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Mark Agnew

When Hong Kong residents Paul Niel and Esther Roling committed to running a 70 kilometre ultra-marathon around Lake Traunsee in Austria, the thought of climbing near-vertical cliffs didn’t enter their minds.
But the sheer rock trails they encountered ensured a quick change of mindset for the pair, who were glad to be able to draw on years of rock climbing experience.
“The first part was very technical, especially when compared with training in Hong Kong,” Roling said. “It was actually more rock climbing than trail running.”
The pair scrambled up the rocks in wet and misty conditions and had to make use of the via ferrata – iron ladders nailed into the sides of cliffs.

But fortunately, the couple have been rock climbing most of their life and even managed to “coasteer” all around Hong Kong Island using ropes and other specialist equipment.
“It definitely helped knowing how to climb,” Niel said.
Couple who’ll walk, climb and swim around Hong Kong Island to create the city’s first map of coastal pollution
But with wet conditions and steep slopes, Roling and Niel were more cautious going downhill and had to step tentatively to avoid a big fall.
“The downhill was so technical and I’m always a chicken on the downhill anyway,” Niel said. “People would fly by us and we’d say ‘see you on the uphill’.”


Roling added that in some ways the mist helped because it prevented them from seeing the drop below.
Just to add to the nerves of the huge drops, there was news that a runner had recently died on the trails in the area.
“The organisers were really pushing the participation, rather than the ultimate time because of the death,” Niel said. “There were a few bits that were really exposed. It’s why we put the handbrakes on for the downhills.”
But it cleared up later in the day and allowed them to look back over the spectacular scenery.
“The character of the race is really interesting. It follows a lake, so you can look back on the route you’ve done and say ‘Wow, that’s what I’ve done, I was just on the top of that huge mountain’,” Niel said.

Roling added that they were fortunate the weather cleared up.
Mont Blanc ultra’s technical downhills the focus for Hong Kong-based runner
“I’ve been in races in the alps before when it was wet and I had to drop out for hyperthermia,” she said. “That’s just what happens at altitude in the wind and rain.”


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Austria

Hong Kong couple forced to draw on rock climbing skills as Austria trail race throws up steep cliffs and thick mists

Paul Niel and Esther Roling finish the race around Lake Traunsee. Photo: Sportograf

Paul Niel and Esther Röling running in Austria

Paul Niel and Esther roling running a trail race in Austria

Sport

Outdoor

Trail Running

Hiking

Paul Niel and Esther Roling run 70km in Austria, but the moist conditions mean they storm up the inclines only to be overtaken on the downs


Hong Kong couple forced to draw on rock climbing skills as Austria trail race throws up steep cliffs and thick mists

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Paul Niel and Esther Roling run 70km in Austria, but the moist conditions mean they storm up the inclines only to be overtaken on the downs

Paul Niel and Esther Roling run 70km in Austria, but the moist conditions mean they storm up the inclines only to be overtaken on the downs