bad socks, and tight toe boxes, we break down what you actually need and how to choose gear that works for you, not just what influencers promote.

What you’ll learn:

• How to pick the right shoes (and why pronation matters)
• Why your socks might be your worst enemy
• Must-have accessories for comfort and safety
• Do you really need a sports watch? The truth about tracking

We also dig into how sports watches are changing the way we exercise, and why measurable activities like walking and running are on the rise — data lovers, this one’s for you.

Additional resources are available in the links below.

• ScienceDirect: Pronation
• The 12 Best Running Shoes of 2025
• The 4 Best Running Socks of 2025 | Tested & Rated
• Hydration Basics - Hydration plays an important role in your comfort and performance while hiking, biking, skiing, running and climbing. In this series, we cover everything from how much to drink to how to treat water in the backcountry.
• Effects of Output Quality and Result Demonstrability on the Perceived Usefulness of GPS Sports Watches from the Perspective of Industry 4.0 - The perceived usefulness of sports watches increases with better data quality and ease of interpreting results, which in turn positively affects users' intention to use them regularly.
• Living by the numbers: understanding the “quantification effect”
• Who uses running apps and sports watches? Determinants and consumer profiles of event runners’ usage of running-related smartphone applications and sports watches - Sports watches are more commonly used by experienced and highly involved runners, whereas beginners tend to use mobile apps. This suggests that sport selection may align with the user’s comfort and familiarity with device functionalities
• Discrete Chaotic Fuzzy Neural Network (DC-FNN) Based Smart Watch Embedded Devices for Sports and Health Monitoring - Smartwatches with advanced physiological monitoring (e.g., heart rate, step count) help athletes track performance and detect potential health risks, promoting more effective training and injury prevention.
• Reliability and validity of ten consumer activity trackers - PMC
• Validity of sports watches when estimating energy expenditure during running

In this episode, we unpack the often-overlooked but crucial component of any training plan: recovery. Starting with a Finnish saying, "There's still time to rest in the grave," we explore how this mindset can hinder rather than help long-term progress. From the science of muscle memory and rest-enhanced performance to practical strategies like active recovery and the game-changing role of sleep, this episode is your deep dive into why less can sometimes be more.

We also cover:

• The surprising results of a triathlete’s 3-month training break
• Why anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen might slow your recovery
• The role of cooling in improving sleep and recovery
• How to use your morning heart rate to monitor recovery
• Why even a week off won’t derail your fitness progress

Additional resources are available in the links below.

• Gaining more from doing less?
• Caffeine Attenuates Delayed-Onset Muscle Pain and Force Loss Following Eccentric Exercise
• The effect of caffeine ingestion on delayed onset muscle soreness - PubMed
• Pay Attention to the Pes Anserine in Knee Osteoarthritis - Pes anserine syndrome or bursitis is a clinical condition marked by tenderness 2–3 inches below the knee. It's often caused by overuse or poor alignment and affects the sartorius tendon and/or pes anserine bursa. Treatment may include NSAIDs, corticosteroid injections, and physical therapy.
• Traumatic musculotendinous injuries of the knee - Sartorius muscle strains can result from traumatic or overuse injuries, particularly due to its superficial and biarticular (crossing both hip and knee joints) nature. It is especially susceptible to strain injuries and best visualized using MRI, which distinguishes between muscle contusion, strain, or tendon avulsion.
• Pes Anserine Tendinopathy - Pes anserine tendinopathy often involves the sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus tendons at their common insertion on the medial knee. It typically results from repetitive stress, poor biomechanics, and inflammation, especially in runners and athletes. Treatment includes rest, physical therapy, and posture correction
• Stiffness of the iliotibial band and associated muscles in runner’s knee
• Running injury-free : how to prevent, treat, and recover from runner's knee, shin splints, sore feet, and every other ache and pain
• Runner's Knee: What Is It and How Effective Is Conservative Management?
• Sleeping for One Week on a Temperature-Controlled Mattress Cover Improves Sleep and Cardiovascular Recovery
• Core body temperature changes before sleep are associated with nocturnal heart rate variability
• Sleep quality is a predictor of muscle mass, strength, quality of life, anxiety and depression in...

In this inspiring episode, we explore the journey of restarting a cardio routine after a long break, especially when you're over 50. Think of it like tuning up a classic instrument: the memory is there, but finding the rhythm again takes time, care, and patience.

