Sure-footed Li Shaozhuang retains rainy Men's Hong Kong Half Marathon title

Li Shaozhuang looked more surprised than delighted when he broke the rope for a repeat victory in Sunday’s Half Marathon Challenge – and the mainland runner soon revealed just why that was the case.

“I didn’t really give myself a chance this year,” laughed the 25-year-old. “I’ve had trouble with the instep on both of my feet and have only been able to run twice in the past month – and only 10km each time. But maybe that helped. I felt fresh starting the race – but I am exhausted now.”

Li finished in 1:19.34, in front of China’s Wang Kun (1:12.47) and Hong Kong’s Christopher Ngai Kang (1:12.54) and, despite his dodgy feet, seemed unconcerned by the slippery conditions.

WATCH: reaction from the half-marathon winners

In fact, like many of the athletes gathered yesterday, Li said he had actually preferred if not so much the rain – which arrived around 6.30am and started to deliver its full intent from 7am onward – but certainly the chill in the air that greeted the runners who had rose before dawn.

“Usually it is very humid so today was different and I think it was nice,” said Li, who has just finished medical studies in Dalian. “I had some pain in my feet still but the conditions were less uncomfortable than I expected. The course here in Hong Kong seems to suit the way I run and I feel very comfortable out there running through the streets. It is an event that has given me some great memories.”