How to Survive Training Camp
Pack your bag for real, but only with stuff you already own. When you get to training camp, you are going to find out that TONS of the fancy stuff you thought you needed you really don’t. Or that the brands you bought aren’t the best, or that the color of XXXX that you got is not your favorite. If you bring stuff you already own or borrow stuff, then you see what everyone else has and buy what you REALLY want when you get back home. I would just plan on buying your big backpack and buy everything else afterwards. PS EVERYTHING generic you bring should be marked somehow (apple chargers, etc.).
Weigh your pack down. When I went to training camp, my pack weighted 35 pounds. When I showed up at launch, my pack was 52 pounds. You should KNOW what the weight of your pack feels like all through training camp, even if that means stuffing bricks in the bottom of your bag. Then you can really decide how much you want to carry. Hint: tons of Racers on my squad have downsized to TINY packs (20-30 pounds) because too much weight sucks! 40 pounds and under is best.
Throw in a big bag of candy. Just trust me. Candy makes sucky days at training camp more awesome, brings the squad together, and makes everything that much sweeter. Sour Patch Kids and Skittles are a favorite seeing as how they don’t melt and taste amazing.
Practice with your gear before hand. Life is easier when you know how to pitch the tent you are bringing, whether yours or borrowed. Especially since Georgia (where you might be) tends to have unpredictable weather, and trying to pitch a tent you don’t understand in torrential rain is NOT fun.
Become an REI member and get educated. Have your REI membership ready to go for when you get back. And know the gear you might want and their prices so you can discuss things with veteran racers/squadmates. You will want that discount from REI (it rocks!) and they have a great return policy/customer service. Be educated, because sometimes fancy quick dry towels for $30 have the same impact as a beautiful sarong for much cheaper (that also won’t smell).
Facebook stalk your squad mates a bit. It’s so much more fun to get to know people when you don’t have to focus on trying to remember everyone’s name. Try to know names and places of origin. You might even be able to fly out with someone. With so many people coming from around the USA, there’s a decent chance someone might be flying from your city. It’s much more fun to fly with someone.
Bring an empty water bottle and your own toiletries. They provide water, so bring a bottle. There are bucket showers that you are REQUIRED to use, so bring soap and shampoo.
Assume you will find out about a route change. Just embrace the chaos. We’ve had 6 route changes so far, and it’s only the end of month 8.
Bring the journal you plan to bring on the Race and use it. You WILL want those notes in 5 months when people talk about different revelations and you are like, ‘I think I thought X, Y, Z?’.
Start daily quiet times with God ASAP. You want to have an established pattern of quiet times because 1. warfare is REAL, 2. they are vital for your walk with God, and 3. your sanity on the Race depends on it.
Be ready to show up and deal with your sh*t. Prepare and pray in advance, then be completely open.
Trust God about the team you are on. God will put you on the team He wants you to be on, whether that be co-ed, all girls, etc. It’s up to GOD, the creator of universe. He’ll have your back. Don’t freak out about it.
Read blogs and ask veteran Racers lots of questions. Explore the wisdom (and opinions) of past Racers! I would definitely recommend Taylor’s blog on World Race terminology at http://taylorhill.theworldrace.org/?filename=the-world-race-dictionary-wr-slang. We sat down one day in the middle of Nepal and brainstormed together to make this blog. These terms are great to know!
Remember this too. Training camp is HARDER in many ways than the Race. They push you spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Everything is new and crazy, so pray, get through it, and remember that if God has called you to it, you will get through it and THRIVE! The Race is crazy, cool, hard, and all around awesome.
