https://www.scmp.com/rss/324936/feed Stay in shape with news about the best foods, workouts and stress relieves for working men and woman. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ada Li Ada Li For Claire Cormier Thielke, running used to be about fractions of a second. Now it is about using it to know Hong Kong better, both on a personal and professional basis – a way to make connections, in every sense. The former Stanford University track and field captain, who specialised in the 400m and 800m, went on to compete for USA Track and Field as a member of the national team. Her life revolved around training schedules, stopwatch splits and performance targets. “Running 800m is a painful,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3345704/how-hong-kong-helped-american-sprinter-meet-new-challenges-and-learn-run-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3345704/how-hong-kong-helped-american-sprinter-meet-new-challenges-and-learn-run-again?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 09:30:08 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Ahead of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon this weekend, attention turned to its sister event, the Standard Chartered Taipei Charity Marathon, after 26,000 finishers spotted a glaring typo on their medals on Sunday. The coveted medals for finishers spelled “marathon” as “marathan”, sparking derision and discussions online. “My first full marathon came with a limited-edition souvenir,” one runner quipped. Others joked that the error meant that the medals were “turning into a collector’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3339679/standard-chartered-taipei-charity-marathon-hands-out-finishers-medals-glaring-typo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3339679/standard-chartered-taipei-charity-marathon-hands-out-finishers-medals-glaring-typo?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 04:45:14 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li With the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon little more than a week away, local runners are struggling to find space to train at the city’s few remaining open public tracks. The problems started after two government sports grounds in East Kowloon were closed. Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground was the first one to go last June for track resurfacing work, which is expected to finish in March. And this month, Kowloon Bay Sports Ground closed for renovation for nine months. To try to ease the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3339204/runners-complain-overcrowding-after-closure-sports-grounds-ahead-hong-kong-marathon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3339204/runners-complain-overcrowding-after-closure-sports-grounds-ahead-hong-kong-marathon?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 23:00:10 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang A new wearable device data report has shown that Hong Kong users averaged 10,663 steps a day, ranking them first in the world for average daily figures for the second consecutive year. The 2025 Garmin Connect Data Report highlights global fitness and activity trends based on metrics such as average stress and daily step counts. According to Garmin’s statistics, Hong Kong’s daily average steps not only far exceeded the global average of about 8,300, but also represented an increase from last... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3337647/hongkongers-top-global-daily-step-rankings-again-average-more-10000?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3337647/hongkongers-top-global-daily-step-rankings-again-average-more-10000?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 11:30:14 +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 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu It was rare to see hundreds of regulators, financiers and executives of listed companies – including chairmen and CEOs – come together in Central on Sunday morning without striking deals. Instead, they were taking part in a charity run, raising HK$9.7 million (US$1.2 million). The top bosses of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX), JPMorgan, DBS Hong Kong, Standard Chartered Bank, KPMG and Wharf (Holdings) were among those who had put on their running shoes to compete in relay races over 388... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3333749/jpmorgan-dbs-standard-chartered-bosses-swap-deals-sneakers-hkex-charity-run?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3333749/jpmorgan-dbs-standard-chartered-bosses-swap-deals-sneakers-hkex-charity-run?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Nov 2025 04:30:08 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Three Hong Kong residents will attempt to row more than 300 kilometres from Ibiza to Barcelona next week, a journey they expect will leave them battling the Mediterranean Sea for five days. Members of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC), Alastair Kelly, Doug Irwin and Andi Buel, will take on the Noman Mediterranean Ocean Rowing Races, a challenge that aims to raise awareness and funds to combat HPV-related cancers. A prerequisite for the event, also known as Row to End HPV, is that teams... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3318748/hong-kong-trio-tackle-300km-row-ibiza-barcelona-cancer-charity-fundraiser?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3318748/hong-kong-trio-tackle-300km-row-ibiza-barcelona-cancer-charity-fundraiser?