FAQ

1. Where is Port Moresby?

Please look here: Port Moresby
It is the capital or Papua New Guinea, a Commonwealth of Nations country which gained its independence in 1975.

2. How do I get there?

From Europe or UK:
Find a connecting flight from Eastern Australia (Sydney, Brisbane or Cairns) or via the Philippines, Hong Kong or Singapore.

From The Americas:
Find a connecting flight from Eastern Australia (Sydney, Brisbane or Cairns) or via the Phillipines, Hong Kong, Singapore, Fiji or Palau

From New Zealand:
There are no direct flights, all flights are via Australia (Sydney, Brisbane or Cairns).

Airlines with direct flights into Port Moresby are:
  • Air Niugini
  • QANTAS
  • Philippine Airlines

3. Do I need a visa?

Yes, you do, and please check out the conditions at: https://evisa.ica.gov.pg/evisa/account/Apply
You will need to apply online prior to you leaving your home country, and a fee of $US50-00 applies.
You should apply for a Visitor Visa.
Please email us via the contact page for the guidelines on how to apply for a visa.

4. Hotels? Where can I stay?

Port Moresby has a large range of 4 and 5 Star Hotels. International brands such as, The Hilton, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, etc are well represented, as are local brands of similar quality. However, our functions are at both the Hilton and the Holiday Inn, and on race morning, our bus shuttle will ONLY leave from both the Hilton and the Holiday Inn. When booking the Hilton, please us our race discount code which can be found by clicking here:

If you have already booked the Hilton, and not used the code, because you booked too early, or your stay extends beyond the date limits, please email your booking reference to pomsm_res@hilton.com and your rack rate will be adjusted to our race rate. Note: If you booked through a 3rd Party booking site, then your booking cannot be adjusted to our rack rate.

5. Can I hire a car in Port Moresby

Yes, in PNG you drive on the left hand side of the road in right hand drive vehicles, but please do not even consider this unless you are a thrill seeker. Please do not get into a taxi, unless you hotel concierge approves it, then get it to wait for you to bring you back to your hotel. When you arrive at the airport, once outside the terminal, you will find all of the hotel shuttles waiting for you. Please email your hotel a day or 2 before arriving with your Flight No, and they will be waiting for you.
 
6. Personal Security

Papua New Guinea is a developing nation, and like all other developing nations around the world it has it challenges with personal security at street level, and this is the case in Port Moresby inparticular. Therefore we strongly recommend you exercise a very high degree of caution when walking around our city, just as you would in similar cities around the world. However we strongly recommend that you do not leave your hotel compound unless your are with a local or in a hotel approved car.

7. Weather

On raceday sunrise will be at 6:15am.
Historically the weather has been:
  • High 30ºC/85.8ºF
  • Low 22ºC/72.3ºF
  • Humidity 77%
July Average rainfall:
  • 22mm/0.9inch

8. Hydration

Unless you live and train in the tropics, you will be running in hot and humid conditions which many of you may not have experienced before.
There is enough anecdotal evidence from the world of running to suggest that if you lose 2kg (4.5lb) of body weight while running, that you will not finish a marathon, and if this weight lose reaches 5kg (11lb), you will be on the verge of hospitalisation.

To help you manage your hydration and body weight, the feeding stations will be at 2.5km (1.5mile) intervals. As you will be passing the Start/Finish complex at the 12km (7mile), 22km (14mile) and the 32km (20mile), to further help you there will a set of scales, where we strongly recommend that you weigh yourself just before the start, and then again each time you pass the start/finish. This weigh in is not compulsory, however we strongly recommend you do this. If your body weight loss is 2kg (4.4lb) or thereabouts, we strongly recommend that you sit, take in some more fluids and food until you have you weight loss back to an acceptable level. You will find 100’s of methods to cope with these conditions and hydration on the internet, and most will work.

The Race Director has won a 50mile race in 35ºC (95ºF) with high humidity, as well as running Marathons in the Solomon Islands, Fiji and Cuba in conditions, similar to what will be experienced in Port Moresby on raceday. His advice to you is:
  • On the night before, drink about 600ml/1 pint, after dinner and before you go to bed.
  • Take another 600ml/1 pint to bed with you, and drink it through the night.
  • Between when you wake up and start time, drink another 600ml/1 pint.
  • As the day warms up and particularly when the sun comes out, you will need to consume between 1200ml(2 pints) and 1800ml 3 pints/hour.
PLEASE THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT THESE VOLUMES.

The real trick is balance the ratio of Electrolytes with plain water, and this varies from person to person. If you drink too much water, then you will flush the electrolytes out of your body, and if your Urine is clear then your electrolytes are low to non-existent. If you drink too much sports drink, then you will feel nauseas.
Maybe 1 unit of sports drink to 3 units of water is a reasonable average. All of our refreshment tables will have ample amounts of water and sports drinks. Plus carrying a 600ml/1 pint water bottle is recommended.

Back pack style hydration packs may prove more trouble than they are worth, as refilling them enroute, will not be easy and will be time consuming

9. Race Etiquette

If you come across a runner who is injured, distressed or incapacitated, and who is not being assisted by a race official or medical personnel, you MUST stop and render all possible assistance until a suitable or qualified person arrives. No injured, distressed or incapacitated runner can be left alone on the course.

10. Touring Port Moresby

You need not to look any further than here: https://www.amazingportmoresby.com/ 
However as your time in Port Moresby will be relatively short, please not the following which is included in your International Race Entry:
A Friday Morning visit to the Bomana War Cemetery. Click here for more details: https://www.amazingportmoresby.com/bomana-war-cemetery/
A Friday Afternoon visit to the Port Moresby Nature Park. Click here for more details: https://www.amazingportmoresby.com/play-with-a-tree-kangaroo-at-the-nature-park/
A Saturday Morning course tour, including a walk through of the Start/Finish area, plus a visit to the Ela Beach Markets. Click here for more details: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/papua-new-guinea/port-moresby/shopping/ela-beach-craft-market/a/poi-sho/440924/362878  

11. Touring Papua New Guinea

Again, all you need is at: https://www.papuanewguinea.travel/adventures-and-tours 
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