Hike in Hong Kong!

Vibram Hong Kong 100, 2013 edition

My third consecutive time in three years on the Hong Kong 100. The first time I did it, I completed the course in 14 hours and 53 minutes. Last year, I surprised myself by finishing it in 13 hours and 28 minutes. This year, I somehow completed it in 12 hours and 51 minutes! Don’t ask me how. Probably just got lucky!

Morning preparation
I wanted to be at the start by 7am to collect my race bib. Unfortunately, an emergency dump request from the body just as I was about to leave home at 6.10am (yes, too much information) meant that I had to bike it all the way to Sai Kung to make it on time. (I thought about dumping the Tour De France style — without getting off the bike but it sounded too gross [much like the doping revelations]).

I arrived at the start at about 7.10am. It was jam packed with fit individuals. It felt like an army recruitment camp. The toilets were buzzing with activity (an indicator of an imminent race) and the fit guys were running minor laps around the starting point to get the body in rhythm.

Roger Graham showed up in the bag-drop queue and lifted his jacket to reveal his true name. “Call my Muz”, he said, as he displayed his bib which read “Muz Mohamad”. I remember he was “Bruce Pye” last year. One man — several identities, Jason Bourne style.

At about 7.55am, race organizer Janet Ng’s mom rang the opening bell. And 1200 runners (half of them from overseas) were on their way to run a 100kms!

Phil Rodd, Vivien, Me, Vic and Olivia at the start — courtesy Mark Green

Continue reading about the HK100 experience