On Wednesday, as millions of people celebrate the Lunar New Year, Kimmy Leung Hong-kiu will attempt to become the third woman to finish the Hong Kong Four Trail Ultra Challenge (Four Trails) in less than 60 hours.
Considered one of the world’s most brutal trail runs, competitors must traverse the MacLehose, Wilson, Hong Kong and Lantau Trails all in reverse. In total, it is 298km (185 miles) and runners ascend 14,500 metres of cumulative elevation.
So, how do you train to run 298km? Well, according to Leung, you do not.
“You cannot train for 300km [and] I believe you can’t plan the whole race,” the 33-year-old said.
Leung, who is attempting the Four Trails for a fourth time, does not have a running coach, has not made a training plan, and runs as long and as far as she wants “when I feel like running”.
But what Leung does have in her locker is experience. She first attempted the Four Trails in 2019 but was unable to complete the MacLehose before the 18-hour cut-off time.
