https://www.scmp.com/rss/324932/feed Follow endurance races including ultra-marathons and shorter trails as runners push their minds and bodies. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Mike Chan Mike Chan Scott Pugh said he could now “focus on and do something else with my life” after finally completing the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge (HK4TUC) last week. Last Wednesday, at a quarter to 4.00pm, Pugh crossed the finish line in Mui Wo before landing that long-awaited kiss on the iconic green postbox, six years after his second failed attempt to conquer the 298-kilometre non-stop ultra-marathon, which covers Hong Kong’s four major trails – MacLehose, Wilson, Hong Kong and Lantau – and comes... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3344321/proud-hong-kong-4-trails-ultra-challenge-finisher-can-now-do-something-else-my-life?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3344321/proud-hong-kong-4-trails-ultra-challenge-finisher-can-now-do-something-else-my-life?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:00:16 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li The girlfriend of Hong Kong triathlete Mark Yu Shing‑him got down on one knee and proposed at the finish line of the Anta Guanjun Hong Kong 100, turning her gruelling 93km, 5,028 metre‑elevation debut into a double celebration. Karen Zeto Suet‑ching, a full‑time nurse, crossed the finish line in 19 hours, 37 minutes and 49 seconds to claim a silver award despite racing with a completely torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Moments after finishing, she knelt down on one knee and presented Yu... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3341522/wedding-bells-follow-womens-silver-hong-kong-100-star-pops-question-finish-line?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3341522/wedding-bells-follow-womens-silver-hong-kong-100-star-pops-question-finish-line?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:30:08 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara There was an extraordinary end to the women’s Anta Guanjun Hong Kong 100 on Saturday, when Veronika Leng and Hau Ha crossed the line together to share first place following more than 10 hours of racing. Slovakian Leng, who is based in Hong Kong, reeled in Ha over the second half of the 93-kilometre course after trailing her Vietnamese rival by 13 minutes and 57 seconds at the 49km checkpoint. The pair ultimately chose not to contest first position, instead finishing hand in hand in a time of 10... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3341151/extraordinary-end-womens-anta-guanjun-hong-kong-100-run-winners-finish-hand-hand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3341151/extraordinary-end-womens-anta-guanjun-hong-kong-100-run-winners-finish-hand-hand?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 07:08:47 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara As he stripped back his training ahead of tackling the intimidating Anta Guanjun Hong Kong 100 on Saturday, Dakota Jones felt “fat and slow, and questioned whether every niggle was an injury”. That physical and mental discomfort is common among athletes tapering before races, but Jones has learned to “let it go … it’s normal, I’m in shape and I’ve enough experience that I’m pretty chilled”. Preparing for his Hong Kong debut, the American has claimed multiple major trail and ultra-running race... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3340928/american-hong-kong-100-challenger-shameful-us-government-and-mastering-chopin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3340928/american-hong-kong-100-challenger-shameful-us-government-and-mastering-chopin?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:00:12 +0000 Ada Li,Paul McNamara Ada Li,Paul McNamara Wu Yongbo has pledged to finish this year’s Anta Guanjun Hong Kong 100 “Grand Sam” with no regrets, as the durable mainland China athlete prepares to defend the title he won 12 months ago. The “Grand Sam”, which was launched in 2023, is contested by athletes who compete in all three daunting trail races over the three-day event. It was christened in honour of Sam Tam, the first runner to sign up for the three-race option. It also sounds like saam, the Cantonese word for three. Wu will begin his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3340735/anta-guanjun-hong-kong-100-chinese-runner-wu-yongbo-vows-no-regrets-title-defence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3340735/anta-guanjun-hong-kong-100-chinese-runner-wu-yongbo-vows-no-regrets-title-defence?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:35:31 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li The Kerry Hong Kong Streetathon returned on Sunday with a new route, old problems and, not for the first time, officials having to apologise as poor organisation once again blighted the race. A breakdown in baggage collection, where runners’ bags were left strewn on the floor beyond the finish line, prompted organisers to promise a review on a day when there were also complaints about the closing stages of the marathon and half-marathon. While a new route took in an unopened section of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3333847/tough-finishing-stretch-post-race-bag-collection-mess-blight-kerry-hong-kong-streetathon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3333847/tough-finishing-stretch-post-race-bag-collection-mess-blight-kerry-hong-kong-streetathon?