https://www.scmp.com/rss/74680/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Backflips, kettlebell swings, Gaelic football, back-country snowboarding and obstacle races: it’s an eccentric mix, but it’s a combination driving mother-of-three and legal powerhouse Anna Gamvros to be motivated and healthy. “I like [training] when there are little challenges along the way – it keeps me interested and my mind occupied,” explains the 44-year-old Australian and long-time Hong Kong resident. As a partner at law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, Gamvros finds offsetting her work schedule... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2058129/hong-kong-super-mum-and-spartan-race-obstacle-course-runner?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2058129/hong-kong-super-mum-and-spartan-race-obstacle-course-runner?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Dec 2016 04:00:15 +0000 She has run 40 marathons in seven deserts, across seven continents, all in seven weeks. But Mina Guli is adamant she is “not a runner”. “Running is simply a vehicle,” she says. “There are a lot of similarities between running long distances and solving big problems. We think it’s impossible, but when we break it down, solutions become achievable.” And 46-year-old Guli has a big problem on her hands. She has made it her life’s mission to raise awareness of the world’s water crisis, ranked as the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2053179/mina-guli-running-40-desert-marathons-7-weeks-just-means-end?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2053179/mina-guli-running-40-desert-marathons-7-weeks-just-means-end?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Dec 2016 22:31:58 +0000 Are all workouts created equal? A global personal-training franchise doesn’t think so. Orangetheory Fitness, based on “excess post-exercise oxygen consumption” or Epoc, is the latest fitness phenomenon, claiming a 500-plus calorie loss during a one-hour workout, plus an “after burn effect” lasting for up to 36 hours after you walk out of class. Too good to be true? At least my “fitness fad” radar certainly thought so. But Epoc “oxygen debt” is a real scientific phenomenon which occurs after a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2049204/orange-afterburn-fitness-theory-put-test-does-it-live-hype?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2049204/orange-afterburn-fitness-theory-put-test-does-it-live-hype?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Nov 2016 04:03:35 +0000 Snap, crackle … and a final pop? Cereal, once a breakfast darling of the Western world, is dying a slow death. Cereal sales have fallen by an average of 1.5 per cent a year in America, its birthplace, in the past five years, according to consumer research firm Nielsen, and by a almost a third since the year 2000. Some blame lazy millennials who can’t be bothered to wash their bowls and spoons. Others hold “healthier”, labour-intensive options such as oatmeal and eggs responsible. Artisanal... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2047872/how-cereal-has-gone-breakfast-essential-daytime-treat-sales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2047872/how-cereal-has-gone-breakfast-essential-daytime-treat-sales?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Nov 2016 21:30:30 +0000 Stephanie Reid grew up dreaming of being a dancer or perhaps even joining the circus one day. It turns out dreams can come true, and sometimes, they can work out even better than planned. Today, Reid is an aerial arts performer and instructor – a combination of choreographed movements with acrobatics and dramatic body contortions, all performed while hanging on a piece of fabric, or sometimes a hoop suspended in the air. Should pregnant women exercise? Yes, says an Australian in Hong Kong “I... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2042638/hong-kong-aerial-artist-talks-about-intense-workout-it-gives?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2042638/hong-kong-aerial-artist-talks-about-intense-workout-it-gives?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Nov 2016 21:33:16 +0000 If there was a competition for the fittest pregnancy, Zara Balfour would have our vote. A regular at Central’s H-Kore studio throughout her pregnancy last year, Balfour sported a crop top, toned body and bump, even at 39 weeks. But it wasn’t just how the Australian mum-to-be looked, but how her Pilates regime helped her have a smooth labour and a speedy post-partum recovery. “For a first-time mum, I was surprised that my labour was over and done with very, very quickly. It was actually a shock... