6.02.2021

The Green Girl's Ragnar Trail Michigan Packing List

The Green Girl is looking forward to her first post-Covid race at the end of the month.

Ragnar Trail Michigan is going to be my first trail Ragnar event. Whee!


The Green Girl's Ragnar Trail Michigan Packing List

Clothing Gear Personal Items/Toiletries Electronics Nutrition Travel Outfit
  • Leggings
  • Long-sleeved base layer shirt
  • Athleta Downalicious Black
  • New Balance 990v3


10.23.2019

The Green Girl's Ragnar Napa Packing List

The Green Girl is preparing for her first Ragnar Napa relay with her team 'The Wine-ing Dervishes'.

I recommend packing the majority of your stuff in a backpack or duffel bag that can be stored in the trunk of the van but also bringing a smaller bag that you can have with you in the van for ready access to essentials. I'm taking an REI duffel bag and an Osprey TALON 22 backpack.

I suggest wearing your your initial running outfit and then pack 3 complete changes of outfit (2 additional running outfits + 1 post-run outfit) in individual gallon zip bags so dirty clothing can be sealed in the bags. Also store all your safety items (see 'Safety' list below) in a single zip bag so you can easily grab it for the Safety Briefing inspection.

A towel is indispensable - you can roll it up as a pillow, you can use it as a blanket if you get cold, you can sit on it when you are sweaty, you can use it as a barrier when you're changing - and the list goes on. I swear by the Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap Towel.

The Green Girl's Ragnar Napa Packing List

REI Duffel Bag
3 outfit changes [stored in individual gallon zip bags in which the dirty clothing can be sealed]
Safety [stored in a single gallon zip bag]
Other items

Osprey TALON 22 Backpack

Osprey Packs Rev 1.5 Hydration Pack
  • Headphones
  • Driver's License
  • Credit Card
  • Cash
  • Mobile phone
  • Lip balm
  • Small battery pack
  • Ibuprofen
  • Water

4.05.2017

The Green Girl's Ragnar Packing List

The Green Girl is preparing for her fifth Ragnar Southern California relay with her team 'The Green Team'.

I recommend packing the majority of your stuff in a backpack or duffel bag that can be stored in the trunk of the van but also bringing a smaller bag that you can have with you in the van for ready access to essentials.

I suggest wearing your your initial running outfit and then pack 3 complete changes of outfit (2 additional running outfits + 1 post-run outfit) in individual gallon zip bags so dirty clothing can be sealed in the bags. Also store all your safety items (see 'Safety' list below) in a single zip bag so you can easily grab it for the Safety Briefing inspection.

A towel is indispensable - you can roll it up as a pillow, you can use it as a blanket if you get cold, you can sit on it when you are sweaty, you can use it as a barrier when you're changing - and the list goes on. I swear by the Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap Towel.

I cannot say enough good things about Target up & up Sensitive Skin Wipes - trust me on this one, go pick up a pack or two.

Another tip is to stick the spare van key in a magnetic keycase to avoid accidentally locking your team out of the van.

The Green Girl's Ragnar So Cal Packing List

REI Duffel Bag
3 outfit changes [stored in individual gallon zip bags in which the dirty clothing can be sealed]
Safety [stored in a single gallon zip bag]
Other items

CicLAvia Baggu Duck

Osprey Packs Rev 1.5 Hydration Pack

5.07.2016

Running on the Wall Race Bib & Medal Holder Review


Running on the Wall custom race bib & medal holder in Sage
The Green Girl got a customized Race Bib and Medal Holder from Running on the Wall.

The Running on the Wall displays are handcrafted from recycled MDF wood by wife and husband runners, Melianna and Alex. They also use water-based paint and non-chemical based varnishes.

I decided to get my favorite quote on a sage display:

A journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step. Lao Tzu

The exact Chinese translation of the quote 千里之行,始于足下 is 'A journey of a thousand li starts beneath one’s feet'. A li is the equivalent of roughly a third of a mile.


Running on the Wall custom race bib & medal holder
This quote is on the Inperspire Towel I use for yoga and it's engraved on my ring from my mum.

Melianna provided outstanding customer service and was very helpful when I inquired about the specific shades of green.

My display was shipped quickly and securely (with no excess packaging) in a USPS Priority Mail box.


Running on the Wall custom race bib & medal holder
The vinyl lettering was covered with a clear varnish for protection and easy dusting.

The display arrived with the hardware - L-shaped metal hanging pegs, 4 bib extension rings, and 2 nails - in a plastic zip bag.

Assembly was straight-forward - I hand screwed the L-shaped metal hanging pegs into each of the pre-drilled holes until the flat portion was flush with the wood.


Marked holes
After all the hanging pegs were installed, I flipped the holder over and used a piece of scrap paper to jot dots down for the nail positioning.

I'm absolutely thrilled with how my customized holder turned out and it's nice to finally have a way to display race bibs.


The Green Girl's new customized Running on the Wall Race Bib & Medal Holder

2.09.2016

Wild by Nature Book Review and Giveaway

The Green Girl was thrilled to receive her first ever advance reader's edition when she was offered a copy of Sarah Marquis' Wild by Nature: From Siberia to Australia, Three Years Alone in the Wilderness on Foot.

One woman
10,000 miles on foot
6 countries
8 pairs of hiking boots
3,000 cups of tea
1,000 days and nights

Wild by Nature follows Swiss National Geographic Explorer Sarah Marquis on the trail of her 10,000 mile 'eXplorAsia' solo hike across the remote Gobi desert from Siberia to Thailand. From Thailand, she travels by boat and completes her hike in Northern Australia.


Sarah Marquis Photo Credit: alchetron.com
The author is Swiss and it's my understanding that the book was translated from French to English. I believe some of the meaning may have been lost or skewed in translation.

I also acknowledge the fact that cultural heuristics mold and influence world attitudes and views.

I found her writing incongruous, disjointed, and detached. I felt she had a lack of respect for the native inhabitants of the lands she encroached on but an intense appreciation for Mother Nature. I was often left yearning for more details. But I was still blown away by the magnitude of her solo journey.


Sarah Marquis at her camp in Australia’s Kimberley Photo Credit: Sarah Marquis
Preparing for a 3 year hike is a significant undertaking and I would have appreciated more details regarding her training and preparation. I also wish she would have provided the gear list that comprised her 75 lb backpack and 120 lb cart.

I appreciated insights like tips on how to collect water in an arid region.


Sarah Marquis arrives at her final 'Little Tree' destination Photo Credit: Sarah Marquis
I also learned a lot from how she handled herself in the difficult and potentially volatile encounters. She even resorted to sleeping in sewage pipes - sometimes alongside animal carcasses - to avoid night visits from drunk Mongolian men.

Wild by Nature goes on sale today, February 9th.

If you would like your very own copy of Wild by Nature, The Running Green Girl is pairing up with St. Martin's Press for a giveaway.

You will have two options for logging into the Rafflecopter widget:
  1. Log in via Facebook - choose this option and a pop-up will ask for permission to access Facebook details. Rafflecopter needs to access email addresses via Facebook in order to contact winners.
  2. Use your email - leave a name and email address. Your email address is PRIVATE and I will not share or publish it anywhere.




a Rafflecopter giveaway Giveaway ends Friday, February 19th at 12:00 midnight Pacific Time. If you encounter any issues entering this giveaway via Rafflecopter, please let me know.

The only way to survive three years of walking was to embrace the moment of now. Sarah Marquis
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