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Nov 2025 09:06:10 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Hong Kong ultra-marathon star Ferdinand Tsang Fuk-cheung will not defend his TransLantau 100km crown this year after deciding to take a break from competing after a testing time at the 2025 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in September. “I need to take a break and let my body reset,” said the 31-year-old, who plans to return for next year’s race. “I am focusing on coaching and bringing students to races.” Meanwhile, Tsang Chun-kit, another Hong Kong runner at the world event in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3332622/translantau-utmb-hong-kong-ultra-marathoner-ferdinand-tsang-sit-it-out-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3332622/translantau-utmb-hong-kong-ultra-marathoner-ferdinand-tsang-sit-it-out-year?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 09:30:11 +0000 Yuki Tsang,Regina de Luna Yuki Tsang,Regina de Luna The HK4TUC is one of the hardest ultra-marathons on Earth. It connects all four of Hong Kong’s major trails – MacLehose, Wilson, Hong Kong and Lantau in one go. There are no checkpoints or support allowed, though runners have help travelling between the trails. If they reach the end in sub-60 hours, they are deemed a “finisher”. If they reach the end in sub-72 hours, they are deemed a “survivor”. Sarah Pemberton, a Hong Kong-born and raised runner, has attempted to do it not once, but four... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3331142/four-trails-one-hardest-ultra-marathons-earth-and-racer-tried-it-4-times?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3331142/four-trails-one-hardest-ultra-marathons-earth-and-racer-tried-it-4-times?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Nov 2025 14:38:30 +0000 Andrew Cesare Richardson Andrew Cesare Richardson When you picture the North Pole, you may think of Christmas or camping under the Northern Lights. Hong Kong resident David Dudek, however, imagines running 26 miles (42km) in sub-zero temperatures. The 57-year-old hopes to finally take on the North Pole Marathon on Monday after six previous attempts were thwarted. “In 2019, I went in a Ukrainian plane, which the Russian airspace would not allow to land on its runway,” Dudek said. “The next three years were cancelled because of Covid, the runway... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3317372/after-everest-and-great-wall-marathon-loving-hongkonger-tackles-north-pole?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3317372/after-everest-and-great-wall-marathon-loving-hongkonger-tackles-north-pole?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 23:00:08 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport It was meant to be her husband’s big day, but instead it was Wong Mei-yan who stole the show at the Langkawi International Ultra Run, becoming the fastest overall finisher in the 100km Round Island Ultra-Road. The Hongkonger, better known for her marathon and trail-running exploits, clocked a blistering 10 hours, 29 minutes and 38 seconds, not only topping the women’s field but also outrunning all male contenders. What made Wong’s triumph all the more remarkable was the fact it was her first... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3315579/langkawi-international-ultra-run-hong-kongs-wong-fastest-woman-and-beats-men-too?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3315579/langkawi-international-ultra-run-hong-kongs-wong-fastest-woman-and-beats-men-too?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Jun 2025 04:12:24 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Athletics bosses have defended their handling of a trail race that runners called “crazy and dangerous”, adding if competitors had concerns they should not have taken part. Nearly a week after complaints first surfaced on social media over the Hong Kong Trail Championships in Tai Mei Tuk, organisers issued a statement on Friday dismissing any criticism and pointing to a host of other races that had also been held in late May. However, the Hong Kong, China Association of Athletics Affiliates... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3312453/hong-kong-athletics-bosses-dismiss-trail-runners-complaints-over-crazy-dangerous-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3312453/hong-kong-athletics-bosses-dismiss-trail-runners-complaints-over-crazy-dangerous-race?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 May 2025 09:30:07 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The makers of a documentary about one of the world’s toughest trail races that is set in Hong Kong said they were in talks to distribute their movie globally after it became a surprise hit. Four Trails showcases the gruelling 298-kilometre (185-mile) Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge, and a select group of trail runners who have bravely attempted it. Since its theatrical release in December, the 101-minute-long movie has pulled in more than HK$10 million (US$1.3 million) in box office... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3312091/makers-surprise-hong-kong-hit-movie-four-trails-talks-over-worldwide-distribution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3312091/makers-surprise-hong-kong-hit-movie-four-trails-talks-over-worldwide-distribution?