Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

| by archiveworldraceblogs

A month before I left I poured over countless blogs about packing and what to bring for the race. Personally I felt like I read all of the wrong ones. I read countless blogs that said all you will want is t-shirts, shorts, and skirts but man that is so wrong. I also read blogs that said makeup is pointless and you can get by with four pair of chonies…. huge nope. All I am saying is yes you live with less than the average person but that doesn’t mean you have to live life with things you hate. I am the kind of girl who likes heels, booties, and fancy dresses. I left with two pairs of shorts, four t-shirts and three skirts. If I could do it again I would change the way I packed completely. So here is a few tips that have helped me for the race.

 1. Bring What Is COMFORTABLE

Like I said I am the kind of person who loves to dress up, wear makeup, and I like to feel fancy. Now this is hard to do on the race but not impossible. I left home with mascara and shorts. I didn’t bring  a single nice shirt or comfortable jeans. My favorite lipstick, eye shadow, and jewelry is chilling at home. I knew I made a mistake when I was walking around the streets of Siem Reap, Cambodia and I saw all these cute tourist. I could have brought one nice outfit and it would have made a huge difference! I remember doing bar ministry in an ugly t-shirt and a skirt, I felt out of place and really uncomfortable! With this being said, if you wear shorts and t-shirts at home bring them but if you wear dresses and makeup bring that too. Also no matter who you are, JEANS! BRING THEM!

2. Don’t Bring A TON Of Clothes!

This may seem contradictory to the last thing I said but bring a minimal amount of clothes because you will want to buy clothes over seas. When first stepped into a market I was sucked in and all I wanted was Thai pants and cute dresses. I brought everything I didn’t really want and then found myself buying two dollar Thai pants and a Kimono dress! There are a few things that aren’t easy to find JEANS being one of them and running shorts. Most place I have been women wear skirts which makes finding them incredible cheap and easy. Nice makeup however was harder to find and jeans were nearly impossible. SOOOO bring what is comfortable but don’t over pack because you will touch down in your first country and want to buy EVERYTHING! The only thing you should bring a TON of is underwear! Do not make the same mistake I did…..

3. DROP PILE!

The drop pile is the greatest thing to ever! For those who do not know what it is, get ready for free clothes! Whenever the whole squad gets together there is always a drop pile, there is always a place where clothes, gear, trinkets, and miscellaneous things go when people don’t have room for them. Most of the clothes I am wearing now came from other people for free! I didn’t have a nice REI quick dry towel, instead I had a regular towel that took up so so much space and after a month of constant use became GROSS! Well guess who got a purple quick dry towel, THIS GIRL! I have a pair of really nice Under Armour spandex because of the drop pile! It is so great because you get new clothes (well new to you) for free. The only catch is for everything you pick up try to drop something else. If you pick up a shirt drop the shirt you are tired of because it will save you space.

4. Bring More Medicine

Why did I not bring a bottle of ibuprofen? There are so many things that I wish I would have brought that I didn’t. Of course I picked up some tiger balm and some other stuff, however, things I really need I just didn’t bring. I have had five different rashes on the race and man I really wish I had benadryl or benadryl cream. The first twelve hours in Malawi, Africa I had a rash covering one half of my face that went all the way down to my shoulder. It was miserable and I had nothing to take care of it. Medicine can be hard to communicate, when I needed certain things at the pharmacy it took forever to communicate what I needed and sometimes I don’t really know what was given to me. Once I was sick in Thailand, I tried to explain Nyquil to a pharmacist and got antibiotic instead. Bring these basic medicines.

  • Ibeprohen

  • Niquil/Dayquil

  • Benadryl and Benadryl Cream

  • Melatonin

  • BRING MALARIA MEDICINE. Malaria is miserable so take precautions.

  • Vitamins and Probiotics.

  • I bought garlic pills to keep away mosquitoes and it was great.

5. One Personal Item will make a HUGE difference!

So many people on my my squad brought pictures of their family, friends and just things back home. I did not. When my team settled into our house in Africa, they all whipped out family photos to hang on the wall while I had nothing. Instead I had a school schedule which had lipstick imprints all over it which I am guessing was left there by the last team that came through. I didn’t take it down because it was all I had to decorate my wall and I thought it was pretty funny. It made me sad seeing all of these cute photos and letters. If photos aren’t your thing then bring a blanket or your pillow from home because it will mean the world to you. Sometimes when I go to sleep all I want is a nice fluffy pillow but all I have is a really gross travel pillow.

6. Invest In A Nice Sleeping Pad

I bought a Big Agnes sleeping pad which is a great brand but I bought the lease sturdy one you could find. It was honestly a green pool floaty and it was obnoxiously loud. It also popped which caused the worse night of my race so far and I only have nineteen days left. It wasn’t sturdy so it popped while I was in Africa and the next morning I woke up on the cold ground and covered with the meanest rash on my arm. Not that my sleeping pad caused my rash but waking up with a rash during debrief just added insult to injury. Now I am in Guatemala sleeping in my hammock outside because I don’t have a sleeping pad. So do yourself a favor and invest in a nice sleeping pad. Also check the loudness of your pad because sleeping pads are very noisy.

