Being on the World Race for 8 month now, you learn a lot. Some lessons you learn the hard way and others you get to learn along the way. My team and I sat around the table and compiled a list of all the mistakes we’ve made that we hope future racers will avoid.
May the force be with you as you make your own mistakes.
Remember… what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. #rejoiceintrials #sufferingproducesperseverance #headedforsanctification
- Eating Indian food before a travel day
- Allowing a child to rub their head on yours. Their is a good chance you’ll get lice.
- Washing your clothes a day before travel day. Trust me, you don’t want your clothes to smell like mold from not drying all the way.
- Not carrying toilet paper/baby wipes everywhere you go
- Not washing your fruit. Parasites are not your friend.
- Getting your nose pierced in India
- Not bargaining at the market
- Running in Ho Chi Mihn
- Eating jackfruit
- Not bringing earplugs and an eye mask
- Not downloading Google Translate, Google Maps, Uber, and Venmo
- Not getting a Charles Schwab card
- Playing cards in Thailand (it’s illegal)
- Packing your knife, multi-tool, or travel spork in your day-pack
- Not buying a sleeping bag liner
- Not buying a sea to summit air-porter (you literally NEED THE STRAPS) Your back will appreciate it
- Eating funky street meat
- Friending locals on Facebook
- Leaving your snacks in the open
- Not labeling your stuff (headphones, chargers, peanut butter, etc)
- Sharing a charger… ever
- Breaking out snacks in front of people (“hey can I have some?”)
- Not locking the squatty potty door
- Wearing your backpack on your back in the market
- Not knowing the exchange rate
- Keeping all your money in one pocket in the market
- Not having passport photos
- Not downloading Spotify premium before leaving the country (14 days of the free crap will not last your entire race)
- Not having a passport copy
- Not pulling your maxi skirt up when using a squatty
- Packing anything other than neutral- color scheme… (it is everything, so versatile)
- Being too good for pin worm meds
- Swimming in any body of water in Africa #hellogiardia
- Bringing an unlocked iPhone
- Not getting an actual protective phone case
- Not getting lasik (youngins’ take it from someone older… get this as a graduation present. I promise you, you won’t regret it)
- Buying a crappy sleeping pad
- Buying an expensive tent
- Not coming with tattoo ideas
- Thinking there’s no coffee or Coca Cola abroad
- Thinking you’ll lose weight on the race
- Thinking you’ll do p90x or CrossFit all the time
- Coming here to find a husband (foreign or other)
- Not bringing a lice comb
- Not bringing extra headphones
- Engaging in petty theft (#jackspillow #justicefortate)
