Pre-race: Adelaide Marathon 2015

I was not as nervous as previous oversea event for the week leading to Adelaide Marathon.

Probably due to a few reasons:

1) I have get used to the routine - the to-do list, the items to buy. I tried to get whatever needed whenever I drop by to hypermarket or shopping mall.

2) The expectation for the race is lower - I guess this is the main reason that I was not too stressful. This feeling got me since the start of the training cycle. The main aim is to complete the training cycle and if can to maintain the performance. 

Training been keeping at lower pace and yes, I guess this is the most complete training cycle I've completed so far, which is a good thing. 

However, would this low expectation lead to unpreparedness during the race? At this time of writing this, the answer is somehow yes. I'll leave this in the race report.

3) There's fewer planning for touring around Adelaide. I excluded some of the most popular attraction and made this trip easier / budget. Furthermore, there's no need to learn new language (e.g. Korean) to be there. 

Race week of training was done with recovery runs including one dress rehearsal. A dress rehearsal is good for me especially to know what I'm wearing is suitable for the race.

The only worry for me is the food before the race day in Adelaide. Where to get? Will it be suitable? Etc.

21/8/2015

Arrived in Adelaide 7a.m. from overnight flight. It was tiring. 

Getting to the city and accommodation was smooth. The public transport and the map were very reliable. 

While waiting to check in, I had a stroll to nearby groceries (Cole's in Central Market) to get food needed for this few days.

Nothing to do for the day except to prepare my lunch and dinner within few hours to be able to get to bed early.

22/8/2015

Woke up around 3:30 a.m. to get use to biological clock. 

The kitchen was closed until 6 a.m. so have to wake the night staff to open the kitchen. I guess he must be looking at me strangely feeling curious about this Asean got up early for the kitchen. In my heart I uttered that "Sorry but I'm going to do this again tomorrow."

Two main things today: recovery run and collect race bib.

It's very easy to navigate here by checking to Google map. It's a colonial city design by William Light (learnt this from the museum). The city was mapped into various section with street cross at 90 degree each other. On a fine day, one can see from one end of street to the endless of the other street. 

Therefore, it's not big problem to get to UniLoop for a run. Along the way, I get used to the route to Adelaide Oval. According to the information, it was one of the famous training ground for the runners. It was a 2.2 km loop with distance marker near or in the University area.

The loop just beside the road

Gloomy winter morning

After get back from running, shower and took a light snack to continue the second task: collect race bib.

The location was The Athlete's Foot store at Rundle Mall Plaza.  It's the shopping area and it's an easy walk. 

Rundle Mall area

I wasn't really comprehend the scale of the event until I've collected race bib. I learnt new things in each oversea race I took part in. In Rotorua, the finisher-T given out before the race. In Seoul, there's no expo (or held in other location) and the collection place was in a quiet office with no hassle and the detailed of the organizer. In Adelaide, all you have is as what you heard - "race bib collection".

Yes, a race bib. 

Once I entered the shop, greeted by the staffs, and I explained my intention. "Where did you choose to collect it?" One of the girls asked. "Here." I replied. "Oh well," as she picked up an A4 paper name list in table form, "What's your name?" I gave my surname and after a few try, she shook her head and I quickly gave my given name and pointed it to her. Relieved, from a box she picked up the race bib, handed to me and said "It's a marathon! Good luck!". 

A race bib? Yes, it is. I started to understand this is all I need to collect. Stand there I check the bib, my name, back of the bib with detecting chip. I must be frowning to much that the staff ask me is there any other problem? Luckily there's some other runners around picking up the pins, if not I'd leave the place without one.

While participating in an event, the goodies bag is not my concern. Nor a race-T or finishing-T (it's memorable if have but it's fine without it. For Adelaide Marathon it sold as merchandise). Some event provide designated luggage bag (like Seoul) but that's an extra as well. But I'm not comfortable when a main event without Event Details / or booklet. I was a bit worried without able to look at the details one last time in an official material.

Before I came out from accommodation I chat with a guest whom I saw him running in the morning and told him I was going to collect "race pack". I realized I've provided the wrong info now. And I realized this is an minimalist event, later I check also realize the prize was given to top three for each category (normally I check all about the event as past time in the race booklet before the race). In this marathon race day there's also hiccups like luggage storage not yet set up 30 min before the race, and race medal not enough for half marathon participants. However, I'd say the race route, direction and volunteer is perfect for me. There's no complain between the starting and ending point. It was a serious event with serious runners.

Usually my past time before the race was to take race pack photo, and read the booklet. However, the task was easier this time. Here you go with the race bib:

The afternoon and evening were also spent time cooking at eating. 

I made all my pre-race meal, due to worry of new food and also for the budget. However due to my cooking skills, it was a few days of suffer with plain meal. I'm not sure this is a good idea next time.

Went to bed early but as usual it took some effort to sleep every time before the race.