New Zealand. A country that I fell in love with back in 2023. A climate where you can have four seasons in one day (or probably one hour)! A place which makes you feel like you're in a movie, with breathtaking landscapes and vistas around every corner. An environment which is so varied, with luscious forests, golden beaches, vast mountain ranges and impressive glaciers. It's not hard to see why this incredibly beautiful country has become a bucket list destination for so many.
Returning to this amazing country, I was no longer a first timer but also after a week of exploring and running a tiny portion of the magnificent south island, I had learnt a lot, readjusting to life in this insanely beautiful part of the world.
1. Apply sunscreen before every run ☀️
Coming from the UK unless in the midst of summer, we rarely need to think seriously about applying a full coat of sun screen before a short run around the block. Our typical climate is grey, overcast and usually with some added from of precipitation. With the strength of the NZ sun, however, even for the shortest jog, sun screen really is essential.
With a thinner Ozone layer comparatively to many western countries, the sun is stronger and more dangerous. Simply stepping foot outside in the mid-day sun, you can physically feel the strength of the sun. Don't mess around with the small SPF strengths - go straight for a factor 50 in to give yourself maximum protection.
2. It get's pretty hot - hydrate, before after and during your run. 🥵
On my second morning in NZ, I decided to peel myself away from my very comfortable bed to start the trip off with some form of running activity. For an ordinary 5k at home, hydrating before and during the run isn't too much of a deal breaker. But arriving in New Zealand in the height of summer after leaving England in the depths of winter, the intensity of the heat was definitely a shock to the system.
In suburban areas and touristy spots, you'll likely to find an abundance of water fountains where you can stop and hydrate, but as you get more out into the sticks, definitely don't count on there being a readily available supply of water. Much of the water in NZ also needs to be treated, so bear this in mind if you do find a seemingly good water source.
3. Rise and shine early. ⏰ Parkrun starts at 8am here. 🏃🏾♀️
With my first base in New Zealand just a few miles away from Christchurch, it would have been rude not to join the Saturday morning parkrun in this iconic city. I'd learnt the hard way just a year prior, missing the Te Anau parkrun, arriving just a few minutes before 9, to realise everyone had already completed their run.
Because of the heat in the summer, parkrun in Australia and New Zealand are typically shifted forward an hour to start at 8am, which feels slightly alien when brits are used to the arbitrary 9am start in the UK. This earlier start makes complete sense though, as during my parkrun at Hagley Park, the sun was already beating down at 8am.
Hagley parkrun was the event I chose in Christchurch, mainly because it was closest to the city centre and easiest to access from where I was staying. The course is like you'll expect for a park run; a few laps around the paved paths of the park. What struck me about this event was it's pure size, with almost 800 runners joining the event I attended. From speaking to locals, this event itself has almost doubled in size in just over a year and was clearly a staple to many people's weekends. Like the majority of park runs, Hagley parkrun was a friendly and well organised affair, where I got to meet some friendly locals and tourists.
4. Beautiful trails are everywhere 🏞️
I chose to stay around 15km from the centre of Christchurch during my first week in New Zealand. Although I was within touching distance of the central hub of the south island, I was spoilt for choice with amazing trails on offer.
My accommodation for the first week was a stones throw from the beach, so a morning run along the beach felt almost mandatory, but exploring a little further afield, I was blown away with the variety of beautiful trails on offer. Hillside walks, cliff top traverses and panoramic hikes, all within easy reach of the city.
When looking for trails to explore in New Zealand, my default is actually AllTrails. Although I find this app pretty clunky, it does have good recommendations and relatively accurate trails to follow. Purely for inspiration, Google is a good option, but definitely don't rely on this for navigation, especially in remote and mountainous regions. New Zealand also has an excellent Department for Conservation or DOC for short, who maintain trails across both islands. The DOC website has some excellent hiking and walking routes, which can obviously be used for your next trail running adventure too.
5. Be kind to yourself after travelling ✈️
After arriving in a destination after a long flight, it is second nature to jump straight back into physical activities. If you have a two week holiday, of course you want to maximise your time, but particularly after this travel experience, I really noticed my body struggling for days after the flight.
I did pretty much choose the longest journey in terms of air miles, so it's not surprising that it put a strain on my body. The length of the trip coupled with the strange cuisine definitely didn't help this time around. I have coeliac disease which doesn't impact my life, as long as I give wheat and gluten a seriously wide berth, so to be on the safe side, I opted to eat just fruit platters for the entire 30 hour journey. Needless to say, after fruit platter number 6, I never wanted to see one of those things again!
What I am trying to say here, is that where possible, avoid travel just before a big sporting event or race. Without any scientific evidence and just my personal experience, the body is put through a lot when flying, especially on long flights and acclimatising to new time zones. Be kind to your body, take things slow and let it adjust at the pace it needs to.
