HK100: Ragna Debats, trail-running world champion, kicks off epic family trip in Hong Kong
- Dutch ultra runner and partner Pere Aurell aim to run an ultra-marathon on every continent and expand their daughter’s horizons in the process
Trail world champion Ragna Debats is embarking on an epic year-long journey around the world with her partner, Pere Aurell, five-year-old daughter, Onna, and their two dogs, beginning in Hong Kong this month.
Debats and Aurell plan to run at least an ultra-marathon on every continent this year, exploring different corners of the world. They have dubbed the trip Rolling Mountains. The first race on their list is the Vibram Hong Kong 100 (HK100), on January 18.
They then plan to run the 100km Aconcagua Ultra Trail in South America, the 230km Volcano Ultramarathon in Costa Rica, the 166km Western States (if they win spots in the lottery) in the US, the 250km Ourea Trail in Europe, the 42km Kilimanjaro Trail Marathon, the 170km Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc in France, the 53km Crater Rim Ultra in New Zealand and the 100km Last Desert in Antarctica.
The original idea was for Debats, 40, to run a race and then return to Europe and prepare for the next one. But when Aurell agreed to come along, they realised they wanted to do something bigger and stay abroad as a family, travelling the whole time.
The many challenges of taking a five-year-old around the world is compounded by the fact both of her parents spend hours on the trails. Often, race organisers offer to look after the young one without even being asked. Other times, the pair reach out to the trail community for babysitters.