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2038698/should-pregnant-women-exercise-yes-says-australian-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2038698/should-pregnant-women-exercise-yes-says-australian-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Oct 2016 22:30:40 +0000 In a solitary sport such as running, opportunities to race in a team are rare. That’s why Chris Wharton is lacing up for the fifth time this year to take part in corporate team event the Bloomberg Square Mile Relay, despite the distance being a fraction of what he’s used to as a long-distance runner. “It’s a little short for me, if I’m honest,” says Wharton, 41, a compliance manager at Macquarie Group and this year’s captain for the company. “But being part of a team can really add to the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2025642/six-training-and-racing-tips-seasoned-hong-kong-distance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2025642/six-training-and-racing-tips-seasoned-hong-kong-distance?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Oct 2016 23:02:10 +0000 Inspired after watching a documentary about father-son duo Dick and Rick Hoyt a few years ago, in which Dick Hoyt pushes his severely disabled son through an Ironman triathlon, Hui Yiu-pun made a decision. He had weathered his fair share of challenges and, like the Hoyts, was determined to reinforce his spirit through the endurance sport of triathlon. “At the time, triathlon was like this distant dream for me,” says 34-year-old Hui. “There are three sporting disciplines you have to combine in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2021582/how-hong-kong-harbour-swim-racer-beat-his-fear-drowning-be?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2021582/how-hong-kong-harbour-swim-racer-beat-his-fear-drowning-be?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Sep 2016 21:31:17 +0000 For Elliott Shadforth, being fit and healthy is as much a personal pursuit as it is a family one. A few years ago, the busy executive, father-of-three, and husband to an active wife realised it was a case of shape up or get left behind by his adventurous family. “I did not want to be the dad who could not keep up with his kids,” says Shadforth, 42, originally from Australia. A partner at accounting firm EY in Hong Kong, Shadforth admits his sportiness declined over the years as his career... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2017599/paddleboard-yoga-plus-spinning-makes-hong-kong-dad-fit-keep?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2017599/paddleboard-yoga-plus-spinning-makes-hong-kong-dad-fit-keep?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Sep 2016 22:30:22 +0000 Some runners train harder to achieve better race results. Dennis Theodosis applied science and research to solve the problem: he simply ate his way to speed. Last year, the 39-year-old dropped a remarkable 10 kilograms in five months to trim his weight to 68 kilograms. The newly trim trail runner has since progressed from the “middle of the pack” to finishing top 10 in many of Hong Kong’s competitive trail running races. His impressive weight loss came about, he says, not by running more but... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2009384/how-fasting-gives-hong-kong-trail-runner-dennis-theodosis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2009384/how-fasting-gives-hong-kong-trail-runner-dennis-theodosis?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Aug 2016 04:00:15 +0000 Thanks to one man’s adventurous imagination and love of cycling, there is now another way to climb Everest: by bike. “Everesting” is as the title implies: cycling up and down a mountain until you have accumulated 8,848 metres of elevation, the height of the world’s tallest mountain. The rules are fiendishly simple: one mountain, one ride up and down – fully, no half attempts allowed – on the same patch of road. And the old Confucius saying rings true: “It doesn’t matter how slow you go, so long... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2005538/meet-hong-kongs-intrepid-upwardly-mobile-everesters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2005538/meet-hong-kongs-intrepid-upwardly-mobile-everesters?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Aug 2016 04:25:43 +0000 Compact and lean. Graceful and efficient. Open, measured and thoughtful. These are all traits Nima King proudly possesses today. And he’s a long way from the “angry” kid he was 22 years ago. “Born and raised in war-torn Iran, I arrived in Australia aged 10 as an angry person. I would easily lose my temper,” he says. The angry child grew into a vexed teen who often got into fist fights. He credits his transformation to a decision he made at the age of 15. “I decided it was time to learn how to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2004050/martial-art-sets-hong-kong-iranian-immigrant-better-path?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2004050/martial-art-sets-hong-kong-iranian-immigrant-better-path?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Aug 2016 22:00:00 +0000 Go slow: it’s not the advice you expect before attempting a Guinness World Record for the fastest half marathon in a suit, but for Hong Kong dad Mike Tozer it was just the ticket to a coveted entry into the history books. “I was really nervous the night before my attempt and called my coach Sean Williams and he said, ‘Ignore everyone else around and just go slow at the start.’” In May, Tozer, 35, who works in international development, had made an initial crack at the record – one hour 18... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2002413/hong-kong-dad-sets-record-charity-race-three-piece-suit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2002413/hong-kong-dad-sets-record-charity-race-three-piece-suit?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Aug 2016 09:15:30 +0000 One morning, in the early summer of 2008, Vivian Tam Wai-wan woke with the feeling of having water caught in her ear. She thought little of it. But soon, the muffling developed into a constant, torturous ringing. “It was like the sound of an old, broken AM radio. You know that “ee-err” sound it makes when switching channels?” In a matter of days, her tinnitus, as the condition is known, overwhelmed her. She could barely sleep and struggled to hold a conversation. Seemingly overnight, Tam went... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1996505/hongkonger-treats-tinnitus-yoga-and-turns-her-life-around?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1996505/hongkonger-treats-tinnitus-yoga-and-turns-her-life-around?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Aug 2016 21:30:15 +0000 You can’t exercise away a bad diet, and fortunately an increasing array of healthy food options in Hong Kong in recent years has made healthy eating much easier. These days, you hardly need to lift a finger to have healthy food on your plate, thanks to the city’s growing healthy food delivery scene. There are at least 15 such companies operating in the city, with many offering customised meal plans that can cost more than HK$1,000 for a week’s worth of meals. Vanessa Ruzzica, a 33-year-old... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/1993385/hong-kongs-healthy-meal-delivery-services-time-challenged?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/1993385/hong-kongs-healthy-meal-delivery-services-time-challenged?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Jul 2016 22:00:15 +0000 Like many busy Hong Kong professionals, Alex Lin spends more days of the month outside of the city than in it. He’s used to packing light, yet there’s one item he’s never without: his gi. The white uniform, used for practising Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ), is a staple for Lin, 43, no matter the destination. “I have trained all over the world – in Tokyo, Taipei, Shanghai, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, New York, and Rio de Janeiro. Every time I go abroad, I like to see if there is a good BJJ... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1990156/how-brazilian-jiu-jitsu-has-given-hong-kong-professional?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1990156/how-brazilian-jiu-jitsu-has-given-hong-kong-professional?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Jul 2016 00:00:45 +0000 Even for a regular runner, completing a half-marathon poses a challenge. Attempting to run it in a business suit? Madness. Trying to run fast enough to secure a place in the Guinness World Records? Unfathomable for all but a few. Such was the quest of Hong Kong-based Mike Tozer at the Sydney Morning Herald Half-Marathon in May. Frustratingly, his speedy finish time of 78 minutes 40 seconds was just seconds slower than the record set by British runner Scott Forbes at a half-marathon in Reading,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1982944/hongkonger-runs-race-suit-and-tie-raise-awareness-genetic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1982944/hongkonger-runs-race-suit-and-tie-raise-awareness-genetic?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jun 2016 04:30:21 +0000 What do downhill skiing and dragon boating have in common? If you ask Jeremy Young, quite a lot. Since moving to Hong Kong seven years ago, the former professional ski coach has applied his slalom skills to the water with surprising success. “Both [skiing and dragon boating] require efficient use of your body and when you get the combination right it becomes fluid,” explains Young, 50, who used to be on the New Zealand skiing demonstration team. “There’s a wonderful feeling when the boat is all... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1975396/fitness-tips-new-zealand-skier-turned-hong-kong-dragon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1975396/fitness-tips-new-zealand-skier-turned-hong-kong-dragon?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Jun 2016 22:00:00 +0000 “When you have spent most of your life exercising outdoors, it’s pretty hard to start working out in a gym – in fact, I find being in a gym stifling and boring,” says Anthony Root from the expanse of his rooftop in Hong Kong’s south side, overlooking the South China Sea. Rain, hail or shine, this rooftop is where the 63-year-old trains twice a week with his personal trainer, Jinhwa Kim from Ape.Fit. When the American moved to Asia in his 40s, Root maintained the outdoor lifestyle he had grown up... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1963500/63-yoga-based-training-hong-kong-rooftop-shock-lifelong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1963500/63-yoga-based-training-hong-kong-rooftop-shock-lifelong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Jun 2016 22:00:00 +0000 “When you have spent most of your life exercising outdoors, it’s pretty hard to start working out in a gym – in fact, I find being in a gym stifling and boring,” says Anthony Root from the expanse of his rooftop in Hong Kong’s south side, overlooking the South China Sea. Rain, hail or shine, this rooftop is where the 63-year-old trains twice a week with his personal trainer, Jinhwa Kim from Ape.Fit. When the American moved to Asia in his 40s, Root maintained the outdoor lifestyle he had grown up... https://www.scmp.com/article/1963499/hongkonger-reaches-sky-fitness-routine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1963499/hongkonger-reaches-sky-fitness-routine?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Jun 2016 03:05:52 +0000 For years, scrawny runners, clad in little more than running vests and shorts, have gathered at the base of mountains around the world to challenge themselves in the Skyrunner World Series. Last month, the first race of the 2016 season was no different – except that it was held in China. The 29-kilometre Yading Skyrun, in Sichuan’s mountainous Daocheng, is the first race in mainland China to be included in the International Skyrunning Federation’s world series. “It seems to me like China just,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1956818/skys-limit-china-it-bursts-world-trail-running-scene?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1956818/skys-limit-china-it-bursts-world-trail-running-scene?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 May 2016 16:00:45 +0000 Starting a new job in a new city, Paul Hume reasoned it was time for something else new – a fresh approach to fitness. After eight years in the Middle East in the lap of luxury, 33-year-old Hume was ready to “get ripped” when he moved to Hong Kong in January last year. “My general fitness wasn’t too bad, but I wasn’t what you’d call ‘fit’ or ‘toned’. I’ve never been overweight, but I was definitely in need of a lifestyle upgrade.” One obstacle was in his way: a lack of interest in dragging... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1947375/when-paul-hume-moved-hong-kong-he-decided-get-ripped-heres?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1947375/when-paul-hume-moved-hong-kong-he-decided-get-ripped-heres?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 May 2016 00:02:01 +0000 A quest to discover her limits has taken an English teacher on a journey from weakling to weightlifting powerhouse: in one day, Fiona Kettlewell dead-lifted 44,500 kilograms – 809 times her body weight. She was part of a team of 24 in the “Pinnacle Million”, a weightlifting challenge staged in March to collectively lift one million kilograms in 24 hours for charity. Not only did the team reach their goal in 12 hours, they almost doubled it, lifting 1,607,500kg in total – a new Asian record. The... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1941524/hong-kong-teachers-journey-55kg-weakling-weightlifting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1941524/hong-kong-teachers-journey-55kg-weakling-weightlifting?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 May 2016 04:31:04 +0000 Is what you’re carrying more than just weighing you down? Regularly carrying heavy loads, and in the wrong way, puts you at risk of long-term musculoskeletal damage and potential spinal compression, say the experts.  “Whenever you carry too much weight, or distribute loads onto the body unevenly, you’re compressing the spine or you’re forcing your body to compensate by using other muscles, which creates asymmetry in the body,” explains Chris Sherer, a musculoskeletal physiotherapist working out... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1941671/hong-kong-physios-advice-how-carry-bags-and-loads-correctly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1941671/hong-kong-physios-advice-how-carry-bags-and-loads-correctly?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 May 2016 23:00:36 +0000 They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks – but don’t try and tell that to Terry Shipham. Aged 57, he’s been learning a new bodyweight skill every year for the past three years. First it was a handstand, next it was a “muscle-up” (transitioning from a pull-up to a tricep dip in one fluid movement), and in the Year of the Monkey his target is particularly fitting: he’s learning to climb a rope using only his arms. “The goal is to climb hand-over-hand up to the ceiling from a sitting position... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1938318/hongkonger-57-whos-learned-do-handstands-and-wants-climb?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1938318/hongkonger-57-whos-learned-do-handstands-and-wants-climb?