An Interview with Paulina & Creighton from ‘Race to Survive: New Zealand’

RACE TO SURVIVE: NEW ZEALAND -- "The Golden Medallion" Episode 210 -- Pictured: (l-r) Paulina Pena, Creighton Baird -- (Photo by: Brian Finestone/USA Network)

Truly one of the most fascinating teams we spent time with during this season of Race to Survive: New Zealand on USA Network, were Paulina and Creighton. For they had unique circumstances hanging over them as a recently divorced couple. But the potential drama accompanying that, mattered not, and they found a way to unify and make their way to the final race, and as part of our farewell to the season, we sat down with both of them to discuss their experiences in New Zealand.
 
John Betancourt: So, I have to start by asking, whether or not it was actually hard to finish this race. Because you two made that final leg look easy and you kept such incredible pace with Ethan and Tyrie. 
 
Paulina: Oh, thank you, yes, it was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. (Laughs) Absolutely. 
 
Creighton: I like hearing that we made it look easy, though, because at that point our bodies were falling apart. We had so much tape on our joints that we felt more mummy than human. (Laughter from John)
 
John Betancourt: I love that, but you two really did an amazing job there, and you also had a lot of meaningful things to say about the race as it went on. And I’m very curious what it meant to each of you, to finish this race.
 
Creighton: That was our goal. Our goal, from the very beginning, was to see the beginning and ending of every race. And so, the money, like, the money is great. Winning the money would be amazing, but finishing every race was our number one goal. And so just getting to that point was meaningful. 
 
Pauilna: Yeah the money, you know, it was an exciting factor, but more than anything, like at the end of the day, you know, maybe going into a competition where the goal is to win money, this isn't the best mindset to go into it, but for me, like I wanted, Creighton and I to come out closer and to find this new formed relationship that we ended up finding. And I wanted us both, and especially for myself, like I just wanted to come out like a strong, confident person, and to prove to ourselves that we had everything it took to get through that race and finish in this in that final three and to do it together. Because I think there was a lot of doubt that Creighton and I, after going through the divorce that we would have even be able to make it through the race at all. And I think it just shows so much to who we are as individuals and how we work together, that, you know, we have what it takes, and to prove that really felt truly incredible. 
 
John Betancourt: I do want to expand on that a little further, because it really did seem like you two just had, like, the most philosophical experience going through the race. And I'm very curious what it taught you about yourself that you didn't know about yourself before.
 
Creighton: Man, one of the first things that Paulina and I started saying consistently out there is we can do hard things. We've always been strong. We've always been outdoorsy. Though we didn't know that we could do things like this with as little food as we had, with your super recently divorced spouse. Like, yeah, ex-spouse, ex-wife as your partner. It was a lot of, it was a lot of firsts for us to navigate out there. And we wanted, we tried really hard to do the race in a way that we're proud of.
 
Pauilna: Yeah, yeah. And I think for me, you know, I've always, I've always felt a lot of self-doubt towards myself. I've been a competitive athlete my entire life, and you know, when I talk to myself, it's always not in the not most uplifting, positive way. Because when I see other people beating me, I automatically think that it's because I'm not good enough. And this, the thing that this show taught me was that I am good enough, and I do have what it takes, and I am strong, I am more, and I like, started changing my mindset and the way I spoke to myself throughout the race. Of like, instead of talking down on myself, I started to lift myself up, and you know, speak more positively towards myself, and seeing that change and how much it like, affected me in the race, like, that's during the race four, when we passed Ryan and Bronsen. 
 
Like, that was a big part of us being able to pass him. Was I could feel in myself that mental shift of like, “Wow, if you talk positively to yourself, like, and if you continue to see just how strong you actually are, you'll be so much better and happier. And so that's what I learned and gained from this. And so, yeah, that was huge for me, and to finish in the final three and to make it to that final crate despite everything that was going against us, like, just prove that to ourselves. But like, yeah, you're so much stronger than you've given yourself credit for. So that's incredible. 
 
John Betancourt: Now, we spent ten weeks with you, came to know you and you placed second and that kind of makes you icons that people are looking up to. So, I’m curious, what you hope the audience takes away from your journey.
 
Pauilna: I love that question. I think a big thing for me is, you know, to take away like, especially if it's a female like, don't let who you are like prevent you from doing something that you want to do. So, get away from the self-doubt. Don't let any like, you know, like saying like, “Oh, I've never done that before” stop you from doing something that you've always wanted to do. So, for me it’s like, on this show, I just wanted to go show everyone that whatever you put your mind to, you can do it. And it is like we, Creighton and I, discovered it is mind over body and mind over matter completely, like our bodies were torn apart, but our minds were so strong that that's like, that is what got us there. Like, it was absolutely true grit. And I think same for all of the final three teams. Like the grittiest group of humans, I've ever met who's like, mental fortitude was just like, unmatched. 
 
Creighton: Man, if you're gonna go out in a situation like that, it's important to have goals and reasons to put yourself through it. And so, you know, everybody's goals are going to be different, but if you're out there with a strong purpose, you're going to have a much more positive time.
 
Paulina: Yeah, and I think another thing, like with Creighton, I too, is, you know, we may have gone in there as a divorced couple, but we all, we came in there with love for each other and respect. And I think like a good thing to take away is like you may not be with somebody anymore, or it could be friendship, it could be literally anything, complete stranger. The more you treat someone with like, love, respect and kindness, like, the farther you'll go. And you can see that amongst like the other teams, like, you know, you just see so much love and respect amongst everybody we were with there. And I think there was a lot of self-doubt, or a lot of doubt between Creighton and I, from the viewers of like, “Oh, well, they're the divorced couple. The bickering is going to hold them back,” but Creighton and I knew that what we had was beyond a divorce, and so that's why we were able to work so well together to get to where we did. 
 
Creighton: Yeah, man, everybody's going to bicker. It doesn't matter who your teammates with. You could be teammates with, like, suppose yourself and you're still going to, like, fight and disagree. It is just what happens. 
 
John Betancourt: Something I’ve heard often from the other folks from the show I spoke with… was just how magical an experience this was. What are you each going to miss the most about this competition? 
 
Creighton:  I'm going to miss most about this competition was the simplicity of it all. You had very few cares or worries, you just lived your life out there. It was, it was simple. I miss the simplicity. 
 
Paulina: Yeah, I think just being completely disconnected from the world, and you're focusing on the present moment, and it's not an opportunity you get very often. And then, honestly, for me too, just having this connection with Creighton, continuing to… to have that relationship, will be, it'll be, it'll be sad to… to no longer have that.
 
Creighton: Yeah, but we're always going to have this show to look back on
 
Paulina: Hell yeah, we are! (Laughs)
 
John Betancourt: Now, if given the chance to go back and do the show again, would you? 
 
Pauilna: Hell, yes.
 
Creighton: Absolutely.
 
Paulina: Not a doubt. It's like, we've been asked that so many times, and every time it's like, yep. 100% on that.
 
Creighton: 100%.
 
John Betancourt: Last question that I have for each of you today, what are you most proud of when it comes to what you accomplished on the show? 
 
Paulina: I think I'm most proud of us for working so well together and creating such an incredible bond post-divorce. And honestly, just like… making it to that final crate. Because there were a lot of things that made me believe we weren't going to get there, but we did. 
 
Creighton: Yeah, making it to the final crate as friends. It's pretty cool. 
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. 
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