Blind runner thrilled to complete Mizuno
Ng among more than a dozen unsighted athletes as race celebrates 20th edition with record field
The look of satisfaction on Galant Ng Ka-lun's face as he crossed the finish line was one of pure satisfaction. He had just completed his first Mizuno Hong Kong Half Marathon, which yesterday celebrated its 20th anniversary with a record field of 3,000 runners.
Ng wasn't much interested in his time; he was simply glad to be enjoying the freedom of running and the feel of the warm sunshine that appeared part way through the 21.1-kilometre run. Ng is blind.
"I only took up running three years ago and now I train three times a week and try to race every weekend," said Ng, 32, who lives in Shek Kip Mei and described his job as a rehabilitation worker.
"I joined the Furious Dragon running club and now have lots of friends in the running community," he added.
Ng was one of more than a dozen unsighted runners competing at Tai Mei Tuk yesterday and was guided over the undulating Bride's Pool Road course by sighted runner Michael Ng, a 39-year-old civil servant.
"We actually make an interesting pair because I'm blind and he's deaf," added Galant Ng, who lost his sight when he was 20.
"We've been running as a pair for more than two years now, and our next major race will be the Standard Chartered Marathon, which will be our sixth full marathon. Our best time so far is four hours and two minutes, so we'll be looking to break four hours next month."