https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/324552/feed Mark Agnew joined the Post in 2017 to capture the booming extreme sports scene in Hong Kong. He has been involved in outdoor and extreme sports his whole life. Since living in Hong Kong, his interest has expanded to endurance sports, including ultra-running and long distances ocean rowing. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Nepal’s Sunmaya Budha battled to a nine-second victory over China’s Xiang Fuzhao in the 70km Wenling Golden Coast Trail Race, cementing her rise from poverty and an arranged marriage to ultra-running stardom. The pair collapsed at the finish line, having exchanged the lead back and forth for more than seven hours. Sunmaya, 25, said she could hardly breathe during last few hundred metres. “I didn’t have much idea about this race but was told it’s one of biggest and most important races in China... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3258316/sunmaya-budha-wins-wenling-70km-chinese-ultra-race-4500-runners-and-big-prize-money-just-9-seconds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3258316/sunmaya-budha-wins-wenling-70km-chinese-ultra-race-4500-runners-and-big-prize-money-just-9-seconds?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Apr 2024 06:00:16 +0000 Bored with climbing up and down Tai Mo Shan, and tired of tackling Lantau Peak, Hong Kong hikers have taken to designing their own routes across the city’s countryside. And the latest addition to the challenges being set includes 100km of swimming, hiking and scrambling up waterfalls. Needless to say, the Argyle Ross Trail, named after its creators Jack Argyle and Stewart Ross, is not for the inexperienced or faint of heart. The British-born pair, who both teach at Malvern College Hong Kong,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/hiking/article/3254489/new-hong-kong-trail-mixes-swimming-and-waterfalls-experienced-hikers-needing-keep-their-wits-about?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/hiking/article/3254489/new-hong-kong-trail-mixes-swimming-and-waterfalls-experienced-hikers-needing-keep-their-wits-about?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Mar 2024 05:19:45 +0000 Preparing for the challenge of covering 298km non-stop across Hong Kong, Tsang Wai-fung discovered the biggest obstacle he had to overcome was a lack of headphones. There are several rules designed to make the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge particularly taxing, including bans on pain killers, running poles, and music or podcasts to help pass the time. Covering the MacLehose, Wilson, Hong Kong and Lantau Trails, the race is typically tackled by about 20 runners, usually spread out over... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3250561/hong-kong-four-trails-runner-talks-monkeys-until-he-finds-inner-peace-during-298km-challenge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3250561/hong-kong-four-trails-runner-talks-monkeys-until-he-finds-inner-peace-during-298km-challenge?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Feb 2024 00:30:10 +0000 Representatives of the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) group, champion runners Kilian Jornet and Zach Miller, and other elite runner representatives had a virtual meeting to exchange concerns about the future of the sport. “As an introduction, Zach Miller and Kilian Jornet expressed, in their name as well as in the name of certain elite athletes, their concerns and questions regarding the direction taken by UTMB Group over the last two years through the development of the UTMB World Series,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3249818/utmb-kilian-jornet-and-trail-running-representatives-hopeful-after-discussing-future-world-series?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3249818/utmb-kilian-jornet-and-trail-running-representatives-hopeful-after-discussing-future-world-series?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Jan 2024 01:14:15 +0000 Liu Fo-lok is not new to ultra-marathons, but before last year he had to squeeze his training between sleeping and shifts as a chef at a busy Hong Kong restaurant. The 34-year-old said he got around four hours sleep and had little recovery time between working in the kitchen and tackling the city’s hills while preparing for events at home and overseas. But that all changed a year ago when he decided to focus full time on getting ready for the city’s most notorious race, the Hong Kong Four Trails... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3248993/hong-kong-chef-swaps-cooking-bearded-dragons-he-prepares-tackle-citys-notorious-four-trails?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3248993/hong-kong-chef-swaps-cooking-bearded-dragons-he-prepares-tackle-citys-notorious-four-trails?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Jan 2024 02:00:14 +0000 A new global running series aiming to put the “original spirit of trail and ultra running” back at the centre of the sport was launched on Monday. The World Trail Majors (WTM) series will be made up of nine races, with events in Asia, Africa, Europe and the United States. With frustration mounting at the actions of the UTMB organisation, which dominates trail running but has been accused of forcing some events out of existence, the new outfit was “a reaction to the direction of travel” in the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3241299/world-trail-majors-launches-community-spirit-aimed-countering-commoditisation-ultra-running?