7. GO TO AN REI

I spent countless hours on the internet looking for the best kinds of brands for what I needed. Now that I am on the race I don’t really like anything I have. If I would have gone to an REI I would have been fitted for my big pack and  I would have know what sleeping pad would be best for what I was doing. I could have set up a tent in the store and see what I liked before I bought it. REI is so helpful and they want to set you up for success. My big pack was donated to me, which was really nice, but it was not meant for me. Every Time there is a travel day I am miserable because my pack kills my back and the days following I’m sore. Everyone I talk to who went to an REI and got fitted for their pack, tent, and sleeping pad suggest going. 

8. Find The Right Kind Of Shoe For You

Personally I am a Chacos kind of girl. I will defend Chacos forever! They are sturdy, comfortable, and I know they will last me a long time. There are other people who only wear Birkenstocks because that is what they wear at home and they are comfortable for them. Also have you ever heard of Rainbows? They are really comfortable flip flops and those are also great for the race. Also bring tennis shoes for travel days, working out and for manual labor.

9. A Tip For The Ladies

It is a lie that you can not find tampons overseas. I have found them everywhere I go, yes sometimes they are expensive but they can be found. I found them in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world. Don’t bring a ton, save some space and if you really want to save space… Diva Cup.

 

Packing List!

Clothes

  • Two pairs of running shorts (within dress code)

  • Two nice shirts

  • Two pairs of jeans (Dark blue and Black)

  • A few t-shirts that are important to you and one that you wouldn’t mind it getting trashed.

  • Leggings! You can’t wear them as pants (dress code) but mine have kept me warm, and covered my knees when I was living in Africa.

  • One skirt that you really like (make sure it goes past your knees just to save yourself some trouble with dress code.) You can buy skirts everywhere so you don’t need to bring a bunch.

  • Once nice dress! I promise you won’t regret it.

  • BRING AS MUCH UNDIES AS YOU CAN FIT!!!!!!!!!!

  • Socks are a must! On the race your feet are always dirty but if you wear socks you are warm and your feet will stay clean.

  • Bring some jewelry because it spices up your wardrobe.

  • If you wear makeup bring it, don’t hesitate, just bring it.

  • Chacos and a pair of tennis shoes.

Gear

  • A nice big pack! Osprey, REI, Northface, are all really great brads. I would also I suggest getting a 65 or 75 litter bag.

  • Day pack! Find one that suits you because you will use it a lot.

  • Get a two person tent that can pack down small. Honestly with you and all of your stuff that’s two people right there.

  • A nice sleeping pad! It will be your bed so make sure you like what you buy! Big Agnes is an awesome brand but don’t buy the Green River sleeping pad because it will pop.

  • You can get away with a cheap sleeping bag, mine is from Walmart and I love it. I think it is great and I have never been cold while using it.

  • Sleeping bag liner! I lost mine month one but most people really love theirs and uses it as a blanket. You could also use a sheet, it’s cheap and comfortable.

  • Bring a travel sized pillow for space but if you love a nice fluffy pillow I suggest taking it with you. One of my teammate brought hers and I’m jealous. 

  • Packing cubes and compression sacks are a must!

  • Sewing kit and duct tape!

Technology

  • Bring a computer. You won’t regret it I promise.

  • I would suggest bringing about three or four pairs of headphones. I have ran through so many pairs and I have had headphones go missing.

  • Obviously bring your phone. There was a debate on my squad on whether or not they would bring their phone but be kind to yourself and bring it.

  • I bought a camera for the race and I have not used it. So if you already use a camera bring it but don’t buy one just for the race like I did.

  • I brought my iPad for books, I love it and I am so glad I brought it. However, some people have bought kindles and iPads for their race and have never used it. Just bring what you think you will use.

  • If you have a hard drive bring it because MOVIES!

Toiletries

  • Shampoo/Conditioner obviously.

  • Body wash of course. 

  • Nice razors but don’t bring shaving cream unless you NEED it. Save yourself room and honestly when you don’t have water you don’t feel the need to shave constantly.

  • Face wash.

  • You can find lotion anywhere so bring a travel size one because you can buy big stuff overseas.

  • Baby wipes! Bring them because some places don’t have water.

Extra

  • Photos of family! I didn’t bring it and it is one of my biggest regrets.

  • One personal item like a big pillow or blanket.

  • Watch

  • A cheap laundry bag. You can find one at Walmart for 50 cents.

  • BRING EARPLUGS!! Community is loud and sometimes you need some earplugs to go to sleep.

  • HYDROFLASK!!!!!!! I lost mine and I was very attached to it. It was the greatest thing ever and I start to tear up when I talk about losing it.