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Jul 2025 00:00:10 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer “When I’m in the water, I feel like I have freedom – I forget that I have cancer.” Cocoy Sabareza, a domestic helper in Hong Kong, learned to swim only four years ago, but that was far from all she overcame as she conquered the city’s waters on Sunday. The 54-year-old from the Philippines was one of hundreds to tackle the Hong Kong Four Beaches Challenge, a 3.3km (2.05-mile) swim in Sai Kung that she finished in under 1½ hours. She was empowered to do so in 2021 by Splash Foundation, a local... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3313981/hong-kong-domestic-helpers-new-passion-swimming-helps-her-forget-cancer-diagnosis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3313981/hong-kong-domestic-helpers-new-passion-swimming-helps-her-forget-cancer-diagnosis?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Jun 2025 09:30:08 +0000 Netflix reality star Hong Beom-seok said he loved Hong Kong’s trail running scene, and had idolised Bruce Lee growing up, dreaming of sculpting his own body in the martial arts legend’s image. The former soldier turned firefighter from South Korea is in Hong Kong this weekend competing in the Hyrox Open Asian Championships at AsiaWorld-Expo. And the 38-year-old impressed at the indoor fitness competition, finishing in one hour, two minutes and two seconds in the men’s open category, ranking... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3287858/hyrox-hong-kong-netflix-star-hails-citys-beauty-he-battles-fittest-it-has-offer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3287858/hyrox-hong-kong-netflix-star-hails-citys-beauty-he-battles-fittest-it-has-offer?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Nov 2024 11:00:09 +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 When Hong Kong entrepreneur Vriko Kwok signed up to tackle an ultra marathon for six days in a row, she could not run even a single kilometre. But that did not stop the Brazilian jiu jitsu athlete from taking on the biggest sporting test of her life and challenging those who thought she was “too fat” to run. “I hated running because I never saw myself doing it. I got bullied quite badly growing up and that put me off running for a long time,” Kwok said. So, when sportswear brand Lululemon... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3259210/zero-303313km-under-year-how-hong-kong-entrepreneur-vriko-kwok-went-further-then-she-had-ever-been?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3259210/zero-303313km-under-year-how-hong-kong-entrepreneur-vriko-kwok-went-further-then-she-had-ever-been?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Apr 2024 04:00:20 +0000 For many of us, a Friday night out entails a meal at a restaurant, watching a movie or relaxing with friends and family. Sundeep Singh spends many of his evenings hitting the pavement. As the native of New Delhi, India, wrapped up his work one Friday evening in August 2020, he set off on an impromptu run. Half an hour in, he made up his mind to do a 100km (62-mile) ultramarathon through the night. Over the past decade, the diehard runner has completed 25 marathons and 300 half- marathons,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3249008/how-distance-running-transformed-indian-executive-22kg-weight-loss-100-half-marathons-100-days?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3249008/how-distance-running-transformed-indian-executive-22kg-weight-loss-100-half-marathons-100-days?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Jan 2024 09:15:10 +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 Founded during the Covid-19 pandemic to inspire healthier lifestyle choices, Hong Kong’s Fitness and Wellness Expo (FWE) is returning for a third edition, spanning four halls at Chek Lap Kok’s AsiaWorld-Expo from November 25 to 26. After a vibrant event in May, months after pandemic restrictions were lifted, organisers planned this second FWE for 2023, with a bigger space and newly devised activities for participants of all age groups and interests. Event co-founder Charlz Ng says his team... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3242144/why-visit-hong-kongs-fitness-and-wellness-expo-deadlifting-dance-weight-loss-tips-tcm-ninja-courses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3242144/why-visit-hong-kongs-fitness-and-wellness-expo-deadlifting-dance-weight-loss-tips-tcm-ninja-courses?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Nov 2023 04:45:15 +0000 Founded “without a plan” during Covid-19, a Hong Kong running club has blossomed into a business that includes a clothing line, a coffee shop, and a community with hundreds of members. From a sparsely attended Saturday morning jog, Wazup Running Club now holds runs four times a week, taking in the trails, tracks and roads of the city. And a running-themed coffee shop, opening this week in Sheung Wan, stands as a physical monument to the growth of a club, where inclusivity and fun prevail over... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3240333/hong-kong-running-club-takes-flight-after-overcoming-covid-19-threat-grow-athletic-juggernaut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3240333/hong-kong-running-club-takes-flight-after-overcoming-covid-19-threat-grow-athletic-juggernaut?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Nov 2023 23:00:47 +0000 Ultra runners must pace themselves. They are constantly warned of the perils of going too fast too soon and burning out before the end. Keep plodding, one foot in front of the other, very slowly until you reach the end. Walk before you need to walk, rest, refuel and keep plodding again. With all this advice ringing in an ultra runner’s ear, why would they ever bother with speed training? But speed training can have untold benefits for ultra running, even if you do not actually run fast during... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3224014/should-ultra-runners-do-speed-sessions-improving-your-ultra-running?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3224014/should-ultra-runners-do-speed-sessions-improving-your-ultra-running?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jun 2023 04:49:48 +0000 One of the most common injuries for runners is pulling a calf muscle. It can happen all of a sudden, seemingly at random. It can be very painful, and keep runners from training for weeks. Even more frustrating, it can then happen again as soon as you get back to running. But there are some simple remedies and also exercises you can do to prevent this injury from happening. What is a pulled muscle? A pulled muscle is a small tear in the muscle. It is sometimes called a torn muscle or a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3216271/pulling-your-calf-muscle-when-running-treatment-and-prevention?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3216271/pulling-your-calf-muscle-when-running-treatment-and-prevention?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Apr 2023 02:54:34 +0000 Hong Kong multiple record holder Wong Wan-chun finished in the top 100 at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships at Mount Panorama in Bathurst, Australia on Saturday, despite dealing with a sponsorship issue that is threatening his running career. There were 118 participants, with 109 finishing the 10-kilometre course in gruelling hot weather, with the 27-year-old Wong coming home 93rd in 36 minutes and 36 seconds, nearly three minutes faster than he did in the 2019 edition. Uganda’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3210727/hong-kong-distance-runner-wong-wan-chun-fears-nike-sponsorship-issue-could-derail-paris-olympics-bid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3210727/hong-kong-distance-runner-wong-wan-chun-fears-nike-sponsorship-issue-could-derail-paris-olympics-bid?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Feb 2023 01:40:21 +0000 Gi Ka-man hoped his success at the Hong Kong Marathon could help inspire his father who has been in hospital since last year because of a stroke. The 39-year-old veteran, who set a Hong Kong record in Spain in 2021, finished the race in two hours, 24 minutes and 45 seconds – the fastest local runner in the 2023 showpiece, and in eighth place overall. His major rival, Wong Wan-chun, the previous Hong Kong record holder, was a minute behind in 2:25.59 while Cheung Yiu-leung was third in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3209924/add-oil-dad-hong-kong-marathon-local-winner-gi-ka-man-writes-message-support-sick-father-hands?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3209924/add-oil-dad-hong-kong-marathon-local-winner-gi-ka-man-writes-message-support-sick-father-hands?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Feb 2023 04:32:54 +0000 Runners can expect fine weather at the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon this Sunday, and one former winner-turned sports scientist is expecting some fast times if competitors prepare well. With temperatures expected to reach a high of 23 degrees Celsius (73 degrees Fahrenheit), and humidity predicted to be around 80 per cent, Daniel Lee Chi-wo, a former Olympian and now associate director at the city’s Sports Institute, said conditions should suit long-distance runners. Some 37,000... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3209572/hong-kong-marathon-pasta-water-and-chocolate-milk-essential-part-runners-kit-says-top-sports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3209572/hong-kong-marathon-pasta-water-and-chocolate-milk-essential-part-runners-kit-says-top-sports?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Feb 2023 01:50:33 +0000 Emily Woodland has completed a remarkable victory against bowel cancer, by finishing the TransLantau 100km race in Hong Kong in just under 24 hours. The 42-year-old was first diagnosed with the disease in July 2021 and after some “brutal” radiotherapy and operations finally got the all-clear earlier this year, which allowed her to start running again. And while Covid-19 restrictions in Hong Kong meant there were no cheering crowds to greet her at the end, the emotion of the moment saw her... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3200559/hong-kong-cancer-survivor-emily-woodland-feels-different-version-herself-after-finishing-tough-100km?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3200559/hong-kong-cancer-survivor-emily-woodland-feels-different-version-herself-after-finishing-tough-100km?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Nov 2022 10:45:09 +0000 A 1,000-strong group of brave competitors faced muscle cramps, body aches, stitches and a whole lot of sweat on Saturday for the inaugural Hyrox Fitness Race. Held as part of the Hong Kong Fitness + Wellness Expo taking place at AsiaWorld-Expo, Hyrox is a new style of competition that incorporates running, jumping, sledge pushing, burpees and throwing medicine balls. It’s not for the faint-hearted. “I have no idea why I joined, I was regretting it the whole way,” said 30-year-old recruitment... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3200254/hyrox-fitness-race-breaks-new-ground-hong-kong-organisers-set-sights-asia-expansion-just-stepping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3200254/hyrox-fitness-race-breaks-new-ground-hong-kong-organisers-set-sights-asia-expansion-just-stepping?