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3241299/world-trail-majors-launches-community-spirit-aimed-countering-commoditisation-ultra-running?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Nov 2023 12:00:13 +0000 In the past Hong Kong runner Liang Zhang would not have been allowed to take part in this weekend’s TransLantau races because he is visually impaired. The 44-year-old has been dealing with a lack of sight since birth, and the event, which is organised by UTMB, previously made no allowances for guide runners. Now, however, a change in policy means adaptive athletes physically capable of finishing the course will be allowed guides to accompany them on all or parts of the race. And Zhang is taking... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3240991/translantau-utmb-visually-impaired-hong-kong-runner-takes-25km-race-show-we-can?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3240991/translantau-utmb-visually-impaired-hong-kong-runner-takes-25km-race-show-we-can?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Nov 2023 04:00:11 +0000 It is hard to believe that just two weeks ago I was standing in a remote region of the Arctic, staring at the sky waiting for a plane to pick me up after 103 days of suffering, camaraderie, unique and wonderful moments. The culmination of years of work, three teammates and I had just set two world records kayaking the entire Northwest Passage. We had thrown rocks at a polar bear as it pressed itself against our tent. We’d narrowly escaped a painful death when two huge bits of floating ice... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/comment/article/3239097/first-team-kayak-arctics-northwest-passage-finds-more-just-world-records-and-numb-feet-epic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/comment/article/3239097/first-team-kayak-arctics-northwest-passage-finds-more-just-world-records-and-numb-feet-epic?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Oct 2023 05:03:36 +0000 Leigh Coates will represent Hong Kong at the CrossFit Games this summer, and is already feeling the pressure to go one better than her second-placed finish a year ago. The 56-year-old came first in her 55-59 age group semi-finals, putting additional expectations on her shoulders for August’s event in the United States. And while Coates is feeling confident, people constantly asking her if she is targeting the top spot this time around has created “even more pressure”. “I have to say, well, let’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/crossfit/article/3225247/crossfit-games-2023-hong-kong-masters-athlete-qualifies-feels-pressure-after-coming-second-last-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/crossfit/article/3225247/crossfit-games-2023-hong-kong-masters-athlete-qualifies-feels-pressure-after-coming-second-last-year?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jun 2023 04:54:57 +0000 A new book to mark the 20-year anniversary of the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) highlights the human story behind the event, contextualising controversies such as prize money. “I don’t always agree with the founders’ decisions personally but I always found the answers very interesting and it gave me more perspective and understanding,” said Doug Mayer, 58, the book’s author. The book – The Race that Changed Running: The Inside Story of the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc – details the history of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3225096/utmb-book-reveals-history-famous-event-delving-controversy-over-prize-money-and-people-behind-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3225096/utmb-book-reveals-history-famous-event-delving-controversy-over-prize-money-and-people-behind-race?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jun 2023 04:30:14 +0000 A common injury for runners is osteitis pubis, but because it’s in the pelvis and not the knees or ankles, it is ignored or not associated with running at all. So it never gets properly treated or given time to heal. What is osteitis pubis and what causes it Osteitis pubis is an inflammation where the left and right pubic bones meet. The bone and the soft tissues become inflamed, causing discomfort or pain. A number of muscles that are crucial to running meet here, including the lower abdominal... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3224499/do-you-have-pelvis-pain-when-you-run-you-might-have-osteitis-pubis-common-overuse-injury?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3224499/do-you-have-pelvis-pain-when-you-run-you-might-have-osteitis-pubis-common-overuse-injury?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jun 2023 09:04:39 +0000 A varied training plan is important to take your fitness to the next level. Hill repeats can be a value session to get fitter, stronger, faster and more injury-resilient. A hill repeat is what it says on the tin: repeatedly running up and down a hill. Typically, you run with maximum effort up the hill, then jog easily back down to recover. What are the benefits of hill repeats? Running uphill builds strength in your posterior chain. This in turn will help your flat running too, and make you more... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3224431/what-are-hill-repeats-running-training-improve-your-fitness-and-performance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3224431/what-are-hill-repeats-running-training-improve-your-fitness-and-performance?