Hongkonger stuck in 21-day hotel quarantine paces 26,000 steps a day for swimming charity, nine steps at a time

Freelance writer Frederik Balfour has been at the Best Western Plus since February 12 pacing for the Splash Charity Foundation

Balfour says there is no trick to pacing more than 26,000 steps a day, and that ‘one has to be creative while counting’

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Frederik Balfour says he hopes to pace 200 kilometres in 21 days of quarantine for a local swimming charity. Photo: Handout

Published: 1:41pm, 1 Mar 2021Updated: 10:37am, 2 Mar 2021

Hongkongers stuck in mandatory 21-day hotel quarantines are finding themselves trying anything to stay sharp and endure three weeks of isolation owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

Frederik Balfour, a freelance arts writer, found himself in hotel lockdown when he touched down into the city on February 12 from Toronto, Canada, and decided it was time to do something meaningful during his quarantine.

Balfour said he started walking 10,000 steps a day, in nine-step lengths of his hotel room, while holed up at the Best Western Plus in Sheung Wan, and by his 17th day in quarantine has worked up to averaging more than 26,000 steps a day.

“It wasn’t until I was two weeks in that I realised all my pacing was a great way to raise money for charity,” said the 64-year-old who swims in the ocean as his main form of exercise.

Balfour is now raising money for the Splash Foundation, which helps people learn to swim who wouldn’t normally have access to pools or swimming lessons. Balfour is hoping to clock 200 kilometres and raise HK$200,000 for the foundation. As of Monday afternoon he has clocked more than 183 km, and is expected to be released at midnight on March 3. So far he has raised HK$59,000.

“I don’t have a Fitbit or other device,” he explained about his endeavour. “I keep track of distance by counting and recording every 1,000 steps with strokes, old school prison style.”