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Nov 2022 12:45:49 +0000 The amount of calories you burn by running is a near-impossible number to calculate as so many variables change the outcome. But here are some of the main factors to consider. Weight and speed One of the major factors is a runner’s weight. According to the American Council on Exercise, a person weighing 54 kilograms will burn 11.4 calories per minute, and 684 per hour, while someone weighing 81kg will burn 17 calories per minute and 1,020 per hour A runner’s speed will also make a difference,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3199210/how-many-calories-does-running-burn-here-are-main-factors-consider?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3199210/how-many-calories-does-running-burn-here-are-main-factors-consider?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Nov 2022 00:00:09 +0000 Stephanie Lown was sitting at a football game in 2018 when she was overcome with anxiety during what should have been a fun and relaxing occasion. The 32-year-old, who lost her job just as she signed a new rental agreement for a flat, remembers feeling as if she needed to “run away, like I wasn’t safe”. Feeling as though she was the first person in her family to be experiencing these things, Lown said that she “didn’t know where to go” when it came to talking about mental health. “It was a super... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/hiking/article/3197692/hiking-dogs-hong-kong-extra-potent-antidepressant-community-embarking-trail-challenger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/hiking/article/3197692/hiking-dogs-hong-kong-extra-potent-antidepressant-community-embarking-trail-challenger?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Oct 2022 04:30:07 +0000 If you are upset that you and the rest of your team of four can’t do the Oxfam Trailwalker (OTW) in person after it was cancelled yet again, you’ll be happy to know you can drown your sorrows at the Hong Kong Sevens in a team of roughly 34,000. The OTW would have spread out its 1,600 runners in groups over a 100km route outside the city – too dangerous on Covid-19 grounds, it seems. Yet a stadium (almost) full of raucous fans can congregate in far more enclosed environs for the rugby – totally... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3193832/hong-kong-sevens-will-showcase-absurdity-covid-19?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3193832/hong-kong-sevens-will-showcase-absurdity-covid-19?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Sep 2022 09:07:40 +0000 Athletics chiefs have revealed plans to stage a half-marathon on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge in 2023. The Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates (HKAAA) and sponsors Manulife on Tuesday announced a partnership to bring the proposed race to the bridge, which opened in 2018 and connects the three Greater Bay Area cities. The bridge runs for 42 kilometres (26 miles), stretching from Hong Kong to Macau’s port and on to Zhuhai’s port, making it the longest bridge and sea tunnel crossing... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3189100/hong-kong-zhuhai-macau-bridge-half-marathon-planned?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3189100/hong-kong-zhuhai-macau-bridge-half-marathon-planned?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Aug 2022 10:24:22 +0000 Lindsay Mo couldn’t go to her gym after Beijing shut down indoor sports facilities in May because of a Covid-19 outbreak. So she started cycling – and soon fell in love with the sport. “I realised a racing bicycle was quite different than a regular bike,” she said. “It’s very fast and exciting, and I couldn’t stop any more.” Bicycles have long been a means of transport in China and once outnumbered cars on city streets. Now cycling is increasingly also seen as a sport by an urban middle class... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3188829/coronavirus-pandemic-fuels-sports-cycling-boom-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3188829/coronavirus-pandemic-fuels-sports-cycling-boom-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Aug 2022 05:20:27 +0000 A new kind of fitness race called Hyrox is growing in popularity around the world, and the first event in Hong Kong will be held in November. The race is a broken into eight exercises with a 1km run between each one. So, participants run 1km and then do a sledge push, then run 1km and come back for the next exercise, and so on. There are no time limits, so anyone can complete it in theory. There is a 99 per cent completion rate. Hyrox events are held all over the world. This will be the first... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/crossfit/article/3188777/hyrox-race-hong-kong-first-time-celebrating-entire-fitness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/crossfit/article/3188777/hyrox-race-hong-kong-first-time-celebrating-entire-fitness?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Aug 2022 05:24:13 +0000 Hip flexors are key to running, but as they are a small muscle group they are often neglected in training. Tight hip flexors can effect your gait, make you less efficient, lead to injury or at least feelings of tightness in areas such as the lower back. You should include work on your hip flexors to make them mobile and strong to improve your running. Why are hip flexors important for running? Hip flexors are a band of muscles that go between the pelvis and the thigh. They are around the groin... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3180276/tight-hip-flexors-runners-symptoms-prevention-cure-how?