Hong Kong trail runners accuse officials of hosting ‘crazy and dangerous' race
Members of Hong Kong's trail running community have described the local athletics association's decision to host a world championship qualifying race in May as 'crazy and dangerous', saying it put runners' health at risk.
On Sunday, hundreds of athletes competed in a 62.4km (38.8-mile) race at the Hong Kong Trail Championships in Tai Mei Tuk, chasing qualification for the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Spain in September. There was also a short-course race of 34.3km, and an 11km 'experience group'.
Before the Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates (HKAAA) event got under way, local trail runners questioned why the race was taking place when temperatures could soar to 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) and humidity was high.
The HKAAA had yet to respond to the Post's request for comment.
A social media post by Asia Pacific Adventure Athletes, attributed to its director Ryan Blair, said: 'This is a perfect case of how a sport gets mismanaged (and in this case worse with serious safety and health risks to athletes).
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'Firstly, they [the HKAAA] are holding a 60km qualifier race tomorrow [Sunday] – this is so crazy and dangerous in May's oppressive SE Asia summer heat and only puts so many runners' health at risk.'
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