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Apr 2016 22:01:17 +0000 Remember the hula hoop from your childhood? It’s no longer just a children’s toy but a new, dynamic way to work out. So says Emma Brown, 30, a hula hooping aficionado who credits her toned physique to the unusual sport. She had received a hula hoop as a wedding present six years ago and began playing with her new toy in her free time during a short stint living in Thailand. “I couldn’t have guessed then how that wedding present would go on to change my life,” she says. After mastering the hoop,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1932685/how-humble-hula-hoop-can-help-hongkongers-get-fit-fun?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1932685/how-humble-hula-hoop-can-help-hongkongers-get-fit-fun?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Apr 2016 00:00:30 +0000 While working as a finance professional five years ago Karen Lim suffered all the hallmarks of someone who spends hours at their desk: stiffness, pains in her lower back and tightness in her shoulders. Just as she had resigned herself to the pain, she discovered Pilates. Engaging her core and stimulating long-neglected muscles, her aches and pains gradually disappeared. With newfound freedom in her body and eager to learn more, she began training to become a teacher. “I decided to take the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1928623/how-hong-kong-convert-pilates-went-strength-strength?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1928623/how-hong-kong-convert-pilates-went-strength-strength?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Mar 2016 22:01:30 +0000 Despite spending her childhood walking the mountains of Switzerland, Belgian Virginie Goethals only started hiking seriously and regularly five years ago when she moved to Beijing. Moving to Hong Kong in 2014 has only heightened her appetite for the trails. Her passion has taken on a new purpose in the past six months: the former lawyer and sustainability consultant now leads hiking groups for refugees through the Free to Run charity. READ MORE Code for success: Hong Kong computing school trains... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1921806/healing-powers-exercise-women-refugees-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1921806/healing-powers-exercise-women-refugees-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Mar 2016 18:01:14 +0000 As a successful age group swimmer and triathlete, Georgia Brown is familiar with feeling challenged. But her recent workout regime is taking her to new heights – literally.  Brown, 50, has recently taken up “tricking”, or “trick training” – a trampoline class at Ryze trampoline park in Quarry Bay that allegedly burns more than 1,000 calories an hour.  “It’s a major cardio workout – I’d believe it burns that many calories but I’ve never worn my heart rate monitor [to confirm this],” says Brown, a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1915230/trampoline-tricks-just-ticket-ex-banker-turned-swim-coach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1915230/trampoline-tricks-just-ticket-ex-banker-turned-swim-coach?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:01:34 +0000 The latest fitness hack has nothing to do with quirky diets or weird workouts but “teaching” your torso to take on an hourglass figure. Meet the waist trainer: a throwback to the Victorian era with a modern twist. Made from a latex-polyester mix, it sucks in the waist and pulls in the hips but has more bend than its traditional counterpart. The premise is simple: squish your body into the coveted curvy female shape, sweat like hell, and watch the weight melt away while your waist magically... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1913919/its-sauna-my-belly-corset-waist-trainer-meets-sceptical?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1913919/its-sauna-my-belly-corset-waist-trainer-meets-sceptical?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Feb 2016 18:00:00 +0000 A tight battle played out over the hills of Sai Kung on Saturday in the final race of the MSIG50 ultramarathon series with the top three contestants finishing within 70 seconds of each other. After 54 hilly kilometres through some of Hong Kong’s best scenery, Nepal’s Upendra Sunuwar was first over the line in five hours 41 minutes and 23 seconds – just. Only 13 seconds separated him from Pierre-Andre Ferriere from France. Third placed Baptiste Puyou, also from France, finished in 5:42:30. “All... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1914590/close-tussle-nepals-sunuwar-pips-rivals-final-race-msig50?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1914590/close-tussle-nepals-sunuwar-pips-rivals-final-race-msig50?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Feb 2016 12:15:15 +0000 A “perfect day” saw 16-year-old swimming sensation Singha Chau demolish the competition at the 15km Clean Half ocean swim on Saturday, finishing more than one hour and six minutes ahead of the rest of the field and becoming the youngest swimmer to complete the race. His effort also saw him take almost 50 minutes off the existing course record in the race that began at Stanley Main Beach and finished at Middle Island within Deep Water Bay. READ MORE: Cold comfort – Hungary’s Attila Manyoki using... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1907547/hong-kongs-singha-chau-speeds-past-rivals-become-youngest-complete?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1907547/hong-kongs-singha-chau-speeds-past-rivals-become-youngest-complete?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Jan 2016 15:15:00 +0000 The 15-kilometre Cold Half in Hong Kong may be the coldest and most challenging ocean swim in Asia, but for Attila Manyoki it’s more like the “lukewarm dash”. The Hungarian marathon swimmer will take part on Saturday in just swimming trunks, claiming the race is “not long” and the water is “comfortable”. It’s all about context of course: The 42-year-old Hungarian is preparing to swim the channel between North Ireland and Scotland in summer – roughly 38 kilometres in waters dropping to a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1906404/cold-comfort-hungarys-attila-manyoki-using-hong-kong-cold-half?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1906404/cold-comfort-hungarys-attila-manyoki-using-hong-kong-cold-half?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Jan 2016 05:00:45 +0000 Trail running has become wildly popular around the globe in the past five to eight years and Hong Kong has not been immune to the trend. In the past five years the number of trail races held here has more than trebled. This racing season (which began in October 2015 and will run till March 2016) has at least 39 events – more than one every weekend, and sometimes as many as three or four. There are more than 6,000 listed runners in a Hong Kong Meet Up group and 3,500 followers of the Trail... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1904900/trail-running-hong-kong-history-how-it-became-one-our?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1904900/trail-running-hong-kong-history-how-it-became-one-our?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Jan 2016 20:00:45 +0000 If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, lunch runs a close second. But for many Hongkongers, lunch is either an unhealthy affair due to limited options or skipped totally because of time and work pressures. Either way, you’re not doing your health any favours. “A healthy, nutritionally dense lunch is essential to carry us through the day in an energetic, motivated and productive manner,” says Hong Kong-based health coach Rowena Hunt. A packed lunch from home is an easy lifestyle... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1903872/10-instagram-accounts-follow-healthy-home-made-lunch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1903872/10-instagram-accounts-follow-healthy-home-made-lunch?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Jan 2016 18:01:26 +0000 Nightmare conditions forced an early finish to the Vibram Hong Kong 100 trail run on Sunday morning as runners were met with ice and snow showers over Tai Mo Shan in the final kilometres of the race. “Due to ice on the descent from Tai Mo Shan the race is stopped,” said the organiser’s Facebook page at around 6am. “Runners are urged to get to the nearest [checkpoint], and to return to the city by any available means.” They were the worst conditions I’ve ever raced in 15 years of competing in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1904399/snow-and-ice-see-vibram-100-trail-runners-struggle-treacherous?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1904399/snow-and-ice-see-vibram-100-trail-runners-struggle-treacherous?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Jan 2016 07:30:15 +0000 Leading ultra runner Gediminas Grinius laughed off Hong Kong’s arctic blast as organisers warned 1,800 athletes to prepare for “zero-degree conditions” in Saturday’s Vibram 100. Rain, extreme cold and biting winds are forecast for the sixth edition of the Vibram Hong Kong 100, a 100-kilometre ultramarathon which starts in Sai Kung and ends with a frosty ascent of Tai Mo Shan. “I’m from Lithuania – before I left it was minus 20 [Celsius],” joked Grinius, last year’s winner at Japan’s Ultra Trail... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1903833/hong-kongs-arctic-blast-nothing-home-says-lithuanian-ultra-runner?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1903833/hong-kongs-arctic-blast-nothing-home-says-lithuanian-ultra-runner?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Jan 2016 07:15:30 +0000 With temperatures set to tumble, the annual Simpson Marine Four Peaks sailing and running race faces some of the chilliest and most challenging conditions of its 32-year history. This race invariably falls on the coldest weekend of the year and this year the conditions look particularly lively Anthony Day, Rear Commodore of Sailing at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club “This race invariably falls on the coldest weekend of the year and this year the conditions look particularly lively,” commented... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1903828/four-peaks-racers-braced-frigid-conditions-hong-kong-2016-edition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1903828/four-peaks-racers-braced-frigid-conditions-hong-kong-2016-edition?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Jan 2016 06:56:15 +0000 She swims, she bikes, and now Kate Rutherford has proved she can certainly run after claiming the women’s title in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong 10km race this morning. I was just hoping to maybe finish top three in my age group – I never imagined coming first Kate Rutherford It was an unexpected outcome for the elite triathlete who was named “Asia’s best age-group triathlete in 2015” by AsiaTri Magazine last month. She’s used to swimming 1.5 kilometres and cycling 40 kilometres before she... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1901957/ironwoman-kate-rutherford-claims-womens-hong-kong-marathon-10km?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1901957/ironwoman-kate-rutherford-claims-womens-hong-kong-marathon-10km?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Jan 2016 07:00:00 +0000 It’s been one hell of a trip for Jack Martin: He claimed first place and a new course record at the Standard Chartered Marathon 10km race this morning after flying in from the UK a few days ago for business meetings. I’m from Manchester, I’m used to running in the rain Jack Martin, Men’s 10km winner His time of 31 minutes and 45 seconds was nine seconds faster than the record set by local runner Clinton Mackevicius in 2013 of 31 minutes and 54 seconds. “He was so fast, even in the first... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1901937/flying-visit-uks-jack-martin-takes-mens-10km-race-record-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1901937/flying-visit-uks-jack-martin-takes-mens-10km-race-record-time?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Jan 2016 04:15:30 +0000 The idea of consuming protein to build muscles used to conjure up images of a burly man slugging down raw eggs or a whey protein shake. These days, not only have protein boosts gone mainstream, it’s increasingly sourced from vegetables rather than animals. Vegan proteins from sources such as pea, chia, flax, soy, rice and hempseed are on the rise, according to health food experts. SEE ALSO: Road test: 5 vegan protein products to help get you ripped “The perks of vegan proteins – besides animal... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1898593/vegan-protein-just-effective-meat-and-dairy-sports-if-you?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1898593/vegan-protein-just-effective-meat-and-dairy-sports-if-you?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Jan 2016 18:00:00 +0000 1. Sunfood Super Food Raw Organic Chocolate Protein Powder Protein type: brown rice Contains: 112 calories, 17 grams protein, one gram fat per 28-gram scoop My hands-down favourite protein drink and the first I’ve tried that tastes good on its own. Looking at the ingredients it makes sense: protein, a bit of sweetener, and antioxidant boosting cacao. Light, flavourful and tasty. 2. Sunwarrior Warrior Blend Raw Vegan Protein Vanilla Protein type: pea and hemp seed Contains: 100 calories, 19... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1899966/road-test-5-vegan-protein-products-fuel-you?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1899966/road-test-5-vegan-protein-products-fuel-you?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Jan 2016 17:59:38 +0000 Strange, weary figures kissed the postbox outside Mui Wo ferry pier from Sunday night until the early hours on Wednesday morning, marking the completion of a legendary local endurance feat which began at 8am on New Year’s Day. Eleven people walked, ran, jogged and at times crawled for 298 kilometres over Hong Kong’s four publicly marked ultra trails, including 14.5km of steep climbing – equivalent to almost 30 times up and down the height of the International Commerce Centre (ICC). Their... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1898428/11-survivors-complete-hong-kong-four-trails-ultra-challenge-no?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1898428/11-survivors-complete-hong-kong-four-trails-ultra-challenge-no?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Jan 2016 13:00:00 +0000 Even 20 minutes of movement at a high intensity can be beneficial for maintaining tone and providing a psychological boost over the coming holiday, says celebrity personal trainer Alexa Towersey. “My moves are all dual purpose – focusing on opening the front of the body, and strengthening the back of the body to improve posture, core strength and decrease injury. SEE ALSO: How lifting weights helps women shed fat and gain health and confidence “I advocate spending time on a dynamic warm-up to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1892649/celebrity-personal-trainer-alexa-towerseys-holiday-workout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1892649/celebrity-personal-trainer-alexa-towerseys-holiday-workout?