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3180276/tight-hip-flexors-runners-symptoms-prevention-cure-how?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Jun 2022 05:30:25 +0000 A coronavirus lockdown and restrictions in Singapore forced Joshua Campanella to re-evaluate his own ambitions and limits. Now, the self-proclaimed cardio-hater is about to run 250km over six days in Georgia. “We all face that existential crisis of, what am I doing with my life, am I achieving what I want? We mask what makes us uncomfortable about ourselves with vices – drinking, smoking or something else,” the Singapore based-Canadian Campanella said. “But the pandemic exposed a lot of people.... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3179951/racing-planet-answer-existential-questions-and-battle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3179951/racing-planet-answer-existential-questions-and-battle?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Jun 2022 04:30:22 +0000 Weight training should be a core part of your trail running training. But those who do resistance work often neglect their upper bodies for fear of carrying extra muscle weight. For many, the thought of carrying the extra weight of muscle on your top half seems detrimental. But it’s not. Upper body strength can actually improve your running, and it’s unlikely you’ll put on so much muscle you’ll slow yourself down. If you do the right training. Upper body strength improves your posture. This in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3178196/should-i-do-upper-body-exercises-trail-running-how-weight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3178196/should-i-do-upper-body-exercises-trail-running-how-weight?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 May 2022 12:30:23 +0000 When you glance down at the handlebar “cockpit” of many cyclists, it’s like looking at a mini computer terminal or the flight deck of a small fighter plane. Similar can be said when you see how so many runners and even hikers are wired up and connected to devices, almost as if they were robots, with their every stride and heartbeat being monitored, logged and analysed. These devices and their data can be useful tools for some. They can help you to monitor and gauge your performance and progress,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3176866/running-or-cycling-without-tech-joys-ditching-data-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3176866/running-or-cycling-without-tech-joys-ditching-data-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 May 2022 03:47:04 +0000 As Betty Grisoni crossed the finish line of the Hong Kong West 50km on Tuesday, she had travelled further than just the kilometres that day. She was on a journey that started in 2018, when she worried she would die. Grisoni, 52, suffers from depression. Her mental illness was manifesting itself physically too, and was labelled morbidly obese. She had become suicidal. After a long weekend in 2018 of partying at Clockenflap, the two-day music festival in Hong Kong, she was overwhelmed by... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3173620/depression-ultra-running-one-womans-journey-putting-one?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3173620/depression-ultra-running-one-womans-journey-putting-one?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Apr 2022 00:45:14 +0000 The move to relax public health measures in Hong Kong means masks should no longer be mandatory while exercising outdoors, especially when it comes to hiking in country parks, according to an epidemiologist who has often publicly disagreed with government policy. Professor Ben Cowling, head of the division of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Hong Kong, said considering the green spaces in the city as being “high risk” was “inconceivable”. He rated country parks as being at the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3171639/coronavirus-hku-expert-questions-need-people-wear?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3171639/coronavirus-hku-expert-questions-need-people-wear?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Mar 2022 03:29:55 +0000 Hong Kong’s Covid-19 fifth wave has seen record high numbers of cases day on day, with the government reportedly now considering a mass lockdown. The rest of the world learned the hard lessons of being shut indoors during 2020, and home workouts became routine. Now, as Hongkongers stare down the barrel of their own looming isolation, it’s time to consider how to stay fit, without the option to at least go for a run or a hike. Here are a few exercises and workouts you can do at home that will... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3168845/coronavirus-hong-kong-lockdown-nears-here-are-some?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3168845/coronavirus-hong-kong-lockdown-nears-here-are-some?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Mar 2022 02:30:10 +0000 A Hongkonger won five medals at the International Ice Swimming Association (IISA) World Championship in Glogow, Poland, but for Mak Chun-kong, the external validation of medals has ceased to matter. “I try not to look at the medals, but it is a chance to test my ability to see how fast I can go, and to enjoy the process,” Mak, 35, said. “I didn’t look at the other opponents. It’s not a healthy mentality, even in sport, to look at others. “They swam next to be, but I didn’t look at them. I told... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3167587/ice-swimming-world-championship-medals-are-just-bonus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3167587/ice-swimming-world-championship-medals-are-just-bonus?