Time: 50 minutes (approx)

It was a really good run. I felt a bit sleepy and I went into the race without much sleep because we started early. I left home at 4am. I live in Pok Fu Lam. I felt it was a bit too hot. It was 19 degrees and there were too many people. There was wall-to-wall traffic. I couldn't run my race naturally.

TIMOTHY RAYNER Age: 30

Unemployed

Time: 53 minutes (approx)

It was my first 10km race in Hong Kong and it was really nice. The weather was cool but it was quite crowded. I might do 21km next time. It was tough getting to the start line. It was nice to run along the streets, although I didn't really see many spectators until we reached the Causeway Bay MTR station. There was a lot of cheering and that spurred me on.

LISA ZIEBART Age: 27

Occupation: School teacher

Time: 55 minutes

I live in Macau and the six of us from our school came to run in this race. I was pretty excited to come here. We're all teachers or administrators and we all came here to have a bit of fun. The kids aren't too motivated to run, though. It was our first Hong Kong race. Perhaps we'll run in the half marathon next time. It was so packed all the time but it was quite an experience.

PARVES SHAMDASANI Age: 26

Occupation: Sales (currency market)

Time: 1:07

It was my first time in this race and it was a good experience. I had heard a lot about the race so I decided to give it a try. It was a crazy experience in essence. It was funny taking the MTR so early in the morning. There were people screaming and there were some fireworks set off at the start of the race. I enjoyed it a lot. I had done my homework and got the result I was looking for because I saw 1:10 was the average time. I'm quite pleased.

LEE MAN-SUM Age: 10

Occupation: Student

Time: 1:04

I am still waiting for my friends - I am the first home. This was my second time in the race and I improved my best time by three minutes. I am in Primary Five and I knew I needed to train hard to improve my time. I started running when I was three. I want to get better as a runner and I intend to run a faster time next time.

JOSEPHINE CHIU CHOR-LING Age: 52

Occupation: Sportswear saleswoman

Time: 1:04

I have raced in Macau before but this was the first time I had competed in Hong Kong. My friends all asked me to go and I am glad I did. Racing in Hong Kong is definitely more comfortable and more enjoyable than Macau. The scenery is better here for sure. The roads are wider so I thought it wasn't so crowded.

TAMMY CHING TAK-MAN Age: 33

Occupation: Finance manager

Time: 1:32

It was my second race and I was racing with my father for the first time. Originally I was down to compete among the first batch, but I changed this and ran in the second batch so I could run with my dad. I was really excited about running this time. I decided to stay a night at the Park Lane Hotel to get really close to the action even though I live in Robinson Road. Pollution wasn't a problem at all this year and it was a bit cooler this time.

HALF MARATHON

PHILIP BOWNES Age: 26

Occupation: Lawyer

Time: 1:14

It was my first half marathon and it was a challenge. My friends were all supposed to run but they all dropped out at the last moment. Conditions were quite good and it was lovely and cool. It was easier than I thought because I thought there were going to be more hills. It was very crowded at the start but it was OK after the five or six kilometre mark. I will compete again and perhaps do the marathon next year.

LI YIN-KUEN Age: 52

Occupation: Cashier

Time: 1:50

I have been competing in this event for more than 10 years and I have seen the event grow in stature and in numbers year after year. My first race was in 1992 or 1993, also in the half marathon. The atmosphere was great but the weather was a bit hot and humid. It's one of the very few chances to run along the streets of Hong Kong, and I love running in the city and soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the scenery. I did the full marathon two years ago but I didn't have time to train for it this time.

SATSUKI SAKUMA Age: 36

Occupation: Running magazine reporter

Time: 1:56

I flew to Hong Kong from Tokyo especially to take part in this race. I am actually working, training and running. I had to take photos and I will later write about my running experience in this event. A lot of Japanese readers want to know about the Hong Kong marathon. It's a good event but the course is a bit tough with a lot of up and downhill sections. I still enjoyed the event and I will definitely say good things about the event in my article.

AMBERISH RATHI Age: 28

Occupation: Banker

Time: 2:07

It was my first half marathon and I did it for the personal challenge. I absolutely enjoyed it. I only started training two months ago. The weather was great and the route was very nice. People were cheering for us and that was great, too. It wasn't too crowded. I listened to Indian music on my iPod. That motivated me.

WONG WAI-LING Age: 36

Occupation: Clerk

Time: 1:51

It was a personal best time for me today. This was my sixth Hong Kong half marathon. I have competed in the Mizuno half marathon before but nothing compares to this race. This is so much better. Mizuno was run in Tai Po and is much more hilly, while this one is in the city and is not so difficult. I am very happy to have beaten my personal best by two minutes. It's very hard to run your best time because too many people are in front of you.

ALEX INGLIS Age: 33

Occupation: Pilates instructor

Time: 2:14

The organisation was really good. I first competed in the 10km but this time decided to take it a step further with the half marathon. The event doesn't get enough credit. Today the weather was much better. Last year, it was much cooler and the year before we had the problem with the pollution. Pollution was much better this year. This event gives us the opportunity to run on the streets of Hong Kong.

MARATHON

FASI FRANTI Age: 41

Occupation: University professor

Time: 3:02

It was my first Hong Kong marathon and it was a tough race over a tough route. I was travelling through Asia and I wanted to find a good place to run so I decided to compete in Hong Kong. I ran in the Singapore marathon three times before and I like Singapore more. But the Hong Kong race went very smoothly. I liked the way the organisers gave us plenty of sports drinks. I managed to get lots throughout the race. I come from Finland and this was the best part of my trip here.

CHARLES CHAN CHING-HOC Age: 34

Occupation: Senior manager

Time: 3:12

I found the weather a bit cooler today but the relative humidity was quite low and that made it almost perfect for running. There was almost no sunshine so that was also a blessing. It is much harder if you run under the sun. Four years ago, I competed in the 10km but this was my third year doing the marathon. Training started about five months ago.

CAROLYN KNG POEY-LYN Age 44

Occupation: Doctor

Time: 3:36

I have run in more than 30 marathons over the years. I did the China Coast Marathon a month ago and last year I did Amsterdam. I have a lot of running experience. I average between eight and 10 marathons a year. In terms of atmosphere, it doesn't compare with marathons in Chicago and Amsterdam. Organisers can do more to improve the atmosphere, which is only great towards the finish. There isn't much entertainment. It's a lonely race. In Chicago and Amsterdam, there are rock bands at the finish. But Hong Kong is still an excellent race.

FION YIP FUNG-MING Age: 33

Occupation: Bank customer service officer

Time: 3:50

I'm very happy with my time. I beat my personal best having targeted a time under four hours. It was a more relaxing race for me because I did more training. The weather and atmosphere were very good. It wasn't hot or cold. The only complaint I have is that organisers should have spaced the water station tables a bit wider. Although water stations were abundant, the water was put on tables too narrowly and too many runners were jostling for it.