
Training for the Camino After a Heart Attack: One Man’s Return to Hiking | HikeStrong | Ep. 36
From HikeStrong Podcast by Marcus Shapiro | Hiking Strength and Conditioning Coach
March 19, 2026 · 47 min
About this episode
Marcus Shapiro interviews Joel, a retired physician who overcame a heart attack to complete the Camino de Santiago.
In this episode of the Hike Strong Podcast, Marcus Shapiro sits down with Joel — a 63-year-old retired physician who went from a heart attack, beta-blockers, and years of declining fitness… to completing the Camino de Santiago and rediscovering what he’s capable of. Nine months before this conversation, Joel reached out with a simple question: Can I actually do this? After a STEMI in his 40s, years of weight gain, and the limitations of beta-blockers, Joel felt out of shape, uncertain, and ho...
People in this episode
Host: Marcus Shapiro
Guest: Joel
Topics covered
- hiking
- health recovery
- fitness journey
- heart health
- personal transformation
Keywords
- hiking
- heart attack
- fitness
- Camino de Santiago
- recovery
- personal story
- health
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Camino de Santiago
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