The Packing Post

Carrying on my pack, for three weeks in the varied climates I'm traveling to, quickly became one of my goals for this trip. After all the BER experiences, I had to try at least. It really makes a difference in not having to wait for a bag through customs and just generally with making any tight connections that inevitably occur. So here's what I ended up packing:

Shoes:

Light hiking boots are a must for the various treks I'm scheduled for and hoping to join, and Chacos--strong walking shoes while still being sandals for when it's a little warmer--became my immediate "have to haves." Then, of course, I added flip flops for showers and because you always need flip flops. The Nikes are super lightweight, pack down to nothing, work as wandering around the hostel shoes, and with the insoles from the hiking boots they're pretty comfy.

Clothes:

Three bottoms, three long sleeve tops, three tanks, a short sleeve shirt and a dress. Throw in an unphotographed swimsuit and I think I've got my bases covered. There will probably be one laundry stop, but I'm sure I've got plenty (and it conveniently color coordinates pretty well).

Outer Layers:

Puffy stuff for altitudes, rain gear for the inevitable, and the splurge sweatshirt/jacket I got with my REI discount. Throw in headbands/buff/hat to cover the mess that will be my hair on day 3 without a shower.

When it came down to it, packing was a piece of cake until it came to the toiletries. I had shampoo and soap figured out (Dr. Brommer's solid all-in-one soap should work well enough to get me clean), but I need lots of bug spray and sunscreen and didn't want to necessarily leave that up to chance/higher tourist prices. So the liquids were a problem... that was until Dad saved the day.

The Solution:

An actual carryon bag for liquids that is not a flimsy ziplock which my dad has used on a number of flights without incident. It fits more than a normal ziplock too, which was critical because I needed two bottles of contact solution and as much DEET as I could carry. No having to oddly repackage things, no hiding liquids, and it SHOULD work.

But cross your fingers for me just in case...

Barefoot Running

With my quest to become a perfect packer athletic shoes became one of the first big questions. How does one escape the confines of bulky running shoes without going out and buying something brand new? Over the last few months I’ve been finding myself reading a lot of articles about running barefoot, and while in Austin, I found myself running behind a girl wearing crazy-looking minimalist shoes at the2.5 mile fun run Kirsten and I were doing. I had to find out more…

The basic premise of barefoot running is that the over-cushioning effect of specially designed running shoes actually promotes injury because the muscles of the legs and feet no longer have to work to stabilize a runner’s body. I am particularly drawn to the idea due to my biology background. Think about it, humans have been running and walking for millennia without Nikes, and it has really only been in the last 30 years that the athletic shoe has really come into popular usage. Any industry is created out of a perceived “lack,” and the athletic shoe industry filled the niche created by the idea that more cushioning and specific support features (like an anti-pronation, rigid part of the sole) would reduce injury and realign the body of a runner. However, recent studies and a not-so underground movement have come out suggesting that running shoes might produce the exact opposite results.

Vibram Five Fingers Classic minamalist shoes

Running barefoot, without any kind of protection between my feet and concrete (or the nasty hotel treadmills), doesn’t really appeal to me, but that is why the market has created things like callous shoes. Basically these odd-looking rubber gloves for your allow your feet and leg muscles to stabilize and engage fully as if you were running barefoot, while providing a barrier between your delicate 21st century soles and the surface you’re running on. Give the market any kind of lack, and it will produce a $75+ product for your consumption.

Not being interested in throwing down serious cash on a whim, I pulled out my own version to assist in my packing lighter endeavors and to give this a shot. These little Nike mary-jane sneakers have been in my closet for ages. The soles are thin and unsupportive, and I’d added some superfeet insoles to provide a little more of a transitional cushioning and support. I would not really be running barefoot, and if the running proved to be uncomfortable, using an elliptical machine or stationary bike should still be comfortable with the support of the insoles. I chickened out and used the elliptical for most of the first week on the road, and then on Friday I tried out a treadmill.

my version of minimalism

Immediately I could feel the difference. I quickly switched from the usual heel-toe foot pattern of jogging to landing with the ball of my foot and then my heel. I also felt like running faster than I had with my Asics (although generally I am a much slower treadmill runner than road runner in general, I was up 0.5mph on my average speed by the end of the half hour workout, and this speed increase has been consistent over additional workouts).