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jun 2023 05:13:26 +0000 Ultra runners must pace themselves. They are constantly warned of the perils of going too fast too soon and burning out before the end. Keep plodding, one foot in front of the other, very slowly until you reach the end. Walk before you need to walk, rest, refuel and keep plodding again. With all this advice ringing in an ultra runner’s ear, why would they ever bother with speed training? But speed training can have untold benefits for ultra running, even if you do not actually run fast during... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3224014/should-ultra-runners-do-speed-sessions-improving-your-ultra-running?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3224014/should-ultra-runners-do-speed-sessions-improving-your-ultra-running?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jun 2023 04:49:48 +0000 A group of runners have raised almost HK$500,000 in memory of a friend who died from Lymphoma, finishing a challenge he had set himself to complete Hong Kong’s four major trails. The 10 friends of Simon Robinson, a trail runner, Sandy Bay rugby player and physiotherapist who was just 31 when he died, said they did it to “keep his spirit alive”. Having set themselves the ambitious target of raising half a million dollars for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Northern Ireland, enough to fund a new research... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3223538/hong-kong-runners-raise-hk450000-completing-4-trails-memory-friend-who-died-lymphoma?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3223538/hong-kong-runners-raise-hk450000-completing-4-trails-memory-friend-who-died-lymphoma?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jun 2023 09:00:16 +0000 Ultra runner Dolores Vargas Sales wants to inspire her fellow domestic helpers in Hong Kong to take control of their lives through running and other sports. The Hong Kong-based Filipino wants her message to be heard, as her community recovers from the death of a domestic helper who fell to her death while cleaning the outside of a window of an 18th-floor flat. “I always share with them that they must take care of themselves – whatever happens, get involved with different outdoor activities like... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3222836/filipino-ultra-runner-aims-inspire-hong-kong-domestic-helpers-take-control-community-grieves-window?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3222836/filipino-ultra-runner-aims-inspire-hong-kong-domestic-helpers-take-control-community-grieves-window?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jun 2023 00:00:17 +0000 Steve Carr followed in the footsteps of Hong Kong’s first ultra runners this week, and spent his time reflecting on the speed of the original competitors. In 1976, a small group attempted to run from Hong Kong’s most southerly police station in Stanley, to its most northerly in Sha Tau Kok. Only one, Roy Bailey, finished. The event became an annual challenge called mid-May madness because of the extreme heat. The race continued for more than a decade, but was eventually forgotten to most runners... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3222681/following-footsteps-hong-kongs-first-ultra-runners-carr-discovers-why-they-called-race-across-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3222681/following-footsteps-hong-kongs-first-ultra-runners-carr-discovers-why-they-called-race-across-city?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jun 2023 04:30:10 +0000 Vivian Ying Cai reached the top of the world last month and said the views from Everest’s summit defied description. The 33-year-old Hong Kong resident ticked off another of her climbing goals in May, but said she was not sure if the amount of help needed to complete the mission took away from the achievement. Those making their way to the top do so with Sherpa’s, fixed lines and oxygen tanks, and Cai said there was a “lack of emotion” once she got there. It made her wonder if reaching the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3222013/highs-and-lows-conquering-everest-leave-hong-kong-climber-vivian-ying-cai-wondering-if-it-was-all?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3222013/highs-and-lows-conquering-everest-leave-hong-kong-climber-vivian-ying-cai-wondering-if-it-was-all?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 May 2023 04:30:14 +0000 Ultra running is now almost synonymous with Hong Kong, which boasts the kind of daunting terrain and conditions perfect for races that draw tens of thousands of hardy competitors every year. So it’s hard to believe that the first recorded ultra marathon in Hong Kong only took place in 1956, and that few people even seemed to notice at the time. Perhaps they should have done – it produced a world record, a note of which was hidden in an article in the Hong Kong Marathon programme from 1979. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3221925/story-hong-kongs-first-ultra-marathon-runners-so-many-people-just-thought-we-were-mad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3221925/story-hong-kongs-first-ultra-marathon-runners-so-many-people-just-thought-we-were-mad?