World Mountain & Trail Running Championships: Eszter Csillag secures 4th place finish despite pre-race hesitation
- Hong Kong-based Eszter Csillag almost did not challenge the Thailand trail running event, but went on to finish 4th
- ‘All of the races are crazy, but we know how to perform at this level and speed,’ she says. ‘How the race unfolds is very different’
Hong Kong resident Eszter Csillag finished fourth in the 80km race at the World Mountain & Trail Running Championships last weekend, despite hesitating to take part.
Csillag, who is Hungarian, was the only one asked to represent the country, but and was given the choice just as she prepared to run the 170km Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB), in France in August.
Because the Hungarian Athletics Association (HAA) left it until the last minute to organise her entry, Csillag had doubts about going.
“I was thinking, they are totally disorganised, maybe I shouldn’t go because without any help from the HAA, I cannot perform well,” Csillag said.
“I don’t know if he remembers saying it, but he said if I do well, I could finish in the top five,” Csillag said.