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 May 2025 07:00:23 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Members of Hong Kong’s trail running community have described the local athletics association’s decision to host a world championship qualifying race in May as “crazy and dangerous”, saying it put runners’ health at risk. On Sunday, hundreds of athletes competed in a 62.4km (38.8-mile) race at the Hong Kong Trail Championships in Tai Mei Tuk, chasing qualification for the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Spain in September. There was also a short-course race of 34.3km, and an... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3311876/hong-kong-trail-runners-accuse-officials-hosting-crazy-and-dangerous-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3311876/hong-kong-trail-runners-accuse-officials-hosting-crazy-and-dangerous-race?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 May 2025 00:00:29 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Details of Hong Kong’s Oxfam Trailwalker were announced on Tuesday, with organisers indicating they hoped to welcome elite multinational teams for the first time in several editions. Teams of four runners can sign up for the 100km (62-mile) trail race from Wednesday next week, with the 1,300 slots expected to be oversubscribed when registration closes on May 27. If so, a draw for places will take place on June 5. There were 2,600 entries last year and the organisers expected a similar response... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3308421/hong-kongs-oxfam-trailwalker-set-welcome-back-elite-overseas-entrants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3308421/hong-kongs-oxfam-trailwalker-set-welcome-back-elite-overseas-entrants?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Apr 2025 14:34:43 +0000 A brutal slog, day after day and sleep-deprived, surrounded by majestic peaks, an abundance of nature and spectacular cityscapes. That description of the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge also applied to residing in the city generally for Glen Yick Kin-ho, until he was inspired to reject the daily grind in search of a better life balance – a backstory that helped earn him a place in this year’s race, set to start on Wednesday. His immediate aim is to become, at 25, the youngest to complete... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3296623/hong-kong-four-trails-how-1-runner-escaped-rat-race-made-spreadsheet-ultra-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3296623/hong-kong-four-trails-how-1-runner-escaped-rat-race-made-spreadsheet-ultra-race?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Jan 2025 11:47:08 +0000 On Wednesday, as millions of people celebrate the Lunar New Year, Kimmy Leung Hong-kiu will attempt to become the third woman to finish the Hong Kong Four Trail Ultra Challenge (Four Trails) in less than 60 hours. Considered one of the world’s most brutal trail runs, competitors must traverse the MacLehose, Wilson, Hong Kong and Lantau Trails all in reverse. In total, it is 298km (185 miles) and runners ascend 14,500 metres of cumulative elevation. So, how do you train to run 298km? Well,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3296288/hongkonger-puts-lunar-new-year-hold-run-one-worlds-hardest-trail-races?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3296288/hongkonger-puts-lunar-new-year-hold-run-one-worlds-hardest-trail-races?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Jan 2025 01:30:22 +0000 The winners of the Anta Guanjun Hong Kong 100 (HK100) ultra-marathon smashed course records in both the men’s and women’s races, with two runners tackling the 103km (64-mile) race in under 10 hours for the first time. In the men’s race, Meng Guangfu, from mainland China, finished in nine hours, 43 minutes and 10 seconds to claim the HK100 title in back-to-back years. His time was more than 17 minutes faster than You Peiquan’s previous course record of 10:00:17, set in 2020. In the women’s event,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3295331/hk100-records-smashed-mens-womens-races-two-runners-finishing-under-10-hours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3295331/hk100-records-smashed-mens-womens-races-two-runners-finishing-under-10-hours?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Jan 2025 12:22:27 +0000 The formidable Veronika Leng said she hoped her world-class trail running exploits would “inspire other women”, as the Slovakian targeted “home” glory in Saturday’s Anta Guanjun Hong Kong 100 (HK100) ultra-marathon. Leng, who has lived in Hong Kong for five years, questioned after giving birth to her daughter in 2023 whether she had the motivation to return to elite competition. After dispelling those doubts, Leng won last November’s TransLantau 50km (31 miles) race. Her sights this weekend are... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3294911/hk100-ultra-marathon-runner-hopes-her-elite-exploits-after-giving-birth-inspire-women?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3294911/hk100-ultra-marathon-runner-hopes-her-elite-exploits-after-giving-birth-inspire-women?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Jan 2025 12:30:00 +0000 Organisers of Hong Kong’s TransLantau by UTMB ultra-marathon have apologised after a “misunderstanding” and “miscommunication” meant hundreds of runners in the 50-kilometre event went without water on November 9. Race director Jules Pijourlet told the Post that affected athletes would be given free entry to next year’s race as compensation. Of the 832 runners in the 50km race, 151 did not finish, and athletes across all events complained of poor organisation and having to “fend for themselves”... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3287022/translantau-utmb-organisers-hong-kong-trail-run-apologise-after-runner-complaints?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3287022/translantau-utmb-organisers-hong-kong-trail-run-apologise-after-runner-complaints?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Nov 2024 10:00:14 +0000 Not even a rainy start and some heavy downpours along the way could deny Jeff Campbell from maintaining his perfect record at Hong Kong Oxfam Trailwalker, as the Canadian and his team finished the gruelling 100-kilometre race first on Friday, more than an hour ahead of the field. Campbell, winner of the event three previous times, and his Team 8049 members – Ryan Whelan, Alex Neyrinck and Lodewijk Vriens – crossed the line in 11 hours, 42 minutes and 53 seconds. Victorious in the men’s event in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3286662/oxfam-trailwalker-runners-organisers-battle-rain-ransacking-monkeys-race-gets-under-way?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3286662/oxfam-trailwalker-runners-organisers-battle-rain-ransacking-monkeys-race-gets-under-way?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Nov 2024 03:36:17 +0000 Jeff Campbell is looking to scoop up his fourth Hong Kong Oxfam Trailwalker title in as many appearances when he tackles the demanding 100-kilometre route with his team next month. A two-time winner in the men’s event, in 2018 and 2021, Canadian Campbell added a third title in the mixed-team event with a record-breaking time as team 8004 crossed the finish line in 12 hours and one minute in the 2022 race (held in 2023 because of the pandemic). And the 42-year-old – who won the 40km solo race at... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3283395/hong-kong-oxfam-trailwalker-veteran-runner-jeff-campbell-aims-make-it-four-out-four?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3283395/hong-kong-oxfam-trailwalker-veteran-runner-jeff-campbell-aims-make-it-four-out-four?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Oct 2024 00:45:07 +0000 Hong Kong will send a 38-person strong team to compete in the inaugural Asia-Pacific Trail Running Championships in Ulju, South Korea, on Wednesday, the largest of all competing delegations. The races will be held from October 25 to 26, and participation is reserved for the best athletes from each qualifying country or region based on their International Trail Running Association rank. Athletes will compete in individual and team events, racing on 80km and 40km trails and a 15km race for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3283251/hong-kong-send-38-strong-squad-inaugural-asia-pacific-trail-running-championships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3283251/hong-kong-send-38-strong-squad-inaugural-asia-pacific-trail-running-championships?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:45:08 +0000 Explorer Mario Rigby, who spent two years walking across Africa, will take on the Barclays Moontrekker this weekend in Hong Kong as part of his quest to advocate for nature conservancy and sustainable development. Rigby is also running the trail event – in which participants race against the sunrise on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island – as part of his training to become one of just a handful of people to have tackled the world’s seven tallest summits. The annual Moontrekker event is an overnight trail... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3282766/explorer-who-spent-two-years-walking-across-africa-takes-hong-kongs-moontrekker?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3282766/explorer-who-spent-two-years-walking-across-africa-takes-hong-kongs-moontrekker?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Oct 2024 04:00:08 +0000 If you are hitting the trails this season – for training or a race – make sure you pack in enough fuel during your runs. Almost half of trail runners do not consume enough calories, a new study has revealed. The findings, based on a study of nearly 2,000 trail runners, found women and men generally ate well before a race. But 48 per cent reported consuming fewer carbohydrates than the recommended amount during events lasting more than 2½ hours. The researchers also found around half of the women... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3280560/how-trail-runners-should-fuel-their-bodies-success-and-avoid-health-problems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3280560/how-trail-runners-should-fuel-their-bodies-success-and-avoid-health-problems?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Oct 2024 10:15:07 +0000 The man behind a running company supporting athletes competing at the Paris Olympics wants to curb the advance of shoe technology, to preserve the integrity of elite sport. It is nearly five years since Eliud Kipchoge’s Nike-manufactured sub-two hour marathon in Vienna prompted a redrawing of athlete footwear regulations. Nico Mermoud, the co-founder of shoe brand Hoka, said athletics chiefs must “allow technology to evolve … knowing it might create a benefit”, but acknowledged human endeavour... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3270649/hoka-chief-wants-curb-advance-shoe-technology-sub-2-hour-marathon-chase-hots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3270649/hoka-chief-wants-curb-advance-shoe-technology-sub-2-hour-marathon-chase-hots?