Trail racing returns to Hong Kong with Sai Kung 50, offering runners a welcome ‘escape’ amid easing of Covid-19 restrictions

Event will end a long break from competition for many of the city’s runners – and it can’t come soon enough

Cheung Man-yee, one of the favourites for 35km distance, hopes to ‘find happiness through exercise, sweating and muscle soreness’

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Cheung Man-yee finds more joy in running as an escape, than as a competition, after the break from racing. Photo: Viola Shum

Published: 8:15am, 13 May 2022Updated: 3:52pm, 13 May 2022

This article is part of the SCMP’s series on the long-awaited resumption of sport in Hong Kong. After months of cancelled competitions and facility closures as the city battled a Covid-19 outbreak, elite athletes as well as the public are returning to pitches, pools and tracks.

Trail racing is making its triumphant return in Hong Kong this weekend with the Action Asia Sai Kung 50, after a hiatus of several months owing to the city’s fifth wave of Covid-19 infections.

The event – which will host three distances of 50 kilometres, 35km and 13km – will requite all competitors to have three vaccines, and wear masks at the starting line and the finish.

They will begin the race in waves to avoid crowds, and be encouraged to leave quickly at the end, with restrictions still in effect in Hong Kong.

“Maybe now my motivation comes more from the fact that only by running on the trail we can temporarily escape from the disappointing social economic status in Hong Kong and find happiness and contentment through exercise, sweating and muscle soreness,” said Cheung Man-yee, one of the favourites for the 35km distance.

“I think Covid-19 prevented us enjoying running competitions as a large-scale happy carnival event, where we can freely meet our friends, and eat and drink during and after the race, which certainly has a better atmosphere.

SCMP Series

Hong Kong sport returns

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Trail racing returns to Hong Kong with Sai Kung 50, offering runners a welcome ‘escape’ amid easing of Covid-19 restrictions

Event will end a long break from competition for many of the city’s runners – and it can’t come soon enough Cheung Man-yee, one of the favourites for 35km distance, hopes to ‘find happiness through exercise, sweating and muscle soreness’

Event will end a long break from competition for many of the city’s runners – and it can’t come soon enough

Cheung Man-yee, one of the favourites for 35km distance, hopes to ‘find happiness through exercise, sweating and muscle soreness’