I’m back!…

Written By Morgan Kelly

Sonic and I, ready to head out to Smith Rock at a recent training trip in Bend. And yes, he is sticking out his tongue.

…From an incredibly long hiatus. I took last summer off, did a lot of training last fall culminating in two back to back 50 mile races, took it easy over the winter, and have been in full training mode since the spring. Things also got pretty busy at work and with life in general so I’ve had my hands full. I had many a blog post that I wrote up and never finished - it seems that the urge to write was enough and I never got to the editing and sharing stage…but here we are! 

ONE MONTH from departure to Mongolia! I leave on July 15 to make the 20 hour trip to UB, arriving the morning of July 17. The start camp begins on July 20, and the race starts July 23. I’ve heard the drive out to the start is quite the experience and to potentially bring some dramamine just for that…

I’m forever going over the checklist of things I need to do pre-departure - including filling out necessary paperwork and weighing my gear, etc. 

Travel: 

  • Flights: booked

  • Travel insurance: bought (World Nomads Explorer –literally just bought while I was writing this so I’m being extra productive!) 

  • Hotel: booked for UB on the front and back end of the race

  • Transport: booked for to and from airport in UB

Admin: 

  • Med sheet: completed as of this writing (look at me checking stuff off!) 

  • Will: haven’t done this, lawyer can’t meet until september…so might just have to write down my intentions and hope it’s enough 

  • Bills: set up autopay where I could…hopefully that’s enough for the three weeks I’ll be gone

  • Horse: will be in training with the lovely trainers at Morningside

  • Dog: will be with my amazing parents having the time of her life 

  • House: will be looked after by friends while I’m gone 

Now to the part that has been stressing me out - packing! I have my outfit that I’ll wear off the startline and now I need everything else to fit under a 5kg weight limit!

Start outfit: 

  • Irideon synergy compression tights

  • Smartwool socks

  • Dynafit duo motion ultra pro trail running shoes

  • Velcro half chaps in case my legs swell

  • Smartwool 150 base layer, long sleeve (sun!)

  • Tipperary Sportage Hybrid helmet

  • Ombraz sunnies (no arms! Great for under helmets)

  • Heritage gloves

  • Buff

  • Osprey Dyna 15 hydration pack 

Saddle getup: 

  • Franco mongol derby saddle

  • Barefoot fenders

  • EasyCare EZ ride stirrups with biothane cages

  • Sheepskin on the seat of the saddle

  • Toying with sheepskin on the leathers as well behind the fenders - we’ll see

Now for the packing! – this all has to be 5kg or under 

  • Saddle bag ~300grams

  • Paracord and carabiners to attach to the saddle

  • Change of clothes

  • Rain coat

  • Alpha layer

  • Puffy layer

  • Sleep clothes

  • headlamp

  • Sleeping bag

  • Sleeping pad

  • Emergency bivvy

  • Med kit with just in case meds, bandaids, antiseptic, and other items if they fit

  • Sunscreen, bug spray

  • Bodyglide 

  • Gorilla tape

  • Zip ties

  • Hygiene items (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, all purpose wash, lotion)

  • Knife/multitool and other self-defense items

  • 6 AA Lithium batteries (required by the race)

  • stuff/dry sacks

  • electrolytes

  • Laminated card with Mongolian phrases and checklist for am/pm/horse stations

NOT in weight: 

GPS and beacon

Once I have everything finalized weight/packing-wise, I’ll need to create a system so I know where everything is so I can access it in my exhausted and depleted state. 

It’s all happening! 

Morgan Kelly
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