I had to be at the airport at 1130HKT to pick up a passenger (my mom) but I wanted a novel way of getting to the airport. So, decided on one of my usual
Pictures here.
I have been looking for a longer trail for my solo practice sessions. The Sharp Peak circuit now takes only 2 hrs 45 mins and Plover Cove
Photos are here:
King of the Hills ain’t for the faint of heart. I mean the full marathons. HK’s fittest come out to participate.
Today we
So, here’s a question: what do weathermen and stock market analysts have in common?
Answer: They both predict something after it has happened!
So, for instance, if the Hang Seng index has fallen 200 points, an “expert” comes up with some wild cock and bull story about how hot money is flowing out of Hong Kong. Had the index gone up 200 points, the expert now claims it’s because hot money is coming into Hong Kong!
Likewise today, the weathermen forecast sunny periods and about 16-22 degrees. But as we reached The Peak to embark on a 50km HK Trail hike/run, it started pouring down! It was cold, windy and raining. (I am sure the weathermen now have some explanation about some Northeastern trough from Guangdong bringing rainy weather to Hong Kong!)
But, rain or no rain, sun or no sun, wind or no wind, the great Hikespeare has said “The hike must go on!”
And so we started at about 0810 HKT with a mission to complete the HK trail within 6 hours by pretty much running all of it! (that’s 50km)
Several members quit leaving two of us to brave the rain and the cold weather. As I did so, my clothes got much heavier as the tee shirt and shorts absorbed water like a sponge!
After several hours of steady running, we reached Dragon’s back at 1300 HKT and it started raining cats and dogs! I was already wet but now I was completely drenched! The falling rain drops were turned into mini missiles by the wind and these in turn, hit my eyes and ears with great intensity! It felt as though someone was playing drums next to my ear. But, as the famous Hikespeare has said, “The hike must go on!”
With much determination, we completed the hike 20 minutes before schedule! 5 hours 40 minutes is what it took and we treated ourselves to some well deserved noodles at Big Wave bay.
Good thing is that I felt fine despite a 50km hike/run and had no problems. I enjoyed the rain and the relatively cool weather. Bad news is that all my electronic gizmos including my much treasured phone ended up HATING the rain. My phone no longer works and I am now in the process of giving it the kiss of life (getting a hairdryer to smooch and heat the phone!)
Here’s the map for the day (manged to revive the GPS receiver using the same hairdryer kiss of life method!)
Stats: 50Km (5 hrs 40 minutes to complete against a 6 hour target under pouring rain!)
I had to be at the airport at 1130HKT to pick up a passenger (my mom) but I wanted a novel way of getting to the airport. So, decided on one of my usual precision hikes this Saturday morning.
Mission was to get up at 0545, get a ferry to Central Star Ferry at 0630, take the 0650 ferry from Central to Mui Wo. Do, Sunset Peak, Lantau peak and reach Ngong Ping in 2.5hrs (1010), take a bus to Tung Chung (1040) and take another bus to the airport (1115). The 15 mins buffer was for wait time, photo time, etc.
Execution was as per plan, precise to the minute until near the top of Sunset Peak. Then I received some important intelligence from the Command Center (i.e. SMS from my dad) letting me know that the flight was about an hour earlier than originally thought. (Is THIS much punctuality necessary?!)
I then had to make an executive decision – continue on course and make the passenger (my mom) wait another hour at the airport or somehow do a curtailed hike that would end at the airport. After a fierce internal debate that lasted a good 5 minutes, I decided to go pick up my mom on time! Took a right cut from near Sunset – a beautiful trail that leads to Wong Lung Hang.
I was the only soul to be seen. It was misty, visibility was bad and the strong wind produced a ghostly noise! It was quite spectacular yet very spooky!
I slowed down just to be extra safe, didn’t want to fall anywhere and only be noticed the next day when more people would hike that trail! Also, reports said that illegal immigrant activity in that area would increase as we get close to the Chinese New Year. I wanted some extra energy to burn in order to outrun any II I would meet!
As I was doing some serious, yet controlled downhill trail running, the mist started giving way to some sunshine and I eventually found myself on Wong Lung Hang road at 0900. I had to be at the airport at 1030 now and decided to run to the airport! I thought to myself – if the bus can do it, so can I!
That enthusiasm was great but the sense of direction was not! I paused at the end of Wong Lung Hang not knowing which way to turn. I gazed up. I saw a plane with landing gear down at about 2500m. Would that mean that it just took off or is going to be landing soon or what?! More importantly, what was that telling me about the direction of the airport? Less than a second later, I realized that such serious effort at deduction was for Sherlock Holmes or Dr. House, not me!! (I have been watching too much of Gregory House lately).
Looked straight ahead and saw the Ngong Ping cable car. Had to be that way. I started running. 10 minutes into the run I saw a bus heading in the opposite direction headed for the Airport. Doh! I crossed the road and ran in the opposite direction. I made numerous mistakes. Eventually, used my broken Cantonese to ask some jogging dude if he knew how to get to the airport running. He gave me a weird look but knew the way!
At about 1035 I made it to the airport, running all the way from Mui Wo! Trail was Mui Wo to Sunset to Wong Lung Hang to the Airport (20km). The number of wrong turns I made is just amazing! I was circling the Cathay Pacific building 2-3 times instead of heading towards the terminal!
I have said this many times before and I will say it again – KOTH isn’t for the faint of heart. Finishing a full marathon is by itself an accomplishment for an amateur athlete like me!
