The power of now – Lantau 70 ultramarathon winners ignore the daunting distance to push for podium
Elsa Jean de Dieu and Michael Skobierski concentrate on each step to run 70km and finish first
A 70-kilometre running race is too long to think about in its entirety, so the winners of the Salomon Lantau Trail 70 focused on the moment.
“I believe in the power of now,” women’s winner Elsa Jean de Dieu said. “I have a watch, but I never look at the time or the distance.”
Men’s winner Michael Skobierski said: “It’s about finding small things to look forward to. The finish line 30 or 40 kilometres away is too far to think about.”
Saturday’s LT70 started in Mui Wo and the runners were immediately confronted with Sunset then Lantau Peak. The entire race has over 3,000 metres of climbing but that is too intimidating for runners to think about.
“I aim for checkpoint to checkpoint, or familiar point to familiar point,” said Skobierski, who does not have a lot of experience with long distance trail running.