When fundraising for the race you are given a lot of advice, you are asked a lot of questions, and hear a lot of assumptions. One of the things I heard most often was something along the lines of “you’re going to meet your husband on this trip”. After speaking with the girls on my squad we came to the conclusion that this is a pretty common statement amongst our friends and family.
Hearing these things tend to open a door in your mind. However, close the door…. And close it quick. Reality is about to set in. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
1. Dating is against policy… Reread the contract you signed. 😉 Maybe read it twice just to lock it in.
2. You are living on the road. Wearing the same sets of clothes.. over and over and over again. … looking similar to a privileged homeless person. Not attractive.
3. There are some seriously long travel days… Meaning no showers… Meaning acne and straight up nasty hair. Hello runway.
4. Have you shaved your legs recently? Enjoy that feeling.. its not the easiest or the funnest thing to do on the race. Especially when everyone needs to use the shower. I can’t speak for all men but I know very few who are into the hairy leg look.
5. Makeup.. honestly.. I mean if you want to put the work in.. by all means do so but I have a pretty good feeling you will be tossing it by month 4. Embrace your natural beauty.
6. Youre living together (sharing bathrooms, living spaces, bunk rooms) eventually these men morph into smelly children/brothers that you may feel the urge to throw things at when they steal all the hot water. (Shout out Grace)
7. You have so much going on within yourself (spiritually, emotionally, physical ly) that a relationship is another thing you will have to balance.. eek.
8. It has been quite some time since I have looked in the mirror and thought “dang, Alex, you’re killing it” it’s usually more along the lines of. “Hair.. well it’s up. Clothes.. smell clean. Eh that’ll do”
9. As much as you “let yourself go” so to speak .. the men do as well. The expression “Let it rip” has become a common one amongst our male racers. Nothing is hidden.
10. Have I met spanish men that wear fitted suits, talk in beautiful accents and captivate me with their stunning eyes…? Why yes .. yes I have. Unfortunately we never stick around long enough for anything to come of this.. and even if we did, let’s be honest… A man in a suit isn’t looking at me in my 3 day old sweats and messy hair.
So to all of our friends and family.. those waiting on pins and needles.. this is the hard truth of the race. We are more likely to come back single and content than tied down. This is a time for us to further develop who we are. A time where we can learn to love God first and seek him fully. A time where we learn that the Lord is enough and marriage is just a bonus blessing we might receive later in life. It is a time to embrace our singleness while we still have it!
1st Corinthians 7:8-9
I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion
