Can You Get A Six Pack From Running

Check out all of TPG's mileage run series:
TPG challenged 3 people to fly as far as they could for $725 — here'southward what happened
How and why to volume a mileage run
Why mileage runs might exist a bad idea

I'm back from a whirlwind iv-day trip halfway around the earth to Thailand for TPG's mileage run claiming. Over those four days, I slept in a budget hotel, spent a day in Tokyo, ate bad airplane food and slept an unabridged twenty-four hour period away in Bangkok.

I had plenty to concern myself before and during the trip. Would I be able to adhere to the $725 budget, would I miss a connection, would I become food poisoning?

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Ane thing I didn't desire to worry most: what I would vesture. I've done mileage runs in the past; I've overpacked (and underpacked), lugged heavy suitcases through seemingly miles-long terminals, and lost more than wear items than I could count. This time, I decided to keep information technology simple and pack only the bare necessities. And, because I was flight on a ticket that wasn't upgradable, I didn't concern myself with the opinions of my swain travelers, whom I didn't know anyhow.

Here'due south what I wore.

Keep it unproblematic & efficient

Aside from the essentials and toiletries, I packed one pair of joggers, three pairs of shorts, three shirts, four pairs of socks (including a pair of compression socks), slides, a bonnet for my 'locs and one pair of sneakers.

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I too have a tendency to lose things while traveling, so I try not to bring clothing of significant value. The bracelet from my grandmother? It stays at home. My favorite pair of Nike sneakers? Safely in my closet in New York.

I kept it casual, arriving at Newark Freedom International Airport in my go-to travel outfit: Adidas soccer pants, a Howard University (my very proud alma mater) crewneck, a black tee-shirt and Nike slides. I had my trusty Burton backpack and a pocket-sized deport-on suitcase for the journey ahead. Information technology was efficient only more importantly, comfy.

Equally a rule, I effort non to travel with a suitcase (even a acquit-on) merely I didn't desire to lug my backpack around Asia and potentially strain my back.

Take just what you need

On this trip, I couldn't load upwards on snacks like I normally do because of the strict budget. But before departing Newark, I grabbed an Evian water and a bag of Chex Mix. I figured the Chex Mix would last for a day, and I finished off the bag on the way to Bangkok. I also took advantage of all of the snacks on the flights to get me through the day.

I didn't carp bringing anything cumbersome similar a neck pillow or blanket. All of the flights on ANA featured pillows and blankets.

I got lucky and didn't need to use my outlet adapters at all during the trip. I plant that Tokyo and Bangkok's airports both used USB chargers. All of the flights were as well equipped with USB outlets. I usually bring a volume along for long flights as I am not a big movie-watcher, but couldn't detect space in my handbag.

Be adaptable

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm always cold. And to me, cold is whatever temperature nether eighty degrees.

It was warm when I left Newark, only non stiflingly. I was able to keep my joggers and crewneck on without feeling too hot. The flight from Newark to Los Angeles International Airport was cold, but blankets were left on the seats so I didn't need to remove my sweatshirt. The flying to Tokyo was much of the same. Upon arriving at Haneda airport, however, my beefy layered vesture came right off. It was so humid!

I grabbed a pair of shorts from my handbag and changed out of the crewneck, but kept my joggers in my backpack in instance it got common cold in the evening (which it did). I was glad I did because the second I stepped off the subway I was sweating bullets.

Packing lightly has its advantages during a stopover, equally well. I didn't feel bogged downwards past random stuff, I wasn't earthworks in my backpack for misplaced items and I didn't accept to worry about losing my haversack and suitcase.

Bangkok was even more humid, but I was simply in town to recover from the journey and flew out early the next morning. In Bangkok, I wore shorts, a loose-fitting tee, and slides.

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Footwear matters

I'd say shoes matter even more than wearable. There's zilch worse than sightseeing and looking for the nearest demote to rest your agonized toes. I covered a lot of basis in Tokyo in my olive green Nike Free sneakers, which are insanely comfortable and breathable. Here are some other top travel shoe ideas.

For flights, I typically slip my sneakers in my haversack and wear slides. I absolutely decline to walk through the cabin in socks, so slides are the adjacent best option. But be mindful to wear actual shoes if you're running to catch a connecting flight, or you might trip in front of dozens of strangers who gawk at yous like y'all're an idiot.

I'm not maxim it happened to me, but it tin can happen.

Bottom line

Everyone is a different traveler and what works for me might not work for you. If y'all like to clothes to impress for flights, do you, as the kids say. I'll take being comfortable over existence fashionable any day.

All photos by the author.