View From The EdgeCovid-19 restrictions ease, others sports return, and yet trail races are still off – why?

Rugby, football and other sports are returning to normal yet trail racing is still deemed too risky

It is time to lift this ban and allow racing to resume, even if it there are some restrictions to keep Covid-19 at bay

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A socially distanced start line at one of two trial events – why have more events not been granted? Photo: Action Asia Events

Published: 8:00am, 14 May 2021Updated: 9:44am, 14 May 2021

Trail running in Hong Kong exists in a bubble – the scene has its own social circles, big races that mark the peak of the calendar, awards and superstars. It is sometimes easy to forget that there’s a world outside trail running.

Many people are unaware of the vibrant community that lives in their midst. They might have heard of the Oxfam Trailwalker but are shocked to learn it is just one of a few 100km races annually. They have no idea we are here.

Increasingly, it feels like the Hong Kong government has no idea either.

Trail running has been on hold since the Covid-19 pandemic began. And initially, for good reason – no one knew just how bad Covid-19 could be, how it could spread, how deadly it was.

The finish line of one of Action Asia’s trial events – people arrived spaced out by hours. Photo: Nora Tam

The world came to a standstill. But over a year later, many aspects of Hong Kong are returning to normalcy, yet trail running is left behind. There have been just two trial events organised by Action Asia – the two races were both a success and no one has caught an infection, making the continued lack of races even more baffling.