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:15:08 +0000 Registration for this year’s Barclays MoonTrekker, an overnight trail event where participants race against the sunrise on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island, will be launched at 7pm on Sunday. Last year, more than 1,500 participants took part in the event, which is also a major fundraiser for the Nature Conservancy, with the race quota being filled within a few hours of registration opening. This year’s hike through the night starts on October 18 at 8pm and will see the launch of the shortened... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3264743/hong-kong-moontrekker-2024-registration-overnight-trail-race-against-sunrise-lantau-island-opens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3264743/hong-kong-moontrekker-2024-registration-overnight-trail-race-against-sunrise-lantau-island-opens?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 May 2024 02:00:20 +0000 The organisers of the Oxfam Trailwalker have added a new route and set themselves an ambitious fundraising target to celebrate the 40th edition of the famous race in Hong Kong. Alongside the traditional 100-kilometre challenge will be a shorter 40km version, while officials are hoping to bring in a record HK$40 million in donations. The previous largest total was the HK$38 million collected in 2018. First held in 1981, what should have been the race’s 40th anniversary event was curtailed by... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3264291/oxfam-trailwalker-organisers-add-new-route-target-record-donations-race-hits-40?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3264291/oxfam-trailwalker-organisers-add-new-route-target-record-donations-race-hits-40?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 May 2024 11:30:10 +0000 Amid the vast expanse of the Sahara Desert, Harry Hunter celebrated his 76th birthday in late April in a manner that defied convention. Far from the comforts of his UK home, Hunter swapped the companionship of friends and family for the company of the occasional camel, and birthday cake for freeze-dried meals. Why? So he could compete in the toughest foot race on Earth – the Marathon des Sables, a 250km (155-mile), six-day endurance event demanding inordinate amounts of grit. Runners endure... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3262234/how-fear-getting-old-motivates-76-year-old-runner-who-set-record-250km-sahara-desert-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3262234/how-fear-getting-old-motivates-76-year-old-runner-who-set-record-250km-sahara-desert-race?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 May 2024 20:15:11 +0000 Before discovering the power of exercise, Michelle Sum had many sleepless nights. She often suffered from insomnia, and taking a melatonin supplement – commonly used to help regulate sleep – did not help. But since she took up trail running, Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Sum has been able to sleep the whole night through, without interruption. “Before sports, my sleep was often broken. I would spend nights awake with anxiety and insomnia,” says Sum, who lives in Hong Kong. “But going from... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3259566/trouble-sleeping-more-exercise-could-be-answer-study-suggests-martial-artist-and-runner-attests-its?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3259566/trouble-sleeping-more-exercise-could-be-answer-study-suggests-martial-artist-and-runner-attests-its?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Apr 2024 20:15:08 +0000 Nepal’s Sunmaya Budha battled to a nine-second victory over China’s Xiang Fuzhao in the 70km Wenling Golden Coast Trail Race, cementing her rise from poverty and an arranged marriage to ultra-running stardom. The pair collapsed at the finish line, having exchanged the lead back and forth for more than seven hours. Sunmaya, 25, said she could hardly breathe during last few hundred metres. “I didn’t have much idea about this race but was told it’s one of biggest and most important races in China... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3258316/sunmaya-budha-wins-wenling-70km-chinese-ultra-race-4500-runners-and-big-prize-money-just-9-seconds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3258316/sunmaya-budha-wins-wenling-70km-chinese-ultra-race-4500-runners-and-big-prize-money-just-9-seconds?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Apr 2024 06:00:16 +0000 The 4 Trail Ultra Loop (4TUL) got under way at Tai Mo Shan early on Friday morning, with elite runners from the UK, Japan, Taiwan and mainland China running the 146km ultra-marathon that graces all of Hong Kong’s four major trails. This year marked the first time that runners were able to start a timed race together. Previous editions were either an individual challenge or virtual races because of Covid-19 restrictions. The route, which spans 189km including a distance spent on public transport,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3257125/4-trail-ultra-loop-ultra-marathons-belated-full-scale-debut-after-covid-19-sends-runners-ferry-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3257125/4-trail-ultra-loop-ultra-marathons-belated-full-scale-debut-after-covid-19-sends-runners-ferry-and?