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 May 2023 02:00:14 +0000 The Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates (HKAAA) and the Trail Running Association of Hong Kong (TRAHK) are at loggerheads over the selection of athletes for the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships (WMTRC) next month in Austria, according to emails seen by the Post. TRAHK wants more runners selected for the WMTRC, but the HKAAA has demanded an apology for the perceived implication that they are neglecting trail runners. TRAHK has accused the HKAAA “blocking the sport’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3221291/trail-runners-accuse-athletics-chiefs-failing-hong-kong-heated-world-championships-row-breaks-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3221291/trail-runners-accuse-athletics-chiefs-failing-hong-kong-heated-world-championships-row-breaks-out?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 May 2023 04:09:06 +0000 When you start running, it feels great – you get fitter quicker, and want to do more. But suddenly, the improvements may not come as thick and fast, or you might pick up an injury and lose all your hard-earned fitness gains. There are a few simple – and easily-remedied – mistakes that you may have been making. Too much, too soon First of all, chill out. The point of all of this is that you want to be running for the rest of your life, so you don’t have to do it all now. While your... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3221220/five-common-mistakes-runners-should-avoid-get-fitter-faster-and-stay-injury-free?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3221220/five-common-mistakes-runners-should-avoid-get-fitter-faster-and-stay-injury-free?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 May 2023 02:16:39 +0000 The recent Marathon des Sables’ attrition rate was like that of hit Netflix show Squid Game, said a Hong Kong teenager who took on the daunting six-day race in the Sahara Desert. The famed 250-kilometre ultra-running event usually has a completion rate close to 100 per cent. But extreme heat caused nearly 30 per cent of runners to drop out of this year’s race, which ended on May 1. “It felt like ‘Squid Game’. People would literally fall in front of you,” Nicole Chik, 16, said. “And when you... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3220995/hong-kong-teenager-recalls-sahara-desert-squid-game-marathon-des-sables-people-would-fall-front-you?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3220995/hong-kong-teenager-recalls-sahara-desert-squid-game-marathon-des-sables-people-would-fall-front-you?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 May 2023 08:45:17 +0000 A common issue for runners is to feel pain at the front, or front bottom, of their knee cap. If you experience this symptom, you may have patellar tendinopathy. It is sometimes called runner’s or jumper’s knee. Here are some of the best ways to treat it. What is patellar tendinopathy? Tendinopathy is a breaking down of the tendon cells. The patella is the knee cap, while the patellar (with an ‘r’) is the tendon that attaches to the shin bone, or tibia. So, patellar tendinopathy is an injury to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3220430/pain-front-your-knee-when-running-you-might-have-patellar-tendinopathy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3220430/pain-front-your-knee-when-running-you-might-have-patellar-tendinopathy?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 May 2023 02:10:49 +0000 Running on a treadmill is not bad for you. There is a popular belief that running on a treadmill will damage your knees – this is not true. The chance of injury is basically the same indoors or out, though the place of the injury can differ. Treadmills actually cause less stress on most joints, but put more pressure on your Achilles, one study found. Running can cause injuries. This can be for a number of reasons, from form to strength to twisting an ankle or not taking enough rest. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3219368/running-treadmill-bad-you-will-it-injure-your-knees-or-give-you-bad-form?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3219368/running-treadmill-bad-you-will-it-injure-your-knees-or-give-you-bad-form?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 May 2023 08:45:13 +0000 Marco Mueller and Sophie Hedou won the second of three Action Sprint Series races on Saturday. The Action Sprint Sai Kung followed the Action Sprint Discovery Bay on April 16 and the series concludes with the Action Sprint Repulse Bay on May 14. It is the first sprint series in four years, due to Covid-19 restrictions. There was a 18km and a 12km run. Both races started at the Pak Tam Chung gates to Lok Wu Country Trail. They followed the trail for 6km, with a steady climb of 298m. Eventually,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3219169/action-sprint-sai-kung-trail-race-hotly-contested-series-returns-after-covid-restrictions-ease?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3219169/action-sprint-sai-kung-trail-race-hotly-contested-series-returns-after-covid-restrictions-ease?