Hong Kong Four Trails runner talks to the monkeys until he finds inner peace during 298km challenge
- Tsang Wai-fung gets used to running without headphones but first experiences highs and lows of solitary adventure
- Among the rules designed to make the race hard are those banning pain killers, running poles and any kind of music or podcasts
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 significant distances.
Those brave enough have 60 hours to become a finisher or 72 hours to be deemed a survivor. There is no support allowed on the trails, and no checkpoints, though runners have help transporting between the end and start of each trail.
The 49-year-old Tsang ran the four trails in four days in December 2022 to prepare for the big test.
“I had to get used to running without headphones. And usually, when I’m doing a long race, I have people in front of me or behind me or training together. I had to get used to being alone,” he said.
“So on the second day, I started talking to the trees, I started talking to the monkey. I started talking to anything in the nature. I ran through lots of emotion. I was irritated. I had lots of emotions, like why am I doing this, why am I here, it’s really hard.”
But then on the last day, it all changed.
“Every single steps I found really peaceful, really meditative on the last day. I’m really peaceful, I’m going to finish this.”
This was a new experience for Tsang. Having finished the four-day task, it was like he’d burst through a wall and found bliss on the other side of boredom, loneliness and tedium.
“I got really used to being alone on the trail,” he said. “And absolutely enjoying the trail, the nature on my own.”
This new outlook has done more than just improve his enjoyment of the trails, it is rubbing off on his performance too. Last year, in the male over 45 category, he was 11th in the 100km TransJeju, third over half the distance in the TransLantau and fourth in the Outopia HK Wild 50 IV.
“It helps me to have a better performance because it helps me to pace better, run better, and then be more meditative, and know how to talk to myself, to pace every single kilometre,” Tsang said.
“Also, I know when the body is in joyous pain, I know how to deal with it peacefully and not going to panic at all during the race. So it helped me to finish, to perform during the whole race and finish strong finish as well.”
Hong Kong chef swaps kitchen for bearded dragons as he tackles 4 trails race
Tsang started trail running eight years ago. Before that, he did absolutely no exercise. He started to lose weight and be healthy, and then just kept on running. It soon became part of his life.
“And now I just really enjoyed that moment of being alone, running around and seeing the view and just leaving the stress from work, leaving everything urban behind,” Tsang said.
He applied to run the Four Trails to mark his 50th birthday, but still needed permission from his wife because it will take place over the Lunar New Year holiday.
Tsang hopes to survive the epic event, and finish at the green postbox in Mui Wo in between 60 and 62 hours.
“It’s a dream for me to be doing this when I’m hitting 50,” he said. “So, I just simply want it as a birthday gift. If I could still run after this, I would just do it every year or maybe every 10 years – maybe 60 years old, 70 years old, 80 years old.
“I’m going to sign up again, again, and again, I just wanted to see how far I could go.”
