Hi friends!
I compiled a list of 50 things that I’ve learned on the Race so far, for your enjoyment back home, but also for any future racers that might find themselves reading through blogs (like I did) and stumble upon this one.
So, enjoy!!
1. Always carry toilet paper on travel days. Always.
2. Use your sleeping bag sack as your dirty clothes bag
3. Always have a testimony ready
4. Absolutely bring a yoga mat. (my fave thing that I packed. it will save your life & joints.)
5. Be flexible
6. Never expect the food you order to actually be what you ordered
7. You learn how to do charades really well
8. Card games are a good way to fill down time
9. Hurry up, & wait
10. Squatty potties are the new norm
11. You eat rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Asia
12. Have your rain jacket handy in case the air con on your bus leaks water on you the whole ride
13. Every month when your pack throws up, you always wonder how it all fits back inside
14. Your ministry hosts will bless you more than you bless them
15. Always have head phones easily available for access
16. Lice will happen. But don’t panic, you can treat it anywhere.
17. Always have a song ready to be sung
18. You don’t need to buy that shirt, or those pants or that tank top. You don’t need it.
19. You need to separately fundraise for debriefs and LDW’s
20. Google translate becomes your new best friend
21. Always have ample supply of hand sanitizer in your day pack
22. You don’t need that life straw
23. Don’t be cheap on your shoes (aka buy chacos)
24. There’s a difference between a converter and an adapter
25. Bring an oversized comfort colors t shirt. (Just trust me. Pack it. & thank me later.)
26. Have an external battery pack for travel days
27. Always have baby wipes available at all times
28. Surrender early
29. You can always find/make time to work out (gym peeps, don’t worry)
30. Go with the smaller pack… you will fill every single space in it.
31. You don’t need to bring a water bottle
32. Download the currency app before leaving the USA
33. Bring all black underwear
34. Hand towels are a luxury in the USA that you will miss dearly while on the Race
35. ATL means Ask The Lord
36. Feedback can be encouraging and constructive
37. You WILL get cankles on long travel days
38. Bring at least one dressy/nice outfit
39. Everyone’s idea of cleanliness is different
40. You may not use your tent or sleeping pad 90% of the Race, but it’s still worth having for the 10% you will use it
41. If you are a planner, be prepared to not have a plan for the next 11 months of your life, and be ok with it
42. You learn quickly to get over your fear of pooping in front of others
43. Your feet will permanently be black/dirty for the entire 11 months
44. You do not need to bring make up
45. Bring a flannel and keep it the entire Race
46. Bring a full size pillow (you won’t regret it.)
47. You will have a lot of free time
48. Anyone can learn to play an instrument
49. You learn it’s not about efficiency, it’s about relationships
50. Jesus WILL wreck your life, and it will be the greatest/hardest thing you will walk through