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 May 2023 12:47:40 +0000 French star Clarisse Cremer is returning for next year’s Vendee Globe despite being dropped by her sponsor and fighting against maternity rules that put the new mother’s place in doubt. The 33-year-old had already qualified for the round-the-world race after completing the event in 2020, but with so many sailors reaching the mark, organisers imposed further criteria that favoured sailors with the most race mileage. But the rules for the world’s toughest non-stop, unsupported solo race, failed to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3218835/vendee-globe-star-clarisse-cremer-returns-2024-race-after-refusing-choose-between-being-mum-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3218835/vendee-globe-star-clarisse-cremer-returns-2024-race-after-refusing-choose-between-being-mum-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Apr 2023 04:30:10 +0000 A Hong Kong-based woman ran an ultra marathon every day for almost one month to complete the 1,200km Shikoku Pilgrimage in Japan. The 53-year-old Catherine Sun, who grew up in mainland China and moved to Hong Kong in 2002, finished her mammoth 27-day task on Wednesday. “People said ‘you’re crazy, why you are in such a hurry?’ Well, time is a luxury for me,” Sun said. “I don’t have that much time, so I did something challenging enough that won’t kill me.” The route – which is usually hiked over... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3218694/hong-kong-runner-completes-japans-1200km-shikoku-88-temple-pilgrimage-just-27-days?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3218694/hong-kong-runner-completes-japans-1200km-shikoku-88-temple-pilgrimage-just-27-days?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Apr 2023 05:51:26 +0000 Hong Kong resident Chamelia Suhra outlasted the competition during the city’s version of the backyard ultra, going non-stop for 29 hours to win the toughest race there is. The 44-year-old went for an hour more than rival Alice McLeod, racking up 194km (120.5 miles) along a 6.7km loop of Bowen Road. With an hour to complete each loop before she needed to be back at the start line, Suhra said every moment of her time on the course “was good fun”. “I very much enjoyed the camaraderie between... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3217704/hong-kongs-race-nowhere-resident-chamelia-suhra-has-fun-running-194km-without-stopping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3217704/hong-kongs-race-nowhere-resident-chamelia-suhra-has-fun-running-194km-without-stopping?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Apr 2023 07:32:08 +0000 Zein Williams made a habit of winning the Discovery Bay Action Sprint race between 2012 and 2018, she returned to the event this year and added a record seventh title to her collection. The Hong Kong resident covered the 12km course, which took runners up to Tiger’s Head and back down past the golf club and Trappist Monastery before finishing on the beach, in a time of one hour, 26 minutes. She was followed in by Ainoa Mombiel, who was second in 1:33, and Karen Hung in third in 1:34. “I love... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3217520/discovery-bay-action-sprint-title-taken-zien-williams-record-seventh-time-series-makes-post-covid-19?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3217520/discovery-bay-action-sprint-title-taken-zien-williams-record-seventh-time-series-makes-post-covid-19?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Apr 2023 01:46:38 +0000 Vivian Ying Cai is preparing to climb Everest next month, and is looking forward to the simplicity of life in the mountains, and the suffering. A relative newcomer to the sport, the 33-year-old has already battled severe altitude sickness, but that only spurred her on to reach greater heights. What started out as a trip in 2019 with outdoor brand Arc’teryx to experience ice and rock climbing, progressed to tackling bigger mountains in Sichuan Province, and is now a full-blown obsession which has... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3216878/hong-kong-resident-has-everest-her-sights-north-and-south-poles-next-she-kind-enjoys-suffering?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3216878/hong-kong-resident-has-everest-her-sights-north-and-south-poles-next-she-kind-enjoys-suffering?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Apr 2023 04:00:32 +0000 One of the most common injuries for runners is pulling a calf muscle. It can happen all of a sudden, seemingly at random. It can be very painful, and keep runners from training for weeks. Even more frustrating, it can then happen again as soon as you get back to running. But there are some simple remedies and also exercises you can do to prevent this injury from happening. What is a pulled muscle? A pulled muscle is a small tear in the muscle. It is sometimes called a torn muscle or a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3216271/pulling-your-calf-muscle-when-running-treatment-and-prevention?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3216271/pulling-your-calf-muscle-when-running-treatment-and-prevention?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Apr 2023 02:54:34 +0000 Hiking is a great family activity if you get the level right so that your young ones can enjoy themselves. There are a plethora of hikes in Hong Kong for a toddler to enjoy. But there are also several things to bear in mind first before you hit the trails. Firstly, adjust your expectations. You will not be tearing up Lantau Peak in record time. In fact, you may not go anywhere. If the hike is for you, don’t go with your toddler. If the hike is for the family, factor in lots of loitering time... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3216036/five-toddler-friendly-hikes-hong-kong-help-get-your-kids-nature?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3216036/five-toddler-friendly-hikes-hong-kong-help-get-your-kids-nature?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Apr 2023 03:30:23 +0000 There will be plenty of sore heads in the city next this weekend, with the Hong Kong Sevens returning in full fettle for the first time since the start of the pandemic. There will be none of the Covid-19 restrictions which slightly limited the fun at the event’s return last November, where masks were required when not drinking. As yes, the drinking – a strong tradition of the city’s flagship sporting tournament, where 35,000 fans are expected to turn up on opening night at Hong Kong Stadium. Of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/hiking/article/3215351/hong-kong-sevens-five-lung-busting-hikes-sweat-out-your-rugby-weekend-hangover?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/hiking/article/3215351/hong-kong-sevens-five-lung-busting-hikes-sweat-out-your-rugby-weekend-hangover?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Mar 2023 04:45:13 +0000 The beaches of Hong Kong are stunning. But after running a half marathon back and forth along the same stretch of sand, they lose their appeal. That’s exactly what two of the city’s residents, Duncan Swanson and George Darling, are doing in preparation for the Marathon des Sables (MDS), the infamous desert race that is as much a mental challenge as a physical one. Competitors must tackle 250km over six days, with the longest leg needing runners to do 86km in one day, mix that in with blazing hot... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3214821/marathon-des-sables-hong-kong-pair-prepare-desert-race-42-laps-repulse-bay-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3214821/marathon-des-sables-hong-kong-pair-prepare-desert-race-42-laps-repulse-bay-work?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Mar 2023 04:30:16 +0000 Two rowers are preparing to embark on a mammoth journey from China to America, hoping to show that Chinese explorers could have reached the US long before the Vikings or Christopher Columbus. Sun Haibin, 47, and Christian Havrehed, 53, met in China more than 20 years ago and crossed the Atlantic together in 2001, becoming the first from their respective countries, China and Denmark, to do so. Now, they have a more ambitious aim. In May, they will depart from Ningbo, in Zhejiang Province, row... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3213985/did-chinese-explorers-reach-america-first-pair-out-recreate-mythical-journeys-show-trip-was-possible?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3213985/did-chinese-explorers-reach-america-first-pair-out-recreate-mythical-journeys-show-trip-was-possible?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Mar 2023 04:00:27 +0000 Hong Kong is a hiker’s paradise. The views from the jagged mountain tops rival any in the world. But clambering to the summit of Lantau Peak, or scrambling up the steep sides of Sharp Peak, can be an intimidating prospect. There are a host of shorter, or flatter hikers, if you want a more relaxed walk. They are perfect for beginners looking to build their experience before taking on one of the big climbs. Mui Wo to Pui O – 8km This lovely walk takes you along the shores of Lantau Island and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/hiking/article/3213970/5-easy-hikes-do-hong-kong-if-you-are-beginner-or-just-looking-relaxed-walk-enjoy-citys-stunning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/hiking/article/3213970/5-easy-hikes-do-hong-kong-if-you-are-beginner-or-just-looking-relaxed-walk-enjoy-citys-stunning?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Mar 2023 01:00:19 +0000 Hong Kong-based Briton Jo Lodder, 52, has become the first person to complete Hong Kong’s 390km “5in5”, finishing his epic run at the green postbox in Mui Wo on Sunday. He ran the new 93km Tinworth Trail, the 78km Wilson Trail, the 50km Hong Kong Trail, the 100km MacLehose Trail and the 70km Lantau Trail over five consecutive days. Four of the trails are official routes and are considered the four major trails of Hong Kong. Since Hong Kong-based German Andre Blumberg first ran them over... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3212890/jo-lodder-first-runner-finish-hong-kong-390km-5in5-new-shoes-give-new-lease-life-maclehose?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3212890/jo-lodder-first-runner-finish-hong-kong-390km-5in5-new-shoes-give-new-lease-life-maclehose?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Mar 2023 04:30:08 +0000 Sri Lanka holds a special place in Hyun Chang Chung’s heart, for two contrasting reasons. Firstly, his daughter was conceived there, and secondly, he was caught in the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, when he and his wife returned there to mark their child’s first birthday. It was with this emotional connection in mind that he decided to run the newly minted 300-kilometre Pekoe Trail. The trail is split into 22 stages, each designed to take one day. But Hong Kong-based Chung, 49, finished it in just 58... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3212819/hong-kong-runner-completes-sri-lankas-22-day-pekoe-trail-just-58-hours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3212819/hong-kong-runner-completes-sri-lankas-22-day-pekoe-trail-just-58-hours?