2017 National Geographic Earth Run - Hong Kong

I signed up for this run cause I was going to be in HK on a work trip. Just had to go a day earlier on Saturday to collect the race pack from Pentagonia store at Tsim Tsa Shui (plus 1 night day in hotel on personal cost).

When I researched the run online, I was surprised to find that there was cut-off times for 10km:
10 km Competitive Run - 60 mins
10km Fun Run - 90 mins
Even Fun Run can be challenging since my casual weekend 10km jogs can take 90 or even 95 mins (lots of walking especially on an off day).

Race Pack collected on Saturday

Click on the photo to see the entire race pack

Yes, the 10km run starts at 9:30 am as stated on the bib

Race Schedule

Race Day
I would never have imagined it would take more than 1 hour by MTR train from Fortress Hill MTR on HK Island to go Ma On Shan MTR. Seriously, if it weren't for this run, I would not have gone so far.

Panaroma shot of the race village - not many people as I arrived early (pls click on photo)

Someone kindly offered to take this shot for me when I was trying a selfie

Start point was the field at the YMCA Youth Village at Ma On Shan

Lady who ran the 10km competitive collapsed 

The woman was taken away by the St. John Ambulance brigade

Some drama as I was sitting around watching the 10km competitive runners stream in.
It was a humid Sunday morning in HK. I saw a few runners collapsing or falling as they ran on to the track to the finish line, the last 200m. Some were straining to finish within the 60 mins cut-off time.

Free water bottle with "National Geographic" printed on it - collect on finshing

Waiting for 10km Fun run start at 9:30 am

More than I expected for a charity run (or at least for the 10km Fun Run)

On the Ma On Shan Promenade

Yep, even in HK there are walkers for 10km. Even from the Start, I saw

I was drenched at the 3km mark. Super humid Sunday morning

The scenery was great at Ma On Shan

U-turn!

Nope, didn't run to Sha Tin. Turned left back towards Ma On Shan Promenade.

On;y 60% completed! 

In the centre is 马鞍山 (Ma On Shan) or Horse Saddle Hill/ Mountain (2 peaks) 

Photographs downloadable from the HK01 mobile app

I'm looking really exhausted at the 9km mark

Finished - hot and tired 

Finished my 10km. Seldom look so exhausted but it was not an easy 10km 'Fun Run'

A very tired look as I waited for the train at Ma On Shan MTR to go back to my hotel at Fortress Hill MTR

Free photo from the HK01 app

2nd free photo from the HK01 app

It was a nice scenic but exhausting run. Starting at 9:30 am on a April Sunday morning in HK was a challenge. The competitive runners who started earlier also looked tired (especially the slower ones who finished in more than 50 mins).
I like the blue event tee, nice design and silky material.
There was free Ovaltine which I skipped as I was tired and just wanted to get to the train station to go back to hotel for shower and some sleep.

There's an e-cert too (Yep, made it within the 90 min cut-off!)

2017 2XU Compression Run

Signed up the 2017 2XU Compression Run because this year, it offered 1 vest + 1 Tee + 1 Finisher Tee. My second 2XU Compression Run ever since I joined its inaugural run at Sentosa on 23.04.2010.

Had to signed up HM to get the finisher tee. Race fees,  categories, Race Pack and 21km Race route:

Race Day: 2 April 2017

I know....like first timer. LOL!

That's me running (er...jogging) after flag off if you look closely (picture above)

Am happy with the 2XU HM today. 

Well organised event. Pre-race comms, shuttle bus, isotonic drinks & water at race village, plenty of portable toilets, the quality of runners' entitlement including 3 tops and a nice large ELM 21.1 medal, route signage and distance markers, cold isotonic at all stations and cold water at some, lights at dark places along the route, a nice cold tower to refresh myself after run. 

Only wish the route didn't have to go up and down stairs or boards. But overall 9/10 to Pink Apple and the volunteers many of whom were students pouring drinks and even saw some picking up plastic cups discarded on the floor 

Hard-earned finisher medal (big, heavy, solid) ELM Medal

I got my HM PB today (based on my watch tie of 2:58:25), just narrowly beating my HM PB set at Taipei HM in 2015 of 2:58:55. I think it is down to using the Compressport Sleeve Calves which I bought last December during the SCMS Race Expo.

My Polar M400 recorded 21.29km Close enough I have no complain. My watch and the distance markers were generally within 100m-300m throughout the whole route.