Walking the Sudbury Camino might not qualify, officially, as a sport - but in the oppressive heat of this past Saturday, rest assured that the one hundred or so brave souls who tackled the trek burned far more calories than many an athlete has in competition.

Thanks to the efforts of the Rainbow Routes Association and a host of sponsors and volunteers, the event went off without a hitch, with walkers covering distances ranging from 21km to 28km.

An original founding member of Rainbow Routes, botanist and Laurentian University professor Dr Peter Beckett was stationed at the Living with Lakes Centre aid station (complete with fresh watermelon), reflecting upon just how far the Camino has come in the past decade or so.

"The whole idea with having it initially was simply to get people out on the trails, especially with the Trans Canada Trail cutting through Sudbury," said Beckett. "We already have running events in Sudbury, so we felt it would be nice to have a walking event."

Loosely fashioned along the lines of the world-renown Camino de Santiago in Spain, the walk on Saturday that left either from Fielding Memorial Park in Lively or Robinson Playground has offered some ties to the popular European version that folks often undertake to enjoy times of personal reflection.

"Some people like to talk, others prefer to go along by themselves, appreciating nature and enjoying a more spiritual adventure," said Beckett. As for his favourite section, little surprise that his preference turns to an area that offers countless first-hand experiences with living creatures and organisms.

"As a biologist, the one I like the most is from the Bio-Ski lodge as you go through the Laurentian Green Space - and you continue on the Moonlight Beach trail. And with this being such a hot day, that is usually a fairly cool stretch because you have all of the trees."

With that segment also representing the final stretch to the finish line, Nolan Jamieson surely also would list it as his favourite.

An 11 year-old grade 7 student at MacLeod Public School, Jamieson took on the walk on the urging of his father - and even at the 18km milestone that was Living with Lakes, still was prompting dad to pick up the pace, from time to time.

"I kind of knew a little bit about this ahead of time," he said. "I knew that it was going to be a long walk. But you kind of focus on just keeping going and then you will eventually make it there, no matter how long it takes."

While not an avid sportsperson, per se, Jamieson does stay more physically active than likely many a classmate.

"I like to walk in the woods, in the trails around Sudbury, in the Laurentian trails," he said. "The Laurentian trails have some nice lakes and spots."

For more information on any future Rainbow Routes Association activities, visit the organization's website at www.rainbowroutes.com, or contact Executive Director Rachel Mantas at rachel.mantas@rainbowroutes.com.