The last 100 was in 2023 with Joey and it was a great shock for me because the terrain was not expected at the Phitsanoulok Kheknoi trail. But I must say we did have a time of our lives and once again I am humbled by Joey’s power in trail. Joining the Hong Kong 100 is a personal so called Bucket list. Deep inside I was hoping to get one trophy out from this trail as they do reward runners below 24 hours with Gold Silver or Bronze man trophy.
Last time coming to Hong Kong was 2020 before the covid out break. Was supposed to be there to do the 50km 9 Dragons and travel got stopped because of covid. Sadly have to give this race a miss.
Coming back again after 6 years, I felt Hong Kong had changed pretty much from 6-7 years ago with more structured cleaner roads. In the city, good food and shopping is still the norm but at least now the street side stores are cleaned up and there seemed to be more of a organised hawker area that just messy ones before.
GOING TO HONG KONG
This time round I had my mother company me, but since Hong Kong is a mandarin based country I have no worries that she can make her way around the place by herself. I chose to stay at Hong Kong Island as one of the hotels there have shuttle bus to the start line. Never much of a fan for the Kowloon area although it has most of the shopping and food. I guess I still liked the trams in Hong Kong island.
Somehow SQ had some really cheap promotions and my flight direct to Hong Kong was about S$280 only. Booked the Harbour View Hotel in the Wanchai area which cost around$150 before tax per night and threw in one really glamorous stay at the Peninsula for my mother as she had always wanted to stay there. For the price of about $680 a night at Peninsula I thought that the grand old dame was not that impressive or maybe we are not the high rollers, could have stayed at the Ritz for about same price and better view. Good thing about going to Hong Kong with my mother is that she feeds me , all the dim sum and siew lup. If I were to do alone, I think I probably end up 7-11 again.
RACE PROPER
We reached there in the evening of Thursday night had a simple dinner with some cocktails around the Wan chai area and second day we headed to the bib collection at Lai Chi Kok 荔枝角, it was easy to get around in HK as there were MTR and buses serving every where, all you need is the Octopus card which is like the Ez link card in Singapore. You can get this card from the airport or even buy online on Shoppee before arriving, you can pay for your purchases at convenience stalls and some shops with the Octopus card.
The race collection as at this hip building very near to the MTR, there was a trail expo there selling all the usual trail brands, Zenone, T8, Nedao and of course Anta. They even had a crafted beer for this event which I find really cool although now I do not really drink beer. Runners also get a free bandana from the expo and there were many HK100 merch to splurge your money on.
After the race expo, I practically did nothing much and just went to Kowloon to search for my Garmin charging line as of all the things I brought I forgot again to bring the line. This is the second time I forgot to bring it along in a race. Thank god I managed to find a cheap OEM one at an electronic shop in Tsim Sha Tsui. After that I did not do much for the evening and just went back to the hotel to rest and pack. There were basically 2 packs that I need to prepare. One for the CP5 mid point and one for the finishing which I presume will be in the morning of Sunday. Although I was aiming for a 24 hours race, I know somehow its going to be challenging because of my piriformis aches and also the Achilles on the left leg.
Day 1
D day started early, as the shuttle will come by 5:20am to the porch. I woke up around 4 plus and did some abs exercises, had a shower as I won’t be showering for at least 24 hours. Weather forecast had it saying that its going to be good weather and not so cold. My mother woke up to wish me luck and I went down around 5am. The lobby was already filled with runners, I sat at the lobby slowly drinking my hot cup of coffee, the usual thing I do before race. It was still pretty cold outside and I decided to wear the rain coat to keep warm. This time was my first time carrying just 2 of the 500ml soft flask instead of carrying a water pack for all the trails I had done. I did not pack much for the vest as I did wanted to spur myself to do this race faster. The mid point bag was mainly change of clothes and socks ( very important incase of water crossing), the change of clothes was for keeping warm for the night as there were many peaks to clear by then and I also know that it gets real windy at the trails of HK at night.
Starting point was already filled with people when I arrived, I guess this being a hot race has attracted many participants especially from China. There were two points to drop the bags and also volunteers were around to assist bib collections. There was also a place for dropping of larger bags as some participants come as a day race.
