Hong Kong leads the way for Asia as trail running association gives runners and organisers a voice
As the sport continues to expand, the initiative ensures individuals are represented at an increasingly congested table
As the sport of trail running grows and matures, stakeholders are becoming increasingly organised. From large race directors, governments, apparel manufacturers and sponsors, invested parties are creating more channels to exert their influence.
And now, Hong Kong is leading the way in Asia by creating the Trail Runners Association of Hong Kong (TRAHK), so individual race directors and runners are represented at the increasingly congested table.
“The first goal is promoting trail running and making sure it heads in the right direction in terms of its ethics,” said Janet Ng, one of the founders of TRAHK and co-organiser of the Vibram HK100.
Anyone can become a member, either as an individual or as an organisation. There is a core group of founders who have decision-making power and some of those positions can be voted in by members.
The group has quotas within the core group to ensure there is an equal balance between runners and race organisers. There are similar groups in Portugal, the US and Australia, but not in Asia.