Most interestingly, I could feel my body in a way I never had running previously. Side-to-side movement has always made treadmill running tricky for me, but as I felt my body more acutely, I was able to run straighter. I felt a distinct misalignment in my hips, as if one leg were longer than the other. I got of the treadmill and stretched my hips until the alignment felt right, and I could clearly feel when it was right. It was almost a yogic experience, because my muscles were so awakened by the new technique and my mind was so focused on noticing the differences. Post-workout, I was intensely sore in a way running never makes me sore. I had run 2.5 miles, adding in a little slight incline at times, but it was nothing more strenuous than what I had done in both Austin and in Seattle over break. The Asics have not made it back into my suitcase since then.

Now for the disclaimers: I only run on average 1-2 miles when I get on a treadmill so I can imagine that running or training for longer distances would be a completely different can of worms. There still needs to be more long-term studies on this technique, especially considering the long-term high-impact effect on joints. But for me, this is amazing. I love the meditative quality of feeling my body react, and since I’m running on a relatively low-impact surface for short distances for only a few more months, I don’t suspect I’ll have any dire long-term complications.

Has anyone else heard of this new running theory? Anyone else trying it with success? Should I stop this little experiment and either stick to the elliptical or throw the real running shoes back in my suitcase? Or have the shoe companies just found another way to potentially sell you a new product?

Beignets in NOLA

A weekend in the French Quarter… C’est ci bon!
We dined on beignets and fried foods every day, putting our digestive needs on hold for a long weekend, reveling in the excesses of a city of excess—po’boys, oysters, gumbo, red beans and rice, fried everything, and a couple of hurricanes and bottles of champagne. I pulled out my feathered headband for our night on Burbon Street, and enjoyed the crazy as much as I could, although one night was more than enough for me. We had our eyes on some guys, but they turned out to be trapped playing a gig for a private frat party that we were less than interested in attempting to crash. Krista, Kirsten, and I stayed in a fairly lux room at the Westin (thank you hotwire!), reveling in our plush bathrobes and swapping out who got to sleep alone for each of the three nights. We slept long hours in the daylight, wandered miles throughout the Quarter and Garden districts, and ogled the amazing architecture surrounding us. The weather was decent, giving way to a lovely afternoon on Monday when I went to just sit by the river watching people walk by and boats float up and down the Mississippi.But best of all, I got to leave my tech case at my hotel in Northern Virginia, as I ended there Friday and started my next week in the same location. It was nice to travel like a normal human being, although I had one southern guy comment on my carry-on sized suitcase, “I don’t know how you can fit everything for 3-4 whole days in something that small.” To which I replied, “3-4 days? This is two weeks’ worth.”

Master packer status: Achieved.

Fashion From a Small Suitcase

With my extremely cramped packing job this last week, I had a limited work wardrobe, yet managed to have three different looks in total, plus my typical traveling outfit of jeans, t-shirt, and cardigan. This is why I love dresses so much and pack them when I’m trying to be really simple. The pink and black dress is jersey and supremely comfortable while the black and white check dress has more flair and fun (thank you Target!) and works perfectly with layering, either underneath or over the top. I utilized my growing headband collection to keep my shaggy hair out of the way until I could get it cut. It turns out that cutting my hair short has caused multiple presenters to comment on my “great style.” In truth, my clothes are not much different from last year, but I think having a style other than long straight hair pulled back in a ponytail is giving the outfits an edge.