Instead of writing the whole grandmother story, I will just do up the table of the whole 9 check points that I had to clear.
| Start Line 7AM Pak Tam Chung 北潭涌 This is the start line where we alighted the shuttle bus. The Mid point drop bag and finish line bags were also dropped off there. The start line only opened like 15 min before flag off to allow traffic to still continue. The runners are segregated to different timings, those who intend to do elite pace can go in front. |
| CP 1 by 09:15 AM East Dam 東壩 All along from the start to the first check point is 10km worth of road, this is the time I really whacked. Because I really suck inside the forest, the roads are the only time I could save a bit more time, there were not much climbing here and its really scenic, passing by the UNESCO Geo National Park, I remembered when I did Rebel walker the reverse way, this was my ending part winding down the roads. This road is scenic and we were met with the sunrise, the check point itself is after the dam. Although I ran, many times I stopped to take photos because this place is just so nice. |
| CP2 by 11:30 AM Ham Tin 鹹田 The next 9 km to Ham Tin check point brings us through 2 beaches, you never see Hong Kong the same way again. And this was when I realise that this one is McLehose Trail section 2. The snoopy island could be seen from afar, there were many photographers here trying to capture the beautiful beach with the runners, we were lucky sun was coming up and it was nice and sunny. There were mixture of some stone stairs and sand for this section. |
| CP 3 by 3 PM Hau Tong Kai 猴塘溪 This is one of the longer distance CP to get to, I was going to challenge it with less water and load and loaded myself with more water at CP2, I brought some sweets along and headed off. Kinda remember that most of the paths leading to this CP is roads and easier flat trails there were not much of a challenging at this part and I thought I better run more to save the smaller buffer as the day proceeds. I know keeping a larger buffer will cater for the closing buffer as I get more tired and sleepy into the night. This CP If I am not wrong is the one with a pavilion and inside a park. |
| CP 4 by 5:30PM Yung Shue O 榕樹澳 A more manageable 9 km to this check point, not much of crazy elevations and there was a board walk section, I am starting to slow down quite a bit just to get here because the previous check point had some climbing to get to. The check point is inside a village area, I think this check point is the one where you can DNF and bus still gets you out as there were proper roads around. Many folks were already looking shag and tired. I guess the real fast ones would have gone way ahead while the middle ones start to feel the tiredness and slow ones have to really grapple with the cut off timings. I had a bit more food here, from this CP on, there were hot food always like noodles, porridge , soup. Solid stuff like onigiris, and peanut butter sandwich. These are on top of the regular nuts, fruits and variety of drink incl of coke and hot coffee. I must say the CPs were all very good and had good volunteers all out to service you. It is a luxury, in fact I think you do not have to carry too much food yourself unless you have special diet. Saw a few people up the bus this time. |
| CP 5 by 8:15PM Kei Ling Ha 企嶺下 This one is even nearer 8km to reach to. But actually the sky is slowly going to darken by the time I reach this check point. The check point is separated by a road, and this is where many supporters came to support their friends or teams doing the race. I think there should be a carpark nearby that’s why many people could access, I saw buses too. You will be led to the drop bag point to pick your mid point items. It was also near the toilet, after moving for 49km, I did not felt too cold after stopping. This CP I rested and changed up. Powdered myself, and this time I decided to wear a long thicker sleeved jacket for the second half as it was going to be all hills. With tired legs, I dropped the half point bag and crossed the road to the food area. This CP the food is bountiful, I guess it is where people really seriously rest and replenish. From here onwards all my check point were just 1 hr or a bit more of a buffer and I realise I really need to push a bit. The food was bountiful here and hot, I grabbed some noodles and bread , packed a bit of the nuts and went on. |
| CP 6 by 01:15AM 25.Jan Gillwell Campsite基維爾營地 The tough thing about this race is that it just gets tougher and tougher, if you look at the elevation map, you will see the bulk of the climbing and descending really come in the second half. Most of the night is headlamp on and keep moving, I am the worst at night, many people overtook me especially at the downhills. This Campsite seemed so long to get to and was moving really slow, this is the second long check point to reach 13km and I had to tell myself keep going and going. I thought I should keep at 4km per hour or if the best 5 km. CP 6 seemed to sprout out the middle of no where, I thought it must be some where along the ridge line, night was dark so couldn’t really register much. I had a short break to replenish the coffee intake before z monster hit me for the next few check points. |
| CP 7 by 4AM Beacon Hill 筆架山 The Hills in Hong Kong are not very crazy but going through all of them together can be quite a feat, and this happens in the MacLeehose trail which is the big bulk of this race. I forgot which section this route towards Beacon hill is but the scenery here is amazing although short distance of 8km, it took hours again. This checkpoint had a lot of young folks and they were still very energetic at 2-3 am in the morning. They really spruce me up as the route here I was alone mostly. A hot tent was set up for the runners who wanna rest, but I know I do not have time, quick coffee, noodles and couple of nuts and dried fruits and I was on my way. |
