Hong Kong Oxfam Trailwalker: veteran runner Jeff Campbell aims to make it four out of four
The 42-year-old lawyer, who has won twice in the men’s event and once in the mixed-team race, is eyeing top spot again for the November 15 race
Jeff Campbell is looking to scoop up his fourth Hong Kong Oxfam Trailwalker title in as many appearances when he tackles the demanding 100-kilometre route with his team next month.
A two-time winner in the men’s event, in 2018 and 2021, Canadian Campbell added a third title in the mixed-team event with a record-breaking time as team 8004 crossed the finish line in 12 hours and one minute in the 2022 race (held in 2023 because of the pandemic).
And the 42-year-old – who won the 40km solo race at the Barclays Moontrekker 2024 last weekend – has again nothing but the top spot on his mind ahead of the gruelling race on November 15, when he will be running alongside Ryan Whelan, Lodewijk Vriens and Alex Neyrinck.
“I think we will probably try to pace for something between 11 hours and 30 minutes to 11:45 and make adjustments on the day depending on how we’re feeling,” he said. “But the goal is always to do as best as we can. I think we have a strong team, and we will be competitive on the day.”
A trail runner with a decade of experience, Campbell did sports – ice hockey and baseball – at only a recreational level growing up in Canada.
Meeting the trail-walking community after relocating to Hong Kong, to stay closer to his wife’s family in July 2014, opened up a brand new territory for Campbell, whose only impressions of Hong Kong from previous visits were limited to the big glass buildings standing everywhere.