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Feb 2022 02:15:07 +0000 Hong Kong ultra running community stalwart Fredelyn Alberto has been diagnosed with cancer just six weeks after giving birth. The Hong Kong-based Filipino domestic helper burst onto the scene in 2018 winning the MSIG Braemar Hill 45km and the 75km Green Race, and has been an ever present at races and on podiums ever since. “It’s just devastating. It’s just so sad,” Alberto – who was in contention to win the Asia Trail Masters series in 2019 until the final weekend – said. “I just cried once.... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3165622/filipino-ultra-runner-fredelyn-alberto-stays-strong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3165622/filipino-ultra-runner-fredelyn-alberto-stays-strong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Feb 2022 00:15:19 +0000 Hong Kong’s gym and fitness industry pleaded with the government not to force its members to endure yet another shutdown as the threat of a Covid-19 outbreak lurks once again, according to an internal memo obtained by the Post. The Hong Kong Fitness Industry, which represents dozens of local establishments, said businesses could not bear the financial burden of another closure and acceptance was waning amid the business community for financial relief. As of midnight on Thursday, the new rules... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3162439/omicron-hong-kong-gym-goers-decry-unjust-closures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3162439/omicron-hong-kong-gym-goers-decry-unjust-closures?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Jan 2022 22:45:14 +0000 Wong Ho-fai ran around Hong Kong last week while pushing double amputee Chau Kin-ming in a wheelchair. For Wong, the adventure was a means of creating a sense of teamwork, to force himself to keep moving and to celebrate the joys of life. And it’s only the start. Wong is now preparing to run the whole way across America, starting in April or May, and wants people with disabilities to join him on his journey. He wants to accompany people who do not usually have the chance to see America from this... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3160119/runner-wong-ho-fai-wants-push-wheelchair-bound?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3160119/runner-wong-ho-fai-wants-push-wheelchair-bound?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Dec 2021 12:15:17 +0000 Growing up in Italy, Massimo Giusto got a healthy serving of discipline from an early age. He started doing karate, had a very strict coach, and was sent off to boarding school where rules and regulations were the norm. Giusto said this laid the foundation for his unwavering drive when it came to achieving goals in life. “I was a bit naughty as a kid, so it was very good for me,” the 41-year-old said. “I think I was craving discipline in some respects.” He studied economics at the University of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3157965/how-bodybuilders-new-workout-and-diet-got-him-running?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3157965/how-bodybuilders-new-workout-and-diet-got-him-running?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Dec 2021 10:15:16 +0000 Chiang Mai in northern Thailand has rapidly become one of the world’s prime cycling destinations, although it’s not the only place in the area with great riding on tap. When it comes to road cycling and racing Europe has always been the epicentre of the sport, but in recent years it has evolved into a global phenomenon with Asia well and truly part of that. It was about 15 years ago that Chiang Mai started to ping on the radar for international cyclists. Its mild and dry winter climate and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3159323/northern-thailand-asian-cycling-hotspot-quickly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3159323/northern-thailand-asian-cycling-hotspot-quickly?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Dec 2021 00:00:17 +0000 Like any good modern-day romance, the love story of Chris Lo Chiu-kit and wife Inti Fu Tai-fan is complicated but no less a compellingly beautiful tale. The two met in 2000 as colleagues at a broadband company, where they were stationed beside each other in the office. At first it was a friendship, but the kindling had been laid as both found a natural ease chatting together. Inti, who is visually impaired, first had myopia as a child, however at the time her vision was still OK. Lo’s gaze was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3157342/hong-kong-runners-prove-love-blind-visually-impaired?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3157342/hong-kong-runners-prove-love-blind-visually-impaired?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Nov 2021 06:12:25 +0000 As the running season gets going again in subtropical Asia after a pandemic-induced hiatus – the Hong Kong Standard Chartered Marathon and Moontrekker events are back in October, though with a smaller field for the first, and in a virtual format for the second – it’s time to resolve a common misconception: that pounding the roads and trails is bad for the knees. Of the 360 joints in the human body, the knee is the largest and the most complex. Our knees allow for efficient walking and enable us... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3151126/secret-pain-free-knees-running-season-avoid-high-impact?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3151126/secret-pain-free-knees-running-season-avoid-high-impact?