Hong Kong 298km Four Trail’s oldest survivor William Hayward returns for 10-year anniversary, stubborn and armed with Backyard experience
- The Hong Kong-based Kiwi shows at the Backyard Ultra that he is uniquely stubborn, even compared with other ultra runners
- The Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge marks its 10-year anniversary with select group of past ‘survivors’ and ‘finishers’
William Hayward has a track record that shows he is stubborn, impressively so when compared with other ultra runners. The Hong Kong-based Kiwi is returning to the 298km Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge (HK4TUC) to put his mule-like attitude to the test once again.
The HK4TUC links all four of Hong Kong’s longest trails – MacLehose, Wilson, Hong Kong and Lantau – in reverse, non-stop, with no checkpoints or support allowed, though runners have help travelling between them. It is not a race, there is no entry fee or prize. It’s just a personal challenge for a select few – this year there will be fewer than 20 runners.
The event takes place over Lunar New Year (February 12-14). If runners reach the end, marked by the green postbox in Mui Wo, in under 60 hours, they are considered “finishers”. If they reach in under 72 hours, they are “survivors”. Hayward, a survivor at the age of 49 in 2018, is the oldest person to complete it.
This year, to mark 10 years, the organiser has only accepted applications from former finishers and survivors.
“I don’t think I am particularly competitive. I am not too worried about who I beat, or who beats me. I am much more interested in setting myself a challenge and finishing that challenge. Even if I feel terrible, if I set myself the goal of finishing, I will,” Hayward, 52, said.