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Dec 2015 00:02:28 +0000 If Alexa Towersey had it her way, the definition of a beautiful woman would include the words “strong” and ”muscular”. A personal trainer, Towersey advocates women embracing strength training – the panacea, she believes, to women achieving their peak physical and mental health. SEE ALSO: Celebrity personal trainer Alexa Towersey’s holiday workout for women “Weight training doesn’t just deliver a strong, healthy body and a beautiful aesthetic, it’s also very empowering,” explains the New Zealand... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1892386/how-lifting-weights-helps-women-shed-fat-and-gain-health-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1892386/how-lifting-weights-helps-women-shed-fat-and-gain-health-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Dec 2015 00:00:18 +0000 A little rain shouldn’t ruin your day, but the existing options for protection – rain jackets and umbrellas – aren’t always right for the job. A rain jacket leaves your bottom half exposed and your eyes unshielded; an umbrella leaves you with only one free hand. Unless you’re just running through puddles and don’t care much where the rain falls, here are three rain proofing alternatives to the traditional umbrella, with the added benefit of sun protection. Hands-free umbrella Nubrella is the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/1891036/three-ways-stay-dry-rain-without-traditional-umbrella?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/1891036/three-ways-stay-dry-rain-without-traditional-umbrella?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Dec 2015 11:00:30 +0000 He may call the rugged French Alps home, but ultrarunner Sebastien Chaigneau is bracing himself for Hong Kong’s “toughest” ultra this weekend. The North Face 100 Hong Kong starts tomorrow and boasts 6,300 metres of positive elevation gain over 100 kilometres, which kilometre for kilometre is one of the toughest ultras in the region. “The stairs here are crazy and amazing,” he joked on his Facebook page, along with several toothy photos from his training runs in the Lantau hills this week. “The... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1889685/crazy-and-amazing-sebastien-chaigneau-braces-hong-kongs-toughest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1889685/crazy-and-amazing-sebastien-chaigneau-braces-hong-kongs-toughest?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Dec 2015 03:56:06 +0000 November is all about the mo and the moves for Movember, a global charity committed to men living happier, healthier and longer lives. We meet three of the charity’s Mo Bros and Mo Sistas helping raise awareness.   Working in an office never felt quite right for Londoner Charlotte Johnson. “It wasn’t just that I wanted to be outside on the few days of the year when it was sunny, I didn’t feel like what I was doing was meaningful.” She grew up always on the move – “cartwheels, making up dance... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1885157/how-yoga-can-breathe-new-life-very-core-your-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1885157/how-yoga-can-breathe-new-life-very-core-your-day?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Nov 2015 06:00:45 +0000 This month it’s all about the mo and the moves for Movember, a global charity committed to men living happier, healthier and longer lives. We meet three of the charity’s Mo Bros and Mo Sistas helping to raise awareness. Since slipping on ballet shoes at the age of six, Rachel Moon knew she was born to move. First as a performer, later as a producer and manager of stage productions, and now as the business development manager and instructor at local indoor cycling studio XYZ. So when she was... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1881971/rachel-moon-wants-hongkongers-get-moving-movember?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1881971/rachel-moon-wants-hongkongers-get-moving-movember?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Nov 2015 22:00:22 +0000 Until now, teams taking part in the annual Oxfam Trailwalker have only had tales of triumph and exhausted-looking selfies to show for, at the end of the gruelling 100km pursuit. But this year, technology is bringing the epic charity challenge into real time for everyone to enjoy - from a comfortable distance on the couch. For the first time in the event's 34-year history, the 33 teams will carry GPS trackers, enabling their progress to be tracked live. Those include the 13 teams in the elite... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1880675/follow-trailwalker-fromthe-comfort-your-couch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1880675/follow-trailwalker-fromthe-comfort-your-couch?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Nov 2015 16:00:45 +0000