After paying a 20 bucker fine for a forgotten bib last time, I made sure I carried one this time! Also did my homework – carb loading the previous night, about 8 hour solid sleep and plenty of training over the past couple of weeks. During the recci of this trail, it took us 5 hrs 30 mins to finish.
Everything was going according to plan – slow on the uphills, fast downhills and jogging on flats, up until I reached the Twins. The temperature was quite hot and I think I got smacked by the sun. Also, I filled my water bottle with some electrolyte drink instead of pure water and that had a reverse effect – making me thirsty yet retaining the water. Also, I was wearing a black tee shirt as a gentleman before the climb to the Twins pointed out! All this slowed me down quite a bit and I was developing stomach cramps when trying to accelerate, perhaps because of the accumulation of fluids in my stomach. I tried watering the plants but that didn’t help much!
I had to walk fast instead of jogging from there on. That had a negative effect on the time. Overall though, all things considered, there is a lot of improvement but this isn’t too bad, at least I finished and I know I could have gone farther as well.
Actual time taken: 30.5Km (4 hours 52 minutes) – My personal target was 5 hours and a top 15 ranking in my category
Ranking: 21 in my category, 56 overall (not too happy with this)
Lessons learnt:
(a) Go with salt tablets (b) get one of the British hats instead of a cap for a 360 degree protection against the sun (c) don’t wear black tee shirts (d) have to learn to hike/run formidably even during ultra hot weather
Needless to say, the fellow racers were just amazing! The winner finished in something like 3 hours 5 minutes! I think Hong Kong’s fittest participated and there were several professional athletes.
I have been looking for a longer trail for my solo practice sessions. The Sharp Peak circuit now takes only 2 hrs 45 mins and Plover Cove only takes 2 hrs 30 mins. So, today, decided to give Pat Sin Leng to Hok Tau a go. I was told that it would take about 3 hours and I thought it would take me about 2 hrs something.
Pat Sin Leng
Started at 1115 HKT from the Tai Mei Tuk bus stop
Reached the first (well the last of the big Pat Sin Leng summits from the other side) at 1153 HKT
(this was not at a killer pace. At a killer pace, I reckon 30 mins to the peak is doable)
Reached Hok Tau at 1254 HKT (1 hour 39 mins)
Turned out to be even shorter than the previous two circuits!!! But, the trail is lovely! Plenty of opportunity for trail running.
After reaching Hok Tau, I didn’t know the exit and somehow ended up going to some village called Feng something. Air was pure and it felt like I was in China (the good hilly parts that is!) I liked it a lot and stopped to take photos of some abandoned village huts.
Village in Feng something
Abandoned house
The village
and another shot
Some “soldiers” were fighting in the village. (War games!) As I was shooting (with my camera that is), one guy came up to me with a fake rifle. I instinctively ducked! Have to admit, I was scared for a brief moment even though the whole thing was fake!
It’s easy to measure Hong Kong’s tree czar’s success (Henry Tang, our Chief Secretary). He started overseeing a multi-million dollar tree tagging project after a young girl was accidentally killed when an old tree fell on her. Since then, many of our trees have a tag around them!! Looks like a supermarket full of trees!!
Domesticated trees with collars?!
Finished at about 1330 HKT. The circuit is fantastic but again, it’s too short. More of a 2.5 hr Saturday run. One way to extend it is to do Cloudy Hill after Hok Tau which is something I am going to look into 2 weeks from now.
But, I have to say, Hong Kong’s hiking is indeed the world’s best!
King of the Hills ain’t for the faint of heart. I mean the full marathons. HK’s fittest come out to participate.
Today we did a recci of KOTH Hong Kong and I have to say, I am pretty impressed with the route. Hiking on HK isle isn’t my favorite since it’s mostly on concrete and I don’t like looking at skyscrapers on a weekend. But, this route is mostly on hilly terrain and trail runners will find it quite pleasing. It’s about 30Km all in all and isn’t the easiest route. There are a couple of hills to go over and the mammoth twins fall at the end. It’s easier than KOTH Lantau but much harder than the 30Km Care Action (Lok Sing cup) route.
We started at about 0915 HKT. A lot of guys dropped out at various stages and eventually two of us finished at about 1440 HKT. (Roughly 5 hrs 20 minutes), which isn’t too bad.
I stuck to my protocol up until the end (hike/run as effortlessly as possible and at an optimal speed without the body feeling tired). At the end though, after the twins, we ran out of water and I could sense the body dehydrating. Didn’t quite like that last run although it was only about 3-4Km long.
Overall, quite pleased with the result and the route. Now, the real thing is on Jan 30th! Hope I am able to do something better than 5.20 on that one! Have to prepare.
I beat my earlier record! Thanks to a change in running style actually. I slow down and shoot for endurance these days when I hear myself breathing too hard.
Started at 1056 HKT
Reached Sharp Peak at 1149HKT (53 minutes)
Left Sharp Peak at 1218 HKT (after inspecting my guest house over there)
Reached Sai Wan at 1307 HKT for a To Fu Fa
Left Sai Wan at 1318 HKT
Reached Pak Tam Chung at 1405 HKT
Got a bus at 1416 HKT
Beat my previous record but what I was most impressed with is that the whole run seemed effortless. I could easily run down the MTR stairs afterward and felt quite fresh as well! That’s the new goal now. Improve fitness and accomplish runs as effortlessly as possible.
