About 4,300 trail runners have signed up for The Vibram® Hong Kong 100, an ultra endurance 100 km race happening on 23 and 24 January 2016. Word from organisers is that about 100 participants from Singapore are attending the 2016 edition which says a lot about the growing popularity of trail running here!
It’s ok if you’re not among the lucky 100. Sure you can wait till next year, but you can check out these fantastic running trails in Hong Kong any time your schedule fits. Amongst the top 10 we shortlisted is the famed Maclehose Trail, which the Vibram® Hong Kong 100 is based on.
The 100 km ultra run will include some diversions from Maclehose Trail, allowing runners to spend more time in the most scenic sections. Starting in Pak Tam Chung on the Sai Kung Peninsula, the race route reveals remote, pristine beaches, ancient forests, nature trails, calm reservoirs and steep hills.
Capped at a cut-off time of 30 hours, this semi self-sufficient ultra will also spread across a cumulative gain of over 4,500 metres, making this event a beautiful but also highly challenging one. Still, the Hong Kong 100 makes the arduous feat worth it by offering trail runners a bird’s eye view of the landscape as they descend from Tai Mo Shan, Hong Kong’s highest mountain.
Not everyone, however, is so fortunate to share these spectacular views. Which is why, as in previous years, funds and donations raised through the charity and ballot entries will go towards Blind Sports Hong Kong. BSHK gives the visually impaired the opportunity to take part in fitness exercises including long distance runs under the supervision of professional coaches.
Vibram® Hong Kong 100 also raises funds for and donates part of its unused food supplies to Food Angel, which redistributes food to the needy in the community.
To find out more about Vibram® Hong Kong 100 and the initiatives behind this scenic ultra trail race, visit their official website.
What do you think of the 2015 official race film? Go watch it now on the website’s homepage if you haven’t!
