Training camp is a source of much trepidation for upcoming racers. Following is a list of secrets I learned and wish I had known before training camp.
- Don’t believe everything you read—You've probably been blog-stalking and trying not to stress about all of the things that will happen to you. For me it was fish head soup and bus night. I experienced neither of these. You just don’t know, so prepare the best you can and enjoy!
- This is actually fun—I wish someone had told me this. I am by no means a “roughing it” kind of girl, and it was fun. You are going to meet great people with whom to do this. You will overcome challenges together and do goofy things. It will be fun even if you're like me and not really a gregarious, crowd-loving person. Relax and enjoy.
- You’re going to pack wrong—That is part of the point. You will forget things, realize you want or need things your squad mates have, and almost certainly pack too much. It’s okay. The second day I thought I had under-packed (no time for laundry!). I didn’t even wear half of the clothes I brought. You’ll start re-wearing. Early.
- You will eat—There is food at training camp. Portions are often not as large as I would typically eat, but I was never hungry. Expand your palate and try something new.
- Your training team is not against you—I came into training camp expecting it to be as horrible as possible to “prepare” us. It’s not like that. Everything is intentional and the intent is generally pretty obvious. No one is out to be mean or “break” you. Breaking you is God’s job. When you get to know your training team, you’ll know with the same confidence that they are not interested in manufacturing spiritual experiences.
- Choose “in”—You are an adult. Strictly speaking, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. Go along with it. You will learn about yourself, your squad, and a bit (a lot) about life on the field. My squad had 100% buy-in to every situation and we had a blast, even in some less-than-ideal situations.
- Attitude is everything—Things are going to happen that you do not like. I promise. If you have a bad attitude you will be miserable and so will everyone around you. Our 20 minute hike was over 2 hours, with… a lot of stuff. Attitude made all the difference, and this was a favorite night for many on our squad.
Ben and I at the airport after training camp. Still smiling.
- It’s really okay/ you are not alone—At some point you may wonder what’s wrong with you or feel like the only one________ (God’s not speaking to/uncomfortable with this/with your struggle/with your past). If you do not, great! If you do ever feel this way, it’s a lie. All week I wanted some kind of supernatural feeling or event that never came. I was not the only one. As hard as it is, do not compare your relationship with God to anyone else’s. So many on our squad elected to share their struggles and were met with prayer, support, encouragement, and often reassurance that they were not alone. Your vulnerability can be a source of strength for someone else and for yourself. Use it.
- You will miss training camp—Strange, but true. I never expected to miss the people or environment as much as I do, particularly as an introvert. But, good news! You will soon spend an entire year with these people. Let's do this!
Past and current racers, what did you wish you had known going in to training camp? Future racers, what is your biggest concern?
Photo credit: Marina Razumovsky. Final photo Tina Chiang.
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