Speaking of haircuts, I managed to botch my haircut appointment this weekend, again! I’d blown it over Christmas break by forgetting to book the appointment 3 weeks out, and then discovering my hairstylist at Ten Pachi was on vacation the whole week after Christmas, exactly when I needed the cut anyways. So I attempted to book an appointment for this Saturday, January 9^th. Only something happened with my booking (undoubtedly my stupid mistake) and I booked it for January 12^th, a day when I’ll be somewhere in Pennsylvania. So I had to find a new appointment to tame the shaggy monster on my head and ended up at the AVEDA institute in Capital hill, where I got a really decent cut for almost nothing! However, I have booked myself an appointment with Rosie at Ten Pachi for the February break (5 weeks ahead) and have plans on searching for one of those haircutting razors to be able to take some of the bulk out of the back of my hair as it grows out over a 6 week cycle. Oh the things one does to have short hair…I miss the ponytails that I used to have, and their ease for working out especially since fan around-the-head headband doesn’t work for my haircut because it’s so short in the back. Last week I was working out with my sparkly rhinestone headband… I got some funny looks. One of these days I’ll start growing it out, but for now I really like it.The gorillapod is definitely fun to work with. Although I’ve gotten some funny looks from people as I set up the pink, bubble-shaped camera stand and then run over to stand with a stupid look on my face and a hand on my hip, it’s made taking these pictures super easy (even if I did crop out my shoes in one of the photos...).

Packing it Away

I like to think that over the last year and a half, I've become a pretty good packer. I tested myself this week, and still want to find a way to get my bags lighter. I'm on a 4-day week out-and-back, so my challenge to myself was to travel with only my small work carryon bag and not bring an additional suitcase for my clothes and sundries. I think I managed it quite well, and because I know you're DYING to know... I'll map it out for you.

The Bag:A Swiss Army rolling briefcase with 4 compartments, purchased at Costco last year at the start of my BER adventure.

The Work Stuff:
Ahhh, yes. The tech case. The 48.5lb object between me a complete carry-on heaven.

The traveling office:My file folder contains all my registration and paperwork paraphenaila while the pencil case carries the various office materials one needs whether one is in Seattle or Mobile, AL (the stapler is a fave with TSA, to some agents it resembles a box cutter). Then there is all of the GPS electronics. In order to streamline, I put the pencil case in the tech case (now at 48.75lbs...) and put the file folder in it's usual place: the second compartment of the briefcase. The GPS cables found themselves a home in the front pocket (hereby dubbed the "cord pocket") of the briefcase while Rita herself went in a pocket of my purse for easy access.

Pocket-by-Pocket:The cord pocket--GPS cords, iPhone USB cord, AUX adapter cord for car stereo, netbook charge cord, knitting bag with NZ yarn scarf-in-progress, liquids ziplock. File folder pocket--the file folder (surprise!).

The laptop pocket (sans laptop thanks to the netbook!)--workout clothes, dirty laundry, "solids" toiletry bag, makeup bag, snack items (oatmeal and almonds). The main clothing pocket--the Wardrobe.

And what clothes does one pack for a 4-day stint where the warmest temperature is a balmy 45degrees? The following:

Work clothes:

• Black and white check dress
• Pink and black jersey dress
• Black & grey cardigans
• Black & grey tights
• Red & black belt
• Report wedges

Other clothes:

• AE boyfriend jeans
• Bonjour T-shirt and white tank top
• White turtleneck
  
• Green sneakers (workout shoe substitute attempt)
• Sleep/workout T-shirt and workout capris
• Yoga Socks (whee!)
• Scarf and Coat
• Various undergarments, socks, and whatnot

And then...

The Purse:
This I think I need to find ways to cut back on... I have a book, my moleskine, a magazine, my netbook, my knitting bag, and my phone to provide entertainment. The camera and tripod to document my travels. Wallet, pens, nail file and clippers, lipgloss, lotion bar, sunglasses, gloves, plastic silverware, meds, and vitamins. My coffee mug (a must have). My home keys (and rental car keys when applicable) and GPS. Once you have a huge purse like this, it tends to get filled...whether you need it or not, so I have to clear it out rather often.

Anyways, that's about it. I know you were on the edge of your seat waiting to find out how I do it. The real challenge will be seeing if I can do it again, in variaton for the next stint--two weeks out with a NOLA weekend in the middle. I want to get everything in my regular 21" suitcase, which I can carry on.