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Mar 2023 10:58:52 +0000 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... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3210748/first-runner-set-attempt-hong-kongs-390km-5in5-five-trails-five-days?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3210748/first-runner-set-attempt-hong-kongs-390km-5in5-five-trails-five-days?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Feb 2023 07:49:44 +0000 Do you ever wake up two days after a tough running session and your muscles ache. Immediately after, or even the next day, there was no pain, so why now do you hobble down the stairs like you are learning to walk? This is delayed onset muscle soreness, more commonly known as DOMS, and most of the time there’s no need to worry. You’re not injured, it’s most likely a natural reaction to training. If the pain is sharp, serve or persistent, then you should probably get checked out. When you... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3210538/what-delayed-onset-muscle-soreness-why-does-it-happen-and-how-can-you-stop-it-hurting-days-after-you?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3210538/what-delayed-onset-muscle-soreness-why-does-it-happen-and-how-can-you-stop-it-hurting-days-after-you?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Feb 2023 00:00:09 +0000 Strength training will improve your running, and if you are not already incorporating strength training into your running programme, now is the time to start. It will make you faster, help your form, make you more efficient and help prevent injuries. But a gym membership can be expensive, and getting there and back could take away time from when you could just be running, so here are some body-weight exercises that are great way to build strength. Bulgarian split squats All you need is a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3209917/body-weight-exercises-runners-strength-training-home-without-going-gym?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3209917/body-weight-exercises-runners-strength-training-home-without-going-gym?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Feb 2023 03:00:26 +0000 The “World’s Toughest Ultra Marathon” is a tag line that accompanies a host of races and events, but more often than not it is merely a marketing slogan. Some of the races deserve such a distinction, while others are just great at promoting themselves. In essence, there are so many variables in races – such as weather, training, depth of field, and personal preferences – that one person’s “toughest” is another’s comfort zone. Let the debate rage on about which race is truly the toughest – but... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3208980/six-hardest-ultra-marathons-earth-hong-kong-artic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3208980/six-hardest-ultra-marathons-earth-hong-kong-artic?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Feb 2023 01:15:10 +0000 The QNET Gurkha Trailblazer is set to return on February 4 after a four-year hiatus during the pandemic. The event quickly became a fixture in the trail running calendar after getting the nod for “Best New Race” at the 2018 Gonerunning Hong Kong Trail Running Awards, with a stunning route through the New Territories and over Pat Sin Leng, but it has not been held since January 2019. There is more to the race, which has two distances at 12 kilometres and 26km, than just beautiful scenery, however... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3208733/gurkha-trailblazer-charity-race-fights-nepals-dark-side-bid-help-children?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3208733/gurkha-trailblazer-charity-race-fights-nepals-dark-side-bid-help-children?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Feb 2023 01:15:09 +0000 A team of para sailors and runners are set to take on the unique Four Peaks Race, as they sail across the region and run up and down some of the city’s most challenging mountains – with Hong Kong’s richest man also supporting their efforts. During the Solaris Four Peaks Race, held on February 4 and 5, teams sail from Hong Kong Island to Sai Kung. They then drop anchor and two runners kayak ashore, run up and down the 702m high Ma On Shan. They then sail back and send two runners ashore to run up... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3208535/hong-kong-para-sailors-and-runners-tackle-unique-four-peaks-race-40-foot-yacht-donated-li-ka-shing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3208535/hong-kong-para-sailors-and-runners-tackle-unique-four-peaks-race-40-foot-yacht-donated-li-ka-shing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Jan 2023 02:30:06 +0000 Tomokazu Ihara was on his way to completing the 298km Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge (HK4TUC) for the second time when he saw a figure appear ahead of him. It was Nugo Yamanath Limbu, a fellow Four Trails runner, who was for some reason going in the wrong direction during the epic run linking the four major trails in Hong Kong – the MacLehose, Wilson, Hong Kong and Lantau Trails. The HK4TUC is a notoriously demanding undertaking. There are no checkpoints or support allowed on the trails,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3208306/hong-kong-298km-four-trails-tomokazu-iharas-incredible-act-sportsmanship-way-second-finish?