5 Things I Would Tell Myself Before Going On the Race

I have approached the halfway mark of my race and what better way to celebrate than to reflect on my expectations going in and what I would have told myself or any future racers.

1. 9 months is not a long time 

When I first got accepted, after I had my initial celebration, I let the fact that I will be going away from everything I know for 9 months sink in. The longest I had been away from my family or my home was a 2 week trip to Idaho, and even then I was with my best friend! So, 9 months seemed like an eternity to me. This meant that because I wasn’t leaving for another 6 months, I had ample time to prepare my heart for parting with all it had known. I was sorely mistaken when boot camp quickly came and went and my departure date was 3 months. 3 months. A whole summer? That’s so long. Yet before I knew it, in the blink of an eye, I was saying goodbye to my friends who were going to college, and standing in the airport saying goodbye to my family. When I realized that COVID pandemic began 3 years ago, and I graduated 4 months ago, it makes more sense that 9 months truly is nothing. I wish I had known this beforehand so I could capture every moment before it passed.

2. Pain Is Never Worth Dwelling On

Going along with my first point, time passes quickly.  When I remember that 6 month period before saying bye to my life after getting accepted into the race, I only remember the good memories. Aside from traumas and tragedies that scar us, when we look back on seasons of life you probably will think of the laughter more than the tears. This would have been helpful to recognize from the beginning, because despite the homesickness, spiritual warfare, or route changes, I will look back and see my growth over my grumbling. Whatever trouble I’m experiencing in the present isn’t worth dwelling on, because that too will pass.

3. You don’t need as much clothes as you think you do!
   My hiking pack went from 50 pounds (with an overflowing carry on), to 39 pounds (and a half empty carry on). I wish I didn’t bring so much clothing that was sentimental, because I ended up dropping most of it. If any new racers are reading this and struggling with packing, ditch your favorite tops and get some plain colored ones with no sentimental value attached to them! Also, you can still dress cute while on the race! 

4. Bring more off-line entertainment 

This is something I did and is more advice to future racers to do the same. You will have more free time than you think during travel days or after ministry, and you are going to want to have games to play or books to read. Settlers of Catan game nights, Speed tournaments, and conversations while playing We Are Not Only Strangers are some of my favorite memories here. I also love my kindle and I have used it more than I assumed I would.

5. Find the balance between setting routines and being flexible 

This is one point I am still working on. Setting routines and healthy habits for yourself is really important when you are doing something as demanding as the world race. Structuring little things like waking up and going to sleep, as well as putting aside time to read Scripture is vital. Making sure you find time to read, or journal, or eat healthy is really important when the Race itself can feel like it is constantly changing. It is just as crucial to keep these habits as it is to let go of any routine in schedules outside of your individual tasks. Mission work is almost always “as needed” and I have had to learn to find beauty in showing up without a definite plan in mind.