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Mark Agnew

When the 92km Tinworth Trail was launched in November as the fifth major trail in Hong Kong, it was only a matter of time before a runner decided to attempt completing all five in five days.
That time has come. Jo Lodder, 52, is that runner.
For years, runners have been pushing their limits trying to do the “4in4” – the 100km MacLehose, 78km Wilson, 50km Hong Kong and 65km Lantau Trails in just four days.
The 4in4 is considered the little sister to the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge, when runners complete all four non-stop in under 72 hours.


On March 1, Lodder will be the first person to attempt the “5in5”, having already attempted the 4in4 in 2021.
“When I started the 4in4, the actual start, it was the first time I ran,” Lodder said. “I’d done some hiking, quite a lot of hiking to be honest because of Covid-19. But nothing that would lead me into these ultra things. Oh, I was just so naive.”
Hong Kong’s 5th major trail commemorates late legend Nic Tinworth
Despite a lack of experience, he took on the 4in4 with his friend Catherine Cormack, starting with a skip in his step but soon seeing his naivety stripped away by the end of the MacLehose.
“At 80km, I was in a really bad way,” he said. He called his friends and said he needed help. They appeared for the last 15km with a knee support and Coca-Cola. He made it to the end of the MacLehose.

Miraculously, Lodder managed to do the Hong Kong trail next.
“Then I couldn’t continue. I just literally couldn’t walk,” Lodder said.
Lodder made his way to an osteopath, and jokingly asked if he could run another trail the next day. The osteopath said yes, though, and after 15 minutes of treatment, Lodder felt right as rain.
The next day, he got up and completed the Wilson Trail, making it three out of four.
“Well, it took me six months to get over,” Lodder said.

Wrecking his body turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It forced Lodder to go back to the osteopath and he uncovered a quarter of a century of injuries.
Lodder was a professional jockey in his 20s. Aged 24, he fell off his horse and broke his back. He recovered, and it could have been a lot worse. But until he saw the osteopath, he did not realise he was still carrying the aftereffects of the accident all over his body.
“I’m actually two centimetres taller than I was two years ago,” he said.


“It’s insane. I can lift my arms up, which I could never do before. I had all these issues with my body. By doing the four trails, it brought them all to the surface. It forced me to sort them out.”
He also fell in love with ultra running. Slowly but steadily he trained and got better. He organised a running club and a morning HIIT club too. Running became part of his life.
“I like the way running takes your mind off things. I like the way it’s made me as an individual now,” Lodder said. “I’m just a better person. I’m much more fluid. I’m far nicer. It focuses you on the important things in life.”
Then, Will Hayward and a group of trail runners launched the unofficial fifth route – the Tinworth Trail – to commemorate local legend Nic Tinworth, who died of cancer.
In this frame of mind, Lodder decided to take on the 5in5.
He is raising money for two charities: Steps HK helps chronically disabled people. The charity owns 15 electric wheelchairs that are broken. They will cost HK$12,000 each to repair and Lodder hopes to raise the money to fix them.
Lodder has gone with the charity workers and visited some of the people they are helping. Without their wheelchairs, or a support network, they are stuck at home indoors all day.
“These guys can’t even leave their apartment. And it’s just not fair,” he said.
“And I think that for me is an important factor because I was lucky, I could have easily been in that place,” he said, thinking back to his riding accident.
TAILS Lantau is the second charity, which helps abandoned or abused animals and rehomes them.
“They have this incredible network of fosters homes and they spend time trying to find the right home,” he said. “Fundamentally, they are abused and abandoned dogs and we are trying to find them the right home.”
Lodder’s running friends have nicknamed him “Lodder the Plodder” because he is slow. But he doesn’t stop. He relishes the nickname as a badge of stubbornness.
“People ask, can I make it or not? Of course I’m going to make it. I can walk. Ill do whatever it takes to get to the end,” Lodder added. “As long as I don’t get injured, I’m very confident of completing. I’m a stubborn bugger.”
You can donate to Lodder’s charity link here


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Extreme fitness

First runner set to attempt Hong Kong’s 390km ‘5in5’ – 5 trails in 5 days

Jo Lodder training for the ‘5in5’ - He is the first to attempt all five of Hong Kong’s major trails in just five days. Photo:  Beatrix Malan/www.tmstudiohk.com

Running is now part of Jo Lodder’s life. Photo: Beatrix Malan/www.tmstudiohk.com

Catherine Cormack and Jo Lodder made impressive headway on the ‘4in4’ despite a lack of experience. Photo: Mihaela Tudor

Hong Kong’s 5th major trail commemorates late community legend Nic Tinworth, with iconic sights along 92km route

A view of Robin’s Nest ridge, Section One of the new Tinworth Trail. Photo: Shutterstock

Robin’s Nest ridge offers greats views in all directions. Photo: Mountain Range 50

William Hayward on the MacLehose Trail. Photo: Vic So

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Nic Tinworth was more than just a race organiser. He was the centre of the trail running community. Photo: Handout

Country of origin trail race

Nic Tinworth. Photo: Action Asia

Nic Tinworth is battling cancer but it hasn't stopped him taking part in the Gurkha Trailblazer with Will Haywayrd, Brendan Wong and Joe March

Running Hong Kong’s four trails in four days, a combination of meditation and determination

Catherine Cormack and Jo Lodder, residents of Mui Wo, are taking on the four trails in four days. Photos: Mihaela Tudor

Catherine Cormack and Jo Lodder, residents of Mui Wo, are taking on the four trails in four days for  Stop Trafficking Of People and Team for Animals in Lantau South. Photo: Mihaela Tudor

Sport

Outdoor

Trail Running

Jo Lodder looking to become first person to link all five of Hong Kong’s major trails just a few months after launch of Tinworth Trail
The 52-year-old broke his back when he was 24, and is just now only beginning to move properly again


Jo Lodder looking to become first person to link all five of Hong Kong’s major trails just a few months after launch of the Tinworth Trail.