Host Marko shares a personal and relatable story of how walking became the unexpected yet perfect path back to physical activity. With honesty, humor, and insight, this episode explores six practical steps for anyone looking to ease back into an active lifestyle:

1. Consult Your Doctor – Why a quick health check is a smart start
2. Progress Gradually – Start low, go slow, and don’t underestimate the power of walking
3. Listen to Your Body – Know the difference between healthy soreness and signs of overdoing it
4. Joint & Muscle Care – Warm-ups, cool-downs, and cross-training tips for long-term success
5. Hydration & Nutrition – Fuel your body before, during, and after your workouts
6. Consistency Over Intensity – Why doing “just enough” regularly beats going all-in sporadically

We also explore how to prevent and manage DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness), the power of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals, and why finding joy in the process is your best fitness companion.

Whether you're returning to movement after years or simply looking for a motivational nudge, this episode is for you. Your body will thank you, and your future self will, too.

Additional resources on physical activity are available in the links below.

Check these out for more

• Vibration Therapy in Management of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) - Vibration therapy may also be beneficial for reducing muscle soreness and improving mobility (Veqar & Imtiyaz, 2014).
• Effect of Therapeutic Treatment on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) - Studies suggest that warm whirlpool therapy and foam rolling may help reduce muscle soreness, while NSAIDs should be used cautiously due to potential side effects (La Shier, 2015).
• Effects of Electrotherapy on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) - Electrotherapy techniques like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Micro-Current Electrical Therapy (MET) have shown promise in reducing pain and improving recovery (Hosseinian, 2021).
• The Effectiveness of Physiotherapeutic Interventions in the Management of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness - A systematic review reported that massage and light concentric exercise were more effective than no treatment, while static stretching, cryotherapy, and acupuncture were not strongly supported (O'Connor & Hurley, 2003).
• Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS): Management Update - A review highlighted that light exercise, nutrition (protein, amino acids), and natural supplements like ginger and tart cherry juice may help manage DOMS (Kancherla, 2023).
• Delayed onset muscle soreness: is massage effective? - Massage has been shown to enhance muscle recovery and alleviate symptoms of DOMS (Nelson, 2013).

The episode discusses the benefits of walking, noting its evolution from a daily to a weekly practice. It highlights the risks of overexertion, emphasizing the need for rest days and electrolyte replenishment to prevent fatigue.

Marko revised the daily step goal from 10,000 to 8,000, advocating for realistic targets. He presents walking as both meditation and exercise, enhanced through bodyweight exercises, rucking, and short sprints.

The key takeaway is that walking is a simple, accessible activity. Starting small, exploring new routes, and adding challenges can improve fitness. The episode encourages listeners to enjoy walking at their own pace and provides practical tips for tracking their progress.

Check these out for more

• Anita DeFrantz Quote
• Walking for Exercise - The Nutrition Source - Cardiovascular Health: Walking improves blood circulation and lowers blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease. Weight Management: Walking helps burn calories, aiding in weight loss and preventing obesity.
• 5 surprising benefits of walking - Harvard Health - Bone and Joint Health: Walking strengthens bones, eases joint pain, and reduces the risk of osteoporosis and arthritis.
• How walking benefits the brain - Mental Well-being: Walking boosts mood, reduces stress, and improves cognitive function. It is also linked to better memory and lower depression risks.
• Walking - Wikipedia - Longevity: Walking at least 2,337 steps daily reduces the risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases, and 3,967 steps daily lowers the risk of dying from any cause.

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Marko shares his journey from being a sports hater to discovering the joy of walking. He emphasizes the importance of scaling exercise for those over 50 and the euphoric feelings associated with physical activity, particularly through endorphins and endocannabinoids. He encourages listeners to start exercising, even if it's just a walk around the block.

Check these out for more

• Runner's high - Wikipedia
• Endorphins: What They Are and How to Boost Them
• Endorphins: The brain's natural pain reliever - Harvard Health
• Neurobiological effects of physical exercise - Euphoria - Wikipedia
• Endorphins - Wikipedia
• Endocannabinoids - Wikipedia

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#scaledtofit #fitness #grownupfitness #scaling

In the "Scaled to Fit - Fit in Your Fifties" biweekly podcast, Marko focuses on enjoyable exercise for those over 50, sharing personal fitness challenges and successes and encouraging listeners to take action and adapt workouts to their needs.

Please send us feedback by email to feedback@scaledto.fit

Go to podchaser.com/scaledtofit and give us a rating.

#scaledtofit #fitness #grownupfitness #scaling

Rest Days and Half-Intensity Weeks are a crucial part of the training. Without rest and recovery, the body will not develop and improve.

Rest-Day Recommendations

Active Recovery & the Difference Between Rest Days and Recovery Days 

Rest Days & Half-Intensity Weeks

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music by scottholmesmusic.com