Hong Kong 298km Four Trails first woman finisher Nikki Han rises to challenge again, giving ‘every drop of blood’

The 50-year-old Han is still the only woman to finish the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge but this time is far tougher than 2019

The 298km challenge marks its 10th edition by only inviting previous ‘finishers’ and ‘survivors’

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Nikki Han pushes hard on the first day of the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge. Photo: Ivan Van Eetvelt

Published: 11:40am, 15 Feb 2021Updated: 11:40am, 15 Feb 2021

Nikki Han dragged herself to the end of the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge for a second time, the only woman to finish once, let alone twice. But unlike 2019, this 298km run was “brutal”.

“I’ve had a good one, then this one. I had to give every last little drop of blood I had to get through. Racing wise, the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” she said.

The HK4TUC links all four major trails in Hong Kong – the 100km MacLehose, the 78km Wilson Trail, the 50km Hong Kong Trail and the 70km Lantau Trail. Runners are not allowed any support and there are no checkpoints, though they do have help travelling between the trails.

If they reach the postbox in Mui Wo on Lantau, which marks the end, in under 60 hours they are deemed a “finisher”. If they reach it in under 72 hours, they are a “survivor”. Only 16 people had finished before this year. Han finished in 58 hours and 20 minutes in 2019 – on Sunday she finished in 59:42. Other woman have survived. At 50 years of age, Han is also the oldest finisher.

“I didn’t beat my time. But god no, I don’t mind.

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