Hong Kong ultrarunner who holds free classes in Central on his epic endurance feats
It is a drizzly and overcast Saturday morning in Hong Kong where, despite the gusting winds, many runners are training along the Central Harbourfront.
At the AIA Vitality Hub – a venue on the harbourfront that offers free daily health and fitness classes – a dozen runners have gathered for an hour-long class led by ultrarunner Wong Chun-kiu.
At 40, Wong is fit, experienced and ready to share the skills he has learned. He opens the session with stretching and running drills.
'When you run, try to use the force of gravity that you can feel when you lean forward,' he instructs the students, who range in age from their 20s to over 60. 'Also, focus more on lifting your knees up from the ground, rather than kicking your feet back.'
Wong (left) leads a running class in Central. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Watching the soft-spoken instructor, one might not imagine the extraordinary running feats he has accomplished or the sheer grit he has that has carried him through extreme physical and mental challenges.
In 2017, he ran 1,400km (870 miles) around Taiwan in 19 days, tracing a figure-eight route. The following year, he ran 3,500km in 73 days in Japan, starting in Hokkaido and ending in Okinawa. In 2022, he ran across the United States, from New York to Los Angeles, completing a 5,400km journey in four months.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
11 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong fencer Cheung Ka-long shown red card, but teammate then wins first Asian title
Olympic champion Cheung Ka-long was denied the chance to reclaim his regional throne after a controversial decision at the Asian Fencing Championships in Bali on Thursday, but the glory went instead to compatriot Ryan Choi Chun-yin, who won his maiden Asian title. Advertisement In Cheung's second-round men's foil match, he was adjudged by the head referee from South Africa to have hit China's Mo Ziwei in his head intentionally, after the red light on the piste signalling a point for the Hongkonger had been lit. The point would have tied the match at 14 points each. But former Asian champion Mo fell onto the ground and asked for a video review, and suggested Cheung had hit him in his mask. Mo, who won in Wuxi in 2023, called for medical help and minutes later, referee Eugene Chua Wee-hong of Singapore – after head referee Irina Knysch stepped in – showed two-time Asian champion Cheung a straight red card and awarded Mo the winning point, and the Chinese fencer progressed with a 15-13 win. Cheung and Greg Koenig, head coach of the city's foil team, debated with the referees for a long time, but their efforts were in vain. Cheung Ka-long reposted a story from a supporter onto his social media after the loss. Photo: Instagram Hong Kong team officials said the rule book signalled a red card if a fencer was deemed to have 'intentionally' hit the opponent in the head.
South China Morning Post
12 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Beijing's point man on Hong Kong affairs meets local university heads
Beijing's point man on Hong Kong affairs held discussions with the heads of several universities in the city on Thursday, in the first publicly known meeting with leaders of local tertiary institutions. Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, also visited Kai Tak Sports Park and met politicians on the third day of his fact-finding visit. His discussions with the heads of the institutions came on the heels of six publicly funded universities climbing the ranks of an influential league table produced by education information firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). The University of Hong Kong (HKU) rose to 11th place, surpassing two prestigious tertiary education institutions in mainland China. The meeting, held at government headquarters, ran for nearly three hours, with attendees including Xiang Zhang from HKU, Nancy Ip Yuk-yu from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Dennis Lo Yuk-ming from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). Xiang Zhang from the University of Hong Kong attends the meeting with Xia Baolong. Photo: Sam Tsang Polytechnic University's (PolyU) Teng Jin-guang, City University's Freddy Boey Yin-chiang and Education University's John Lee Chi-kin also attended.
South China Morning Post
12 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong keeper Yapp wants to play abroad, decade after mainland China move was blocked
Yapp Hung-fai has said he still hopes to play abroad, 12 years after the dispiriting collapse of a transfer to mainland China. In 2013, the Chinese Football Association blocked Yapp's proposed transfer from South China to Guizhou Rehne, because of a Super League veto on foreign goalkeepers. 'In Hong Kong, we don't have the resources and quality of China, Japan, or Korea,' Eastern No 1 Yapp said. 'The level of training and matches is higher abroad, so I'd have improved, and had the feeling of being a professional goalkeeper. I still want to [go overseas], but as I get older, there's less chance.' It is testament to Yapp's ability that Mateja Kezman, the former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid striker, said in 2011 that his then 21-year-old South China teammate could 'have a future in Europe'. 'At that moment, I was good enough, but I'm not now … the gap between Europe and Asia is too big,' said Yapp, who believes his 5ft 10in (1.78 metres) height contributed to a lack of offers. Yapp lifts the trophy Hong Kong were awarded for winning the EAFF qualifying competition. Photo: Dickson Lee Yapp was forced into goal, as the youngest of a group of friends who played together, but he quickly grew hooked on making flying saves.
