Wearing masks when trail running or hiking is necessary so adjust expectations or training plans, say Hong Kong’s top trail runners
- Follow the rules and try to prevent Covid-19 spreading further, say leading trail runners, who give their advice on dealing with the restrictions
- With an increase in masks, there is an increase in litter, so be careful about how you dispose of your rubbish in the country parks, says one athlete
Wearing a mask when hiking or trail running in the midst of Hong Kong’s hot and humid summer might be intensely uncomfortable, but it is necessary, so comply and adjust your training plans accordingly, say some of Hong Kong’s top trail runners.
Stone Tsang Siu-keung, one of Hong Kong’s best trail runners and winner of the 2017 Ultra Trail of Monte Rosa in Switzerland, uses a plastic guard that raises his mask off his face slightly so he can still run. He buys them on Taobao.
“Outdoor activity, running, hiking is the same, no one wants to wear a mask. But the government has said we have to wear the masks outdoor, and I think it’s better to follow the rules. If everyone wears a mask, it’s a great way to prevent the virus spreading,” he said.
Tsang hopes that he can lead by example and if others are responsible it will create social pressure to comply.
“For me, it’s difficult to tell people to wear masks. If I see a friend, I might remind them but not a stranger. Sure, there are some people not following the rules, but if more follow the rules then other people will too,” Tsang said.
Micheal Maddess, race director for Action Asia Events, also uses a guard to lift his mask off his face. He buys them from Action X, a running shop in Sheung Wan. He said a mask soaked with sweat can feel like breathing at 6,000m altitude with no oxygen. But his mask guard helps keep the mask dry and allows him to push hard in training.
“With the mask requirement, I plan to run even slower and take the chance to visit new places, like the detours to tiny peninsular and piers. I also plan to bring spare masks in a zip bag and with tissue paper to absorb moisture. I am not sure if the discomfort may change my mood or not, though,” she said.
“It’s a tough one, for sure. These rules are put in place to keep the entire community safe, and I think it’s important for runners to keep that in mind. That said, I think solo outdoor exercise is a relatively low risk activity, and can be an important way of maintaining mental and physical health during these times,” Campbell said.
“I hope the new rules don’t discourage outdoor exercise, and that they will be scaled back as soon as the public health situation improves.
“I’ve also seen a big increase lately in the number of surgical masks littered along our trails. Most trail runners and hikers should know that it’s never OK to litter, but I worry that this issue could get much worse with the mandatory mask rule.”
“We definitely need to reduce the intensity of training with this rule in effect. I tried power-walking uphill with a mask on and it gets unbearable within 10 minutes, not to mention running,” she said.
“I’ll try wearing sports masks or the ones made with more breathable fabric and also consider switching higher intensity training to night time when it is cooler.”
“As a trail runner, I am sad to know that I cannot run freely outdoors without a mask now, as I really love outdoor sports,” said Cheung, who is an orthopaedic doctor.
“However, I know that this is a critical moment to minimise the chance of transmission of the virus now. I can only hope that this measure would only be needed for a short period of time, like two weeks, if the number of new cases decreases soon. Maybe it’s time for the trail and the trail runners to take a break.”
