Pre-Race 50th Rotorua: How I get it through

It was emotional for me to sit at foreign land thinking of the race that going to happen. Days of training during mid-week, busy weekend, struggle to make it between working and training, finally come the day can rest from the thoughts. Good or bad, that's the day I'm going to enjoy. All those hours of training, was prepared for that few hours on the route. A special day that is not a training.

30th Apr 2014
Travelling is the first challenge. It took total 26 hrs for me to start the journey from Penang on 215pm 30th Apr, and reached accommodation venue in Rotorua, including one night sleep on the plane.

The break down of time spent:
2:15pm: Wait for bus to airport (Rapid Penang)
2:50pm-4:30pm: Bus 102 Rapid Penang to airport (Not recommended if able to put some budget for taxi that take only 30 min)
5:35pm-6:35pm: Flight PG-KL
9:45pm (MY time)-11:45am (NZ time): Flight KL-AKL
3pm-8pm: Bus to Rotorua (Including 1 hr wait at Manukau City)

Much preparation done for the trip. Biscuits, bread, pack drinks, water bottle, which one to finish before which destination (that restricted to bring over the gate/border), booked a side seat on the long-haul plane, requested for drinking water as often as possible, waking and sleeping time according to new time zone, hydrated as frequent as possible at every arrival.

1th May 2014
Arriving Rotorua at 8pm means I need to called up the backpacker's manager for check-in. Luckily it was Thursday night I arrived and Tutanekai Night Market just right in front the door that offer much type of food. Before I able to figure out how to make a call using roaming service, I bought a Thai fried rice and sat in front of the backpacker while watching live band performance and  have a quick dinner (lucky enough to find my usual type of diet), then stored up bananas and bread.

2nd May, 2014 
Woke up 445 a.m. and had breakfast to get used to race day routine. The next thing to do was to learn checking the weather (that not routinely do in tropical country I live in). It was then I learn to appreciate the weather forecast, that was so detailed including hourly forecast, chances of rain, hourly temperature, humidity and so on. I was trying to relate the real time temperature and how I feel, to be more prepared on the race day. 6 a.m. of that day was 4 degrees, which was the lowest temperature during my stay in NZ. The weather later was warmer.

The plan today was a 6 km recovery run, and to collect race pack from Energy Event Center. Starting run at around 8 a.m. was kind of chilly. The joint was numb and the first few steps feel weird. It was like afraid it will sprain the ankle. Hand was numb even with gloves on. Sun began to shine and it was quite strong that I didn't expect it and leave the running cap back in Malaysia. For this I added one agenda of the day to get a running cap, and managed to get it down the street at the end of day. The cap turn out to be a right decision as it helped a lot during the race day.

I was telling myself to limit the time of walking around the city. But as I reached Government Garden looking at the Museum and all, photo-taking was irresistible.

The old bathhouse (current Rotorua Museum) that look exactly the same in the photo

It's always nice to see the pre-race venue and get excited and nervous.

Follow the footprint to the venue

Another place that will go into my memory

Race pack collection was smooth. The finisher-t was given out at the same time. It's also allowed to pick the size. A browsed at the exhibition and I bought a new spi-belt to replace the one I was going to used. During dress rehearsal, I packed the power gel I need and the belt bounce as I run. The original plan was to hold two in hand at the start and the rest in all the space I have. The new spi-belt turn to be another good choice as it was able to store the gels and not giving problem for the race.

Noticed in one day prior race I've introduce two new attire when it's better not to try new things on the race day. I was not without worry on this at that time.

Asked the race pack volunteer to help me take a picture of myself wearing finisher-T just to determine the size.

There's various booths at the exhibition including clothing and shoes such as Asics, compression socks, running attire (found out the same Asics I wore was more expensive), books from Human Kinetics which including "Advance Marathoning" that I got, and there's latest edition of "Danies' Running Formula". Books were at marked down price but I didn't take any. There's various booth promiting other marathon such as Auckland Marathon and so on. Due to the 50th anniversary, there's a section of poster exhibiting all the winners and results of the past 49th years.

The number of people that didn't match the crowd of race day

In the exhibition also selling foods, and among all I've picked seafood Paella which is closer to my diet of rice.

Seafood Paella

Such a relieved to see rice

I had another assignment after the race pack collection: to stock up foods for the rest of the days, esp before race. It was passing 1 pm and having no transport, means I have to utilize the foot. Luckily with Google map and friendly location, I was able to walk to Pak'nSave to get some groceries at a low price. Still, hours was spending there and I was kind of tired at the end of it.

I wished, how I wish all this can be little bit easier. But there's no excuses sometimes. It's this time and if it's going happen this way so get over with it.

Back to backpacker to pin up the number and get things set up for the next morning. I was not really rested for the day and I took a deep 30 min nap after that.

Inside the race pack: food, and advertisement. The brown book is not a event book but the 50th anniversary history book.

The night was having my normal cooked meal and sitting listening to people talking. A few participants also checking in at night.

Around 8pm I get ready for sleep but the atmosphere outside the room was started to warm-up people started to get actively talking. It took me 1 or 2 hours to really get into sleep. I didn't dare to check the time to avoid knowing I'm sleeping less.

Pick a better place (or room) for sleep next time, I told myself.
(It was a nice backpackers actually and I like the place and feel much comfortable except during the night before race)

The strategic  "Leinster" room I stayed that directly facing common area