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Header image courtesy of Standard Chartered HK Marathon (via Facebook)
It’s time to dig out your running shoes because Hong Kong’s running crowd is growing every year, with running and trail races becoming more and more popular. From gentle joggers to endurance experts, there are events suitable for all ages and abilities throughout the year, with a much-needed break during the height of summer. Deciding which one to sign up for can feel like a marathon task in itself, so we’ve rounded up some of the biggest events in the city to help you decide—most dates are to be confirmed... and fancy dress is optional!
Because the climate crisis is not showing any signs of being resolved, it’s more important than ever to raise public awareness about environmental conservation, protection, and responsibility—which happens to be the Green Run’s exact aim. This charity sports event was first held in 2016, and has been staged annually since then, with races for individuals, families, and corporates, respectively.
The Green Run also hopes to promote environmental protection by practising green living during the three-kilometre and 10-kilometre races, such as providing reusable water cups instead of distributing bottled water or drinks, setting up recycling bins in prominent places to encourage clean recycling, and holding a post-run party with as little waste as possible. For more information on next year’s race, keep an eye out here.
Get up, get up, we got to go! The Pocari Sweat Run Fest is a yearly running festival where participants get to enjoy challenging sports games, music performances, and obstacle courses alongside the standard races. For those who are simply in it to run, you can join the three-kilometre, five-kilometre, or 10-kilometre individual races. Those who want a more chill experience can join the three-kilometre “Go Fun Obstacle Run,” or sign up for the “Keep Watering Wellness Class.”
Although the event is mainly based on individual races, it aims to promote camaraderie amongst runners by having all participants choose a house upon registration, so that they can win exclusive awards when they accomplish special tasks on event day. The event usually takes place in early December, so make sure to sign up here if you’re interested.
Arguably the most well-known marathon held in Hong Kong, the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon has come a long way from the four circuits of roads participants ran upon in 1981. Held in January or February of each year, runners can choose to join a full marathon, a 10-kilometre run, or a half marathon. Those interested can start planning for next year’s race—as the city’s largest long-distance running event with a whopping 74,000 running quota, there isn’t space for everybody to join. For more information, go here.
Aside from the popular Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, another marathon also attracting plenty of participants is the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Half Marathon. As its name suggests, runners will start and finish the race on the Hong Kong Link Road of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Although runners are limited to the singular choice of a half-marathon race, the prize money is certainly attractive, and it offers the rare chance to set foot on a part of Hong Kong normally reserved for motored vehicles. Find out more here.
A champion in raising awareness about the environment, the Green Power Hike is essentially the hiking version of the Green Run. Initially held in 1994, this long-standing hiking event has gathered nearly 80,000 hikers over the years to scale Hong Kong’s mountains. Participants are encouraged to explore the ecology of the Hong Kong Trail for a green future. After seeing Hong Kong’s beautiful nature first-hand, hikers will hopefully have the knowledge and motivation to be more eco-conscious.
The event itself is wholly organised with a green approach, with an emphasis on reducing and reusing material during preparation, plus a follow-up restoring hiking action to avoid degradation of the trail. Funds raised from ticket sales are donated to Green Power’s environmental education projects, so don’t hesitate to sign up for next year’s hike here.
The Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge (HK4TUC) is for hikers who want to test their limits. The HK4TUC challenges its participants to run all four of Hong Kong’s long trails—a staggering distance of 298 kilometres, with a 14,500-metre elevation—within 60 hours. While participants don’t have to run for the entirety of the race, the challenge is fully self-supported, with no outside support permitted whilst on the trails.
Given how arduous this challenge is, it is by-invitation-only, and you have to qualify by completing a 100-mile trail within the cut-off time. For those who are intrigued, but don’t necessarily want to join the challenge, you can look into the Four Trails movie here to learn more about this lesser-known Hong Kong adventure. Send an email here to contact the HK4TUC team if you hope to qualify for next year’s challenge.
Want to explore the remote scenic areas of Hong Kong while pushing the boundaries of your physical ability? Try the Hong Kong 100 Ultra Marathon. You can discover unspoilt beaches, ancient forests, nature trails, reservoirs, steep hills, and more beautiful scenery hidden away from the bustling city centre. With the famed Maclehose Trail at its core, the 103-kilometre course starts in Pak Tam Chung in Sai Kung, and with some diversions along the way to ensure the most scenic route. It ends after the descent from Hong Kong’s highest peak, Tai Mo Shan.
If you don’t think you can physically handle the full 103-kilometre course yet, you can join shorter endurance races instead, which only cover portions of the route. The third race is known to be especially scenic, as it finishes with a climb up to Tai Cham Koi, giving participants a 360-degree panoramic view of the Sai Kung Peninsula.
As for those who truly want to test the limits of the human body, you can sign up for The Grand Slam, and take on all three distances across three consecutive days. Further information regarding next year’s Hong Kong 100 is available here.
Another series of races you should check out if you’re eager to run while exploring Hong Kong’s hidden natural side is the TransLantau Hong Kong. Taking place on one of Hong Kong’s most famed outlying islands—Lantau Island—participants have a chance to take in its rugged landscapes and untamed beauty as they run.