| CP 8 by 06:15 AM Shing Mun 城門水塘 On the way to Shing Mun things start to Déjà vu, I began to remember the route for the Rebel walker and me and Joey took pictures here before too. There were some trails and towards the end was roads, under the moon light one really could capture nothing much, I only knew I was passing the walkway across the reservoir, and it was going to be morning soon, I guess I was at the bridge about 4 plus something and there were already people coming for exercise ! The road to this check point was mainly tarmac road and I thank god for it because I do not think I can do anymore rocks or stairs. Good thing is till now I did not have any injuries, maybe I am too slow. Shing mun CP was not many people but there were many camp fire here. Most people were already drained out then. There were some stone tables around. Was a bit tired and sat down at the stone table and chair to rest a bit and close my eyes. One lady was asking how much more to go, although she had the temp map tattoo I guess it was too dark or blur to see now. I lend her my printed out map and time chart. She got a bit worried as time is tight. There were a few teams here some were discussing to DNF as time is getting tight. I got a bit worried, did a quick replenish and on the way to CP 9, I thought this is way too far to give up. |
| CP 9 by 09:15 AM Leadmine Pass 鉛礦坳 Towards the North of Shing Mun is this pass, there used to be some mining works around in the past. This pass also intersects with Maclehose 7,8 and Wilson trail. I remember the last time in Rebel walker we pass by this portion first also. The dawn was breaking and I cannot wait to switch off my headlamps, hopefully around 6:30 am latest. Maybe the feet is getting heavier and heavier or maybe It’s the one night without sleep. I took very long to reach here the first part were two brutal peaks and it happen Sunday morning part was not that sunny and clear. It was super cloudy and foggy I could see the mist in front with the head lamp. Needle hill was one of the peaks, this peak is steep and narrow and from afar I could see its needle point peak. The wind was strong and the fog was getting thick. After going up the stairs, the coming down was rather rocky steps. Then we were met with some roads winding up and down before ending in the pass, it seemed like never ending. This was a also the time I met with a lady from Guang zhou. We chatted a bit and thank god I know Mandarin or else I guess communication might be a bit tough. This check point was on some grass land with a pavilion. I was really crossing eyes and it doesn’t help with the foggy environment. After a short coffee break I decided to give all in for my last stretch to the end point. I knew the Tai Mo Shan portion is going to be crazy, so I picked myself up and went on. |
DAY 2 FINALE
大帽山 Tai Mo Shan Park
After checking out CP 9, there were more uphills and this time it was not normal roads, a lot of rocks and rocks and there was one portion where it was so foggy I could not see the front clearly. By now the people you see around the last few CPs are likely the people who will end the race about the same time as you. I saw the Chinese lady who wanted to give up at CP 6. She was whining and complaining and keep saying when will this end. Good that she still had the energy, for me its more like pls let me get over and done and so tired until no voice. There were a few Hong Kong runners with us, one of them was a grand slammer also. Once we passed CP 7 and 8 , the rest is home run, cos the buffer time is more than enough to finish. I left CP 9 around 8 plus and seriously I could felt the tight timing because from CP 9 to finish is about 9 Km and I know its going to feel more than that. Good thing is no more headlamps, after the patch of rocky, we finally hit the roads to lead up to Tai Mo Shan and the satellite station. The weather was getting sunny and hot , but there was a rare sight of cloud sea a the top of Tai Mo shan. After we hit the top the rest of the 4 km is all down hill on roads. I guess the organiser also pity the weaker runners and threw in this bonus for the end. I crossed the finish line just barely below 28 hours. Was relieved that it was over but I really looked damn pathetic, all the sleeplessness and dried lips. I saw Lawrence , my trail friend there, and he helped me took a couple of individual shots. We were first handed the medal and then proceed to the booth to take the finisher pack which had the finisher hoodie, plushie. I was really exhausted and proceeded to take the drop bags. I changed up to my slippers and and overall. The sun was shining very brightly weather was sunny but yet it was still pretty cold. I did not managed to see Lawrence again before I head back in the free Shuttle to Tsuen Wan. I too the MTR from Tsuen wan back to my hotel in wan chai. Glad I could still walk and move.
The exhaustion was not that bad but the feet began to experience some funny paints especially the arches. There will be different types of pain every time, but it is how we cope with it. I went back and my mother was waiting for me at the hotel. Did not have much appetite and I just did a quick wash up before falling into deep sleep.
Overall, this race was very enjoyable, I was lucky to have good weather as there were years where it was cold foggy rainy and gloomy. There were many photographers even up on the peaks , which is why really have to buy their photographs package. The scenery was amazing throughout with many different ones from mountains to beaches and small fishing villages. But of course we were lucky to have the Cloud Sea View at Tai Mo Shan. The support was also good and efficient with almost every CP having hot food after CP 3. . I also loved their quality items for the goodie bags, finisher hoodie and event tee by Anta. Safety was also taken care of as I saw the roving safety team following around also. Only had one time mandatory check at CP 5 which is logical as it was getting dark, and the next few check points are the toughest.
The hype and pre race expo were also another plus point. I would love to do this again but this time maybe attempt the grand slam? haha I guess not, in the meantime , I need to recover with the good Hong Kong food and time for some shopping too.