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3208306/hong-kong-298km-four-trails-tomokazu-iharas-incredible-act-sportsmanship-way-second-finish?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Jan 2023 08:57:55 +0000 Hundreds of Hong Kong schoolchildren will run round a 400m track for 12 hours on Saturday, as they aim to raise money for an anti-slavery charity. Instead of doing a set distance as fast as possible, the runners will go as far as possible in the time allowed, competing in teams of eight, with one member on the track at all times while the others rest. There will be two winners, the team that goes the furthest and the team that raised the most money for the Running To Stop The Traffik... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3208265/hong-kong-students-run-round-400m-track-12-hours-raising-money-anti-slavery-charity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3208265/hong-kong-students-run-round-400m-track-12-hours-raising-money-anti-slavery-charity?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Jan 2023 13:01:32 +0000 He may be 62 years old but Chan Kwok-keung still needed his mother’s permission to take part in this year’s Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge. The trail-running veteran has not been able to compete in the 298km race since its inception a decade ago, because his 93-year-old mum insisted he be home for Lunar New Year. That will change on Saturday, when the man known as ‘KK’ takes up the city’s ultimate challenge and tries to finish the unsupported race in the allotted 60 hours. Chan is no... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3207516/hong-kong-four-trails-ultra-challenge-veteran-chan-looking-forward-298km-race-after-mum-says-he-can?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3207516/hong-kong-four-trails-ultra-challenge-veteran-chan-looking-forward-298km-race-after-mum-says-he-can?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Jan 2023 02:00:20 +0000 Hong Kong finance worker Sandy Sun will celebrate her 36th birthday in unusual fashion by running 298 kilometres across the city’s toughest mountains in the Four Trails Ultra Challenge – which commences on Lunar New Year. Sunday will mark the start of the Year of the Rabbit, and also the fourth zodiac cycle – which lasts for a period of 12 years – of Sun’s life. “The end of the third cycle, the start of the fourth. It is a good year to do something different or meaningful for myself, I’m told by... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3206722/hong-kong-four-trails-finance-worker-sandy-sun-running-298km-warn-bad-luck-start-zodiac-cycle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3206722/hong-kong-four-trails-finance-worker-sandy-sun-running-298km-warn-bad-luck-start-zodiac-cycle?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Jan 2023 11:15:10 +0000 The government has finally dropped all Covid-19 restrictions for trail running, months after easing rules for other sports in Hong Kong. Race organisers were notified by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau via an email and follow up telephone conversations this week, though participants are still expected to follow wider rules such as wearing masks at events, except when running. “It’s great for the whole trail running community that the Covid-19 measures have now been dropped. It’s no secret... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3205559/government-finally-drops-all-covid-19-restrictions-trail-running-breath-fresh-air-says-race-director?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3205559/government-finally-drops-all-covid-19-restrictions-trail-running-breath-fresh-air-says-race-director?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Jan 2023 10:03:43 +0000 Your Christmas calendar is probably rammed. Work parties, Sunday lunches, family gatherings, last-minute gift shopping, three days recovering from Christmas Day itself. There is no time for training, and it is wishful thinking to believe that will be any different in the build up to New Year. It can be an anxiety-inducing time for athletes who feel their hard-earned fitness slipping away. However, there are a few simple things you can do to help yourself during this busy and boozy... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3204359/5-top-tips-maintaining-your-fitness-and-running-goals-over-christmas-and-new-year-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3204359/5-top-tips-maintaining-your-fitness-and-running-goals-over-christmas-and-new-year-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Dec 2022 07:00:12 +0000 The trailer for the new Four Trails film was released on Friday, teasing an emotional look at the runners who take part in one of Hong Kong’s iconic races. Filmed over three sleep-deprived days and nights by director Robin Lee and his crew, the documentary charts those athletes taking on the 298km epic, the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge. A self-supported race along the MacLehose, Wilson, Hong Kong and Lantau trails, runners have 60 hours to reach the end to be deemed a ‘finisher’. If... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3203502/new-film-takes-viewer-emotional-journey-along-hong-kongs-4-trails-breaking-60-directors-sequel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3203502/new-film-takes-viewer-emotional-journey-along-hong-kongs-4-trails-breaking-60-directors-sequel?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Dec 2022 03:00:14 +0000