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Mar 2024 23:45:12 +0000 Bored with climbing up and down Tai Mo Shan, and tired of tackling Lantau Peak, Hong Kong hikers have taken to designing their own routes across the city’s countryside. And the latest addition to the challenges being set includes 100km of swimming, hiking and scrambling up waterfalls. Needless to say, the Argyle Ross Trail, named after its creators Jack Argyle and Stewart Ross, is not for the inexperienced or faint of heart. The British-born pair, who both teach at Malvern College Hong Kong,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/hiking/article/3254489/new-hong-kong-trail-mixes-swimming-and-waterfalls-experienced-hikers-needing-keep-their-wits-about?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/hiking/article/3254489/new-hong-kong-trail-mixes-swimming-and-waterfalls-experienced-hikers-needing-keep-their-wits-about?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Mar 2024 05:19:45 +0000 Alice McLeod, the quickest woman in the 2024 Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge (HK4TUC), which was held in February, wrote her training plan for the 298-kilometre (185-mile) race on the back of an airline menu on the way home from her honeymoon in July. The 31-year-old completed the demanding race in a time of 63 hours, 58 minutes and 47 seconds. The rules mean she is classified as a “survivor” rather than a “finisher”; finishers must complete the race in under 60 hours, and survivors in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3254064/quickest-woman-gruelling-298km-ultra-trail-race-hong-kong-her-planning-training-and-advice-other?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3254064/quickest-woman-gruelling-298km-ultra-trail-race-hong-kong-her-planning-training-and-advice-other?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Mar 2024 20:15:15 +0000 Hong Kong’s Liu Fo-lok won the brutal Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge (HK4TUC) on his first attempt on Monday, with a time of 52 hours two minutes and 24 seconds. The 35-year-old posted the fourth fastest time in event history, and finished almost four hours ahead of his nearest rival. This year’s race, which covered the 298km of the city’s four main trails, the MacLehose, Wilson, Hong Kong Island and Lantau routes, started at 9.44am on Saturday, with Liu touching the green postbox in Mui... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3251779/hong-kong-four-trails-liu-fo-lok-sets-fourth-fastest-time-race-history-hails-amazing-experience-ill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3251779/hong-kong-four-trails-liu-fo-lok-sets-fourth-fastest-time-race-history-hails-amazing-experience-ill?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Feb 2024 13:01:25 +0000 Preparing for the challenge of covering 298km non-stop across Hong Kong, Tsang Wai-fung discovered the biggest obstacle he had to overcome was a lack of headphones. There are several rules designed to make the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge particularly taxing, including bans on pain killers, running poles, and music or podcasts to help pass the time. Covering the MacLehose, Wilson, Hong Kong and Lantau Trails, the race is typically tackled by about 20 runners, usually spread out over... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3250561/hong-kong-four-trails-runner-talks-monkeys-until-he-finds-inner-peace-during-298km-challenge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3250561/hong-kong-four-trails-runner-talks-monkeys-until-he-finds-inner-peace-during-298km-challenge?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Feb 2024 00:30:10 +0000 Representatives of the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) group, champion runners Kilian Jornet and Zach Miller, and other elite runner representatives had a virtual meeting to exchange concerns about the future of the sport. “As an introduction, Zach Miller and Kilian Jornet expressed, in their name as well as in the name of certain elite athletes, their concerns and questions regarding the direction taken by UTMB Group over the last two years through the development of the UTMB World Series,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3249818/utmb-kilian-jornet-and-trail-running-representatives-hopeful-after-discussing-future-world-series?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3249818/utmb-kilian-jornet-and-trail-running-representatives-hopeful-after-discussing-future-world-series?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Jan 2024 01:14:15 +0000 Mainland Chinese athletes dominated the Anta Hong Kong 100 Ultra Marathon (HK100) last weekend, with Meng Guangfu and Chen Lin sealing first place in the men’s and women’s races. The 14th edition of the HK100 started at 8am on Saturday with runners bearing hot and humid conditions for the race which also kick-started the World Trail Majors series. Chen’s finishing time of 12 hours 44 minutes and 51 seconds was slower than the women’s track record of 11 hours and 28 minutes, but she blew away her... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3249325/hong-kong-100-ultra-marathon-chinas-meng-overhauls-record-holder-you-claim-title-chen-seals-womens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3249325/hong-kong-100-ultra-marathon-chinas-meng-overhauls-record-holder-you-claim-title-chen-seals-womens?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Jan 2024 07:04:00 +0000 Liu Fo-lok is not new to ultra-marathons, but before last year he had to squeeze his training between sleeping and shifts as a chef at a busy Hong Kong restaurant. The 34-year-old said he got around four hours sleep and had little recovery time between working in the kitchen and tackling the city’s hills while preparing for events at home and overseas. But that all changed a year ago when he decided to focus full time on getting ready for the city’s most notorious race, the Hong Kong Four Trails... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3248993/hong-kong-chef-swaps-cooking-bearded-dragons-he-prepares-tackle-citys-notorious-four-trails?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3248993/hong-kong-chef-swaps-cooking-bearded-dragons-he-prepares-tackle-citys-notorious-four-trails?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Jan 2024 02:00:14 +0000 Do not open your sandwiches on Monkey Hill might sound like strange advice to give an elite runner, but that is one of the recommendations Hong Kong 100 veteran John Ellis is giving those tackling Saturday’s ultra-marathon. Ellis is competing in his 14th HK100 this weekend and knows a thing or two about the challenges that lie ahead. While the city’s stairs and steep climbs typically catch out competitors from all over the world who travel to take part, they don’t often think about the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3249007/hong-kong-100-ultra-marathon-tackling-stairs-avoiding-monkeys-top-tips-runners-taking-citys-trails?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3249007/hong-kong-100-ultra-marathon-tackling-stairs-avoiding-monkeys-top-tips-runners-taking-citys-trails?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Jan 2024 00:00:16 +0000 The prestigious Anta Hong Kong 100 (HK100) ultramarathon will kick-start the inaugural World Trail Majors this week, with over 3,000 amateur and elite runners taking part in three days of racing. The men’s and women’s 103km (64-mile) trail races start at 8am on Saturday and will see 1,800 athletes run parts of the MacLehose Trail before climbing Tai Mo Shan, Hong Kong’s highest peak. Smaller versions of the race, the Third (33km) and the Half (56km), will take place on Thursday and Friday... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3248408/hk100-ultramarathon-set-start-world-trail-majors-3000-runners-tackle-103km-56km-and-33km-races?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3248408/hk100-ultramarathon-set-start-world-trail-majors-3000-runners-tackle-103km-56km-and-33km-races?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Jan 2024 23:30:21 +0000 The director of the TransLantau trail races is eyeing a “bigger and better” 2024 event, after its first staging as part of the UTMB World Series in November. Clement Dumont said the organisation’s endorsement raised TransLantau onto an international platform, and the event could be a “very powerful tool to promote Hong Kong”. Dumont also welcomed the emergence of the nine-race World Trail Major Series, which begins next year, as a rival to the all-powerful Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3246097/translantau-race-director-targeting-bigger-and-better-2024-event-welcomes-competition-new-trail?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3246097/translantau-race-director-targeting-bigger-and-better-2024-event-welcomes-competition-new-trail?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Dec 2023 02:00:28 +0000 The man covered head-to-toe in his Christmas tree costume on the start line of Hong Kong’s Streetathon marathon on Sunday must have felt as smug as he did snug. A cruel wind whipped in from Victoria Harbour, leaving runners on the bridge at East Coast Park grateful for the heat created by the mass of bodies preparing to tackle a harsh 26.2-mile (42.1km) course. Come the finish line, that gratitude would have multiplied tenfold had there been drinks and food available for rapid refuelling. But... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3245369/hong-kong-streetathon-marathon-tough-chilly-race-tunnels-and-bridges-has-ups-and-downs-then-sends?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3245369/hong-kong-streetathon-marathon-tough-chilly-race-tunnels-and-bridges-has-ups-and-downs-then-sends?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Dec 2023 09:00:07 +0000 John Ray Onifa of Philippines and Nepal’s Sunmaya Budha claimed victory in the marquee 100km races, as the North Face 100 event returned to Hong Kong’s trail running scene this weekend. Onifa finished the daunting course in a breathtaking 11 hours, 57 minutes and 16 seconds, more than two hours ahead of second-placed Guillaume Perrot of France. Budha, in third overall, captured the women’s title in a time of 14:40:00. Local star Cheung Man-yee, winner of this year’s Hong Kong 100, was second... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3244561/north-face-100-event-returns-hong-kong-trail-running-calendar-philippines-onifa-and-nepals-budha?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3244561/north-face-100-event-returns-hong-kong-trail-running-calendar-philippines-onifa-and-nepals-budha?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Dec 2023 12:15:32 +0000 Oxfam Trailwalker organisers believe Hongkongers have reiterated their enduring interest in the annual event and revealed they have ideas to keep expanding it. Michael Wong, director of fundraising and communications, expressed gratitude to this year’s roughly 3,400 participants – more than double the 1,600-strong field for the last edition in February – and revealed plans to focus on drawing more youngsters and overseas participants. “We feel this event is an important lesson about resilience... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3242808/oxfam-trailwalker-thanks-hong-kong-next-it-wants-more-youngsters-and-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3242808/oxfam-trailwalker-thanks-hong-kong-next-it-wants-more-youngsters-and-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Nov 2023 06:22:21 +0000 Thousands of runners and walkers took to Hong Kong’s MacLehose Trail on Friday for the annual Oxfam Trailwalker, which takes competitors on a 100km trek across the city. Some 3,400 people in about 850 teams started Hong Kong’s largest hiking fundraiser throughout the course of the day, with their journey taking them from Pak Tam Chung in Sai Kung to Crossroads Foundation in Tuen Mun. They had 48 hours to complete the gruelling task, which crosses 20 of the city’s highest peaks. But the top teams... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3242733/oxfam-trailwalker-thousands-take-hong-kongs-mclehose-trail-citys-largest-annual-fundraiser?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3242733/oxfam-trailwalker-thousands-take-hong-kongs-mclehose-trail-citys-largest-annual-fundraiser?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Nov 2023 09:46:01 +0000 A new global running series aiming to put the “original spirit of trail and ultra running” back at the centre of the sport was launched on Monday. The World Trail Majors (WTM) series will be made up of nine races, with events in Asia, Africa, Europe and the United States. With frustration mounting at the actions of the UTMB organisation, which dominates trail running but has been accused of forcing some events out of existence, the new outfit was “a reaction to the direction of travel” in the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3241299/world-trail-majors-launches-community-spirit-aimed-countering-commoditisation-ultra-running?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3241299/world-trail-majors-launches-community-spirit-aimed-countering-commoditisation-ultra-running?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Nov 2023 12:00:13 +0000 Hong Kong had two runners on the podium at the TransLantau by UTMB trail races on Saturday night, with Cheung Man-yee second in the women’s category, followed by Ng Chin-nam in third. Part of the UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc) World Series for the first time, the event took place over 129km, beginning in Mui Wo at 10pm on Friday, with 247 runners going on to complete their races. Cheung covered the route in 21 hours, 55 minutes and 59 seconds to finish 12th overall, while Ng was almost 2½... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3241262/translantau-utmb-britains-tom-joly-wins-chinas-xiang-fuzhao-first-woman?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3241262/translantau-utmb-britains-tom-joly-wins-chinas-xiang-fuzhao-first-woman?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Nov 2023 13:26:33 +0000 In the past Hong Kong runner Liang Zhang would not have been allowed to take part in this weekend’s TransLantau races because he is visually impaired. The 44-year-old has been dealing with a lack of sight since birth, and the event, which is organised by UTMB, previously made no allowances for guide runners. Now, however, a change in policy means adaptive athletes physically capable of finishing the course will be allowed guides to accompany them on all or parts of the race. And Zhang is taking... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3240991/translantau-utmb-visually-impaired-hong-kong-runner-takes-25km-race-show-we-can?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3240991/translantau-utmb-visually-impaired-hong-kong-runner-takes-25km-race-show-we-can?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Nov 2023 04:00:11 +0000 The co-founder of the prestigious UTMB World Series said it was impossible to resist travelling to Hong Kong for the “beautiful” TransLantau trail running event - and taking part in Friday night’s inaugural 129km race. Michel Poletti and wife Catherine created the acclaimed Ultra Trail de Mont Blanc race in 2003, a 171km epic, featuring 10,000 metres of elevation, that finishes in the couple’s home city of Chamonix. UTMB grew to include associated events and today encompasses the world’s leading... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3240994/utmb-world-series-mastermind-ready-beautiful-journey-translantau-epic-says-hong-kong-trail-running?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3240994/utmb-world-series-mastermind-ready-beautiful-journey-translantau-epic-says-hong-kong-trail-running?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Nov 2023 11:00:20 +0000 Race director Clement Dumont said he was feeling “pressure” on the eve of the renowned TransLantau trail races following the event’s four-year hiatus. This year’s 10th-anniversary edition begins on Friday and features a new 129-kilometre distance, alongside races over 100km, 50km and 25km. Preparations have been six months in the making, with a mighty effort invested to stock 11,000 litres of water and an abundance of food across 12 checkpoints, over 150km of trails. Dumont has overseen a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3240937/translantau-race-director-feeling-pressure-ahead-events-return-says-runners-set-physical-and-mental?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3240937/translantau-race-director-feeling-pressure-ahead-events-return-says-runners-set-physical-and-mental?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Nov 2023 23:30:17 +0000