Challengers can register for TransLantau25, TransLantau50, TransLantau100, and TransLantau120, all corresponding to increasing distances and altitudes. The TransLantau120 is the most demanding, as participants need to traverse the full 120 kilometres, which includes plenty of ascents and descents, within a 36-hour timeframe—the most notable is the imposing 934-metre Lantau Peak climb. Again, due to the challenge’s difficulty, most of these races require runners to hold a certain UTMB index distance. For more information on this, go here.
Speaking of Lantau Peak, beginners who want to specifically challenge this hill can try going for Lantau 2 Peaks instead. Held annually since 2009, this race offers participants 23-kilometre and 15-kilometre courses. The 23-kilometre route spans both Lantau Peak and Sunset Peak, and accepts individual competitors, as well as teams of two or four. Meanwhile, the 15-kilometre route, which only covers half the peak up to Ngong Ping, only accepts solo participants.
With relatively easier courses than other trail-running competitions, plus cash prizes offered to the top runners of the 24-kilometre route, this race is a way to challenge yourself physically. For more on this year’s upcoming Lantau 2 Peaks event, click here.
If you would rather collaborate with teammates instead of running the entire course alone, you’ll be thrilled with the new updates to the North Face 100 Ultra Trail Challenge this year. With 11 years under its belt, TNF 100 is taking its mantra of “Never Stop Exploring” to heart with several new changes. Out with the old, in with the new!
This year’s edition of the Trail Challenge will take participants through brand-new routes, allowing runners to explore even more of Hong Kong. Additionally, participants are now given the option to enter the 100-kilometre race as a relay team of four people, so reach out to your fellow running enthusiasts to challenge this trail together! You can register here.
With a slogan like “Pain is inevitable,” challengers are warned about what to expect from the 9 Dragons races. Proclaiming its events as “the hardest races under 100 miles in Hong Kong,” the 9 Dragons truly expects runners to run like dragons at the 50-mile and 50-kilometre races. The 50-mile race is comparatively lenient, starting at 11.59 pm, with the cut-off time being 7 pm the next day.
On the other hand, the 50-kilometre race will begin at 7.30 am and end at 8 pm the same day. Those who are ambitious (or insane) enough to challenge both can run the 50-mile race first, then join the 50-kilometre race the next day. Keep an eye out for updates here, as registrations for the event in February are set to open in August.
While Hong Kong is famed for its skyline, especially at night, it is likely that most Hongkongers haven’t seen its city lights from atop a hill. The To The Top Night Race provides the perfect opportunity for runners to appreciate Hong Kong’s scenery with a uniquely elevated perspective, as all races will start at after 5 pm, and end times vary from near midnight to 6 am.
Participants can enter the 10-kilometre race, the six-hour lap race, or the 12-hour lap race starting at 5 pm and 6 pm, respectively. This race welcomes all levels of runners, regardless of age, with children aged eight to 12 invited to participate in the two-and-a-half kilometres kids’ race. If you’re interested, make sure to register here!
As you can probably tell by the name, this event focuses on a nighttime sports experience. Divided into Dark45 and Light16, challengers can choose to either start running at midnight on 1 October and experience new sights on a familiar route, or play it safe and start running at 9 am on 2 October instead. Runners who want to spice things up can also challenge themselves to the Grand Slam and participate in both races, racing the iconic Maclehose Trail at night, then passing by the famous Needle Hill, Grassy Hill, and Tai Mo Shan during the day. Sign up for this perfect post-summer racing season trail run here.
Hong Kong has many expert races, which is why the Fat Mak Trail Race is a breath of fresh air for those who just want to have a bit of fun. Named after the Fat Mak rock that can be found on the route, the race is relatively new to the trail-running competition scene in Hong Kong. The mascot of the race is a bearded mascot called Fat Mak, and racers can sport the adorable merch while running the trails through Tai Mo Shan and Shing Mun Country Park. Whether you want to join as a team or as a solo participant for the 14-kilometre and 35-kilometre runs, make sure to look out for future events here!
Another fun race to be on the lookout for is the Hong Kong Disneyland 10k Weekend! Participants will benefit from the unique experience of being cheered on by Mickey, Duffy, Anna, Elsa, Marvel superheroes, and more magical characters from the Disney catalogue as they jog around Hong Kong Disneyland. Costumes are encouraged!
Five different races are organised, including the Marvel-themed 10-kilometre race, the Pixel Pals five-kilometre route, the brand-new Frozen Explorers 3K taking participants through the World of Frozen, a Duffy and Friends three-kilometre challenge, and the classic Mickey-themed kids race. Registration opens during the summer, and places go fast! Find out more here.
First published on 31 July 2017. Last updated by Punita Chan.
Punita is currently an English major at Durham University. As a longtime bookworm, she is passionate about all forms of storytelling. When she’s not stuck in a bookstore or cheering for a celebrity, you can always find her wandering the streets of Hong Kong on the lookout for stray cats.
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