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Oct 2021 20:15:10 +0000 Training at the correct intensity for the right amount of time is one of the most important, but one of the most commonly misunderstood, parts of a training programme for trail or ultra running. A knowledge of the biology behind the intensities will help to shape your training schedule. What are aerobic and anaerobic systems? Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is what makes your muscles contract for movement – the aerobic system produces 36 ATP per cycle, compared with just two per anaerobic... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3150862/what-are-aerobic-and-anaerobic-zones-and-how-should?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3150862/what-are-aerobic-and-anaerobic-zones-and-how-should?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Oct 2021 05:28:54 +0000 The highly demanding and stressful nature of Angela Cheung’s job as a nurse needs no explanation. The 31-year-old Hongkonger found a few years ago she was always tired, and was coming off shifts with little to no energy, even before the pandemic placed an increased burden on the health care system. She regularly works nights – 10 hours – starting at 8.30pm, and Cheung said she needed a change. “I used to never work out, I wouldn’t go outdoors, I would just stay home after my shift,” said Cheung.... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3150426/work-train-eat-recover-sleep-repeat-hongkongers-dive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3150426/work-train-eat-recover-sleep-repeat-hongkongers-dive?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Oct 2021 02:45:55 +0000 The Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) has banned painkillers before or during their races to mitigate the dangers of self-medication, organisers announced on Thursday. The organisation clarified their new policy at their UTMB’s Quartz Event health programme following three positive tests at this year’s UTMB last month. Best known for its 170km race in Chamonix, that loops around Mont Blanc the UTMB is considered by many to be the pinnacle of the ultra racing calendar and has a start line packed... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3150088/utmb-bans-painkillers-protect-runners-self-medicating?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3150088/utmb-bans-painkillers-protect-runners-self-medicating?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Sep 2021 06:00:59 +0000 The winner of the Vienna City Marathon has been disqualified for wearing shoes that do not fit the race rules. Derara Hurisa ran the race in two hours, nine minutes and 22 seconds, but was stripped of his title when it was discovered the soles of his shoes is 5cm thick. It is one centimetre thicker than allowed in the race. “Winner disqualified: The initial winner of the Vienna City Marathon had to be disqualified for wearing shoes which are not compliant with the rules. Ethiopia’s Derara Hurisa... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3148480/vienna-city-marathon-winner-disqualified-wearing-shoes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3148480/vienna-city-marathon-winner-disqualified-wearing-shoes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Sep 2021 12:02:16 +0000 Three Hongkongers paddled 210km around Hong Kong over five days on a life changing adventure but it is the landscape they took in that is set to change more. “We had an easier, shorter way to finish. But diverted to go via Siu Kau Yi Chau and Kau Yi Chau. They will be one whole by 2050, it will be missed in the future,” Ben Woo said of the islands that are set to be connected. The two islands will be joined together by reclaiming land for developments to ease Hong Kong’s housing crisis. It is... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3148391/kayakers-paddle-around-hong-kong-see-siu-kau-yi-chau?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3148391/kayakers-paddle-around-hong-kong-see-siu-kau-yi-chau?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Sep 2021 04:01:41 +0000 Casting off by kayak from Oban, Scotland, my partner and I did not know where we were going – and it was liberating. The pair of us had started with a vague, overly ambitious idea of kayaking 700km to the Outer Hebrides and back, but settled on rounding the west of Mull and across to its more famous cousin Skye. As we rounded Mull it far surpassed our expectations in terms of beauty and wilderness. Huge sea cliffs towered over us and pristine white beach after pristine white beach appeared... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3148284/finding-joy-aimless-adventure-remedy-destination?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3148284/finding-joy-aimless-adventure-remedy-destination?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Sep 2021 00:00:15 +0000 The frequency at which people are taking exercise has skyrocketed as workers return to the office. A study conducted by shoe review website RunRepeat, which surveyed 2,494 people, found that even those who never took exercise are now getting a sweat on. The study divided participants into three groups depending on how much exercise they took when working remotely: Low frequency (one or two times a week), moderate frequency (up to three times week) and high frequency (four or more times a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3146807/returning-office-after-covid-19-protocols-results?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3146807/returning-office-after-covid-19-protocols-